Baked Elbow Macaroni - PCOS-Friendly Recipe

Baked Elbow Macaroni
Prep: 20 min
Cook: 45 min
Servings: 10
Dinner

This Baked Elbow Macaroni is a PCOS-friendly recipe with 373 calories, 23.05g protein, and 43.24g carbs per serving. Ready in 65 minutes. High in fiber (3.5g), which supports insulin sensitivity.

Nutrition per Serving

373 Calories
23.05g Protein
43.24g Carbs
11.28g Fat
Perfect for a Winter's night macaroni dish.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsps shredded parmesan cheese
  • 2/3 cup part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup light sour cream
  • 25 oz roasted garlic pasta sauce
  • 14 oz traditional pasta sauce
  • 1 lb 93/7 lean ground beef
  • 6 slices provolone cheese
  • 1/2 cup onions, chopped
  • 16 oz elbow macaroni

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to directions.
  2. In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over medium heat. Add spaghetti sauce and simmer 15 minutes.
  3. Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Spray 9"X13" baking pan with cooking spray.
  4. Layer 1/2 of the elbows, provolone cheese, sour cream, 1/2 sauce mixture, remaining elbows, mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce mixture. Top with Parmesan cheese.
  5. Bake for 30 minutes or until cheeses are melted.
  6. Note: you can substitute for any pasta.

How This Recipe Supports PCOS Management

Understanding the nutritional profile of what you eat is a powerful step in managing PCOS. Here is how the key ingredients in this Baked Elbow Macaroni contribute to your health goals:

  • Beef: Zinc supports hormone production and immune function
  • Garlic: May help reduce cholesterol levels often elevated in PCOS
  • Onion: Support cardiovascular health and blood sugar regulation

PCOS Diet Principles in This Recipe

The PCOS diet focuses on three core principles: reducing inflammation, managing insulin resistance, and supporting hormonal balance. Every recipe in our collection is evaluated against these principles. This recipe excels in providing anti-inflammatory spices that target the chronic inflammation underlying PCOS. As part of a balanced PCOS meal plan, we recommend pairing recipes like this with a variety of nutrient-dense foods throughout the week to ensure you are meeting all your micronutrient needs.

Meal Prep Tip: This Baked Elbow Macaroni can be prepared ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Meal prepping is one of the most effective strategies for sticking to a PCOS-friendly diet, as it removes the temptation to reach for processed convenience foods when time is short.

You Have a Recipe. But Do You Have a Full Week?

One great recipe is a start. A complete PCOS meal plan is a system. Here is how to go from one meal to a full week of eating that supports your hormones.

1
Take the 60-Second Quiz Tell us your PCOS type, preferences, and goals
2
Get Your 7-Day Meal Plan Personalized meals, grocery list, and prep schedule
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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, this Baked Elbow Macaroni recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly. At 373 calories per serving with 23.05g of protein, it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health. It also provides 3.5g of fiber, which helps with insulin sensitivity.

This recipe takes about 65 minutes total. Prep time is 20 minutes and cook time is 45 minutes. It makes 10 servings, so you can meal prep for multiple days.

Per serving: 373 calories, 23.05g protein (25%), 43.24g carbs, 11.28g fat. Plus 3.5g fiber. PCOS meal plans typically aim for 30% protein, 35% fat, 35% carbs to support insulin sensitivity.

Yes, this recipe works well as a PCOS-friendly Dinner. At 373 calories, it fits within typical PCOS meal plan targets for Dinner. Pair it with other PCOS-friendly foods throughout the day for balanced nutrition.

This recipe can be part of a structured PCOS meal plan. It makes 10 servings, making it great for meal prep. For a complete weekly plan tailored to your PCOS type, take our free 60-second quiz at pcosmealplanner.com/pcos-quiz to get a personalized 7-day meal plan.

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