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  6. 22 Diabetes-Friendly Dinners You'll Want to Make Forever

22 Diabetes-Friendly Dinners You'll Want to Make Forever

Alex Loh
Alex Loh Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD June 10, 2021
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
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Basil Pesto Pasta with Grilled Vegetables

If you're looking for a healthy and filling meal, try one of these diabetes-friendly dinner recipes. These recipes are low in calories, saturated fat and sodium to help you meet your nutrition goals. Satisfying and tasty recipes like Basil Pesto Pasta with Grilled Vegetables and Sheet-Pan Salmon with Sweet Potatoes & Broccoli are ideas you'll turn to again and again.

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One-Pan Chicken & Asparagus Bake

One-Pan Chicken & Asparagus Bake
Credit: photography / Caitlin bensel, Food Styling / Emily Nabors Hall
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In this chicken and asparagus recipe, we use one baking sheet to whip up dinner quickly, veggies included. Pounding the chicken thin helps it cook quickly alongside the carrots and potatoes, with asparagus rounding out the meal. This is one quick dinner recipe you'll be returning to again and again.

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Zucchini-Chickpea Veggie Burgers with Tahini-Ranch Sauce

Zucchini-Chickpea Veggie Burgers with Tahini-Ranch Sauce
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This vegan burger recipe is one you'll want to make again and again. Savory chickpea and zucchini patties are topped with a creamy, herb-flecked tahini ranch sauce, juicy tomato slices and peppery arugula for a satisfying and healthy homemade veggie burger. Serve them on buns or stuff them in pitas. We recommend making extra sauce--it's a great dip for veggie sticks and, thinned with a little water, it makes a wonderful salad dressing.

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Tamari-Ginger Meatball & Eggplant Casserole

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Eggplant soaks up the flavors of ginger, garlic and tamari in this Asian-inspired casserole recipe. A hot pepper in the topping adds a bit of heat, but opt for sweet if you prefer.

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Charred Shrimp & Pesto Buddha Bowls

charred shrimp
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These shrimp and pesto Buddha bowls are delicious, healthy, pretty and take less than 30 minutes to prep. In other words, they're basically the ultimate easy weeknight dinner. Feel free to add additional vegetables and swap the shrimp for chicken, steak, tofu or edamame.

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Basil Pesto Pasta with Grilled Vegetables

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This dish is an easy way to turn grilled vegetables into a satisfying meal, thanks to hearty whole-grain pasta and a quick homemade pesto.

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Spinach & Egg Scramble with Raspberries

a photo of a plated Spinach & Egg Scramble with Raspberries
Credit: Jen Causey
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This quick egg scramble with hearty bread is one of the best breakfasts for weight loss. It combines weight-loss power foods, eggs and raspberries, with filling whole-grain toast and nutrient-packed spinach. The protein and fiber help fill you up and the whole meal clocks in at just under 300 calories.

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Sheet-Pan Salmon with Sweet Potatoes & Broccoli

Sheet-Pan Salmon with Sweet Potatoes & Broccoli
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The vibrant combo of cheese, cilantro, chili, and lime--inspired by Mexican street corn--makes this salmon sheet-pan dinner burst with flavor.

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Broccolini, Chicken Sausage & Orzo Skillet

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We love this quick skillet meal for busy evenings. The sausage and orzo simmer together in chicken broth, resulting in a creamy, risotto-like dish in under 30 minutes.

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Roasted Root Veggies & Greens over Spiced Lentils

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This earthy bowl of lentils bursting with Middle Eastern flavors is topped with leftover roasted root veggies from a large batch for an easy weeknight dinner. Keep it vegan or add a drizzle of plain yogurt for extra richness.

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Shrimp and Cauliflower Bake

Shrimp and Cauliflower Bake
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This quick and easy seafood casserole gets bright flavor from fresh dill and feta cheese.

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Swordfish with Olives, Capers & Tomatoes over Polenta

a piece of fish on top of polenta on a blue plate
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Dive deliciously into the Mediterranean diet with this healthy fish recipe, which takes its inspiration from southern Italy. In Sicily and Calabria, the ghiotta style of cooking involves simmering fish or meat with celery, olives, capers, basil and tomatoes. Serve the fish and sauce over creamy polenta for an easy dinner recipe that requires just 20 minutes of active prep time.

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Stuffed Potatoes with Salsa & Beans

stuffed potatoes with salsa
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Taco night meets baked potato night with this simple recipe for loaded baked potatoes with salsa, beans and avocado. This easy, healthy family dinner comes together with just 10 minutes of active time, so you can make it on even the busiest of weeknights. This recipe is just as delicious with sweet potatoes in place of russets.

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Pistachio-Crusted Chicken with Warm Barley Salad

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Barley and pistachios give this healthy chicken recipe a double dose of nutty flavor. For an easy change-up, swap in your favorite whole grain, such as brown rice, farro or quinoa.

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Beer-Battered Fish Tacos with Tomato & Avocado Salsa

Beer-Battered Fish Tacos with Tomato & Avocado Salsa
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Lovers of fried fish get the taste without all the calories, and the salsa adds a fresh, clean note. To complete the Baja theme, serve with black beans, some diced mango and a bit of light sour cream.

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Spinach Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, White Beans & Basil

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Roasted sweet potatoes are paired with spinach, cabbage and white beans and tossed together with a bright basil dressing in this healthy main dish salad.

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Slow-Cooker Braised Beef with Carrots & Turnips

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The spice blend in this healthy beef stew recipe--cinnamon, allspice and cloves--may conjure images of apple pie, but the combo is a great fit in savory applications too. Serve over creamy polenta or buttered whole-wheat egg noodles.

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Cilantro Bean Burgers with Creamy Avocado-Lime Slaw

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Lighten up your burger! Bean patties have less saturated fat and more fiber than beef patties. They're also cheaper and easier to cook indoors--and we promise they're just as satisfying, especially with the mouthwatering creamy slaw on top.

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Fresh Herb Shrimp Linguini

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Have this fresh shrimp and pasta meal on the table in 30 minutes.

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Skillet Chicken Potpie

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A store-bought pie crust, frozen veggies and precooked chicken simplify the prep for this easy potpie. This healthy dinner recipe is comfort food at its best.

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Scrambled Egg Curry

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This mildly spiced Indian scrambled egg recipe makes a great light lunch or light dinner. Tuck the curried eggs into a warm whole-wheat tortilla or an Indian flatbread, like paratha, which can be found in the freezer case at Indian markets. Serve with a dollop of yogurt.

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Slow-Cooker Jambalaya

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This hearty jambalaya is bursting with chicken, smoked turkey sausage, and shrimp. It takes just 25 minutes to prep in the morning and then your slow cooker will work its magic and deliver a tasty meal at the end of the day.

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Chicken Chili Verde

Chicken Chili Verde
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Prepared salsa verde adds tang to this fast weeknight chili recipe and pairs beautifully with the rich caramelized chicken and creamy beans. Don't shy away from the poblano peppers. They offer a mild heat but deliver a depth of flavor you can't find in regular green bell peppers.

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 22 One-Pan Chicken & Asparagus Bake
    2 of 22 Zucchini-Chickpea Veggie Burgers with Tahini-Ranch Sauce
    3 of 22 Tamari-Ginger Meatball & Eggplant Casserole
    4 of 22 Charred Shrimp & Pesto Buddha Bowls
    5 of 22 Basil Pesto Pasta with Grilled Vegetables
    6 of 22 Spinach & Egg Scramble with Raspberries
    7 of 22 Sheet-Pan Salmon with Sweet Potatoes & Broccoli
    8 of 22 Broccolini, Chicken Sausage & Orzo Skillet
    9 of 22 Roasted Root Veggies & Greens over Spiced Lentils
    10 of 22 Shrimp and Cauliflower Bake
    11 of 22 Swordfish with Olives, Capers & Tomatoes over Polenta
    12 of 22 Stuffed Potatoes with Salsa & Beans
    13 of 22 Pistachio-Crusted Chicken with Warm Barley Salad
    14 of 22 Beer-Battered Fish Tacos with Tomato & Avocado Salsa
    15 of 22 Spinach Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, White Beans & Basil
    16 of 22 Slow-Cooker Braised Beef with Carrots & Turnips
    17 of 22 Cilantro Bean Burgers with Creamy Avocado-Lime Slaw
    18 of 22 Fresh Herb Shrimp Linguini
    19 of 22 Skillet Chicken Potpie
    20 of 22 Scrambled Egg Curry
    21 of 22 Slow-Cooker Jambalaya
    22 of 22 Chicken Chili Verde

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    22 Diabetes-Friendly Dinners You'll Want to Make Forever
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