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  6. 25 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dinners You'll Want to Make This Summer

25 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dinners You'll Want to Make This Summer

portrait of Dani
Danielle DeAngelis Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD June 23, 2022
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
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Sesame Kohlrabi & Chicken Salad
Credit: Charlotte & Johnny Autry

Dinners with bright ingredients from citrus and cilantro to avocado and chickpeas are perfect for the summer season. Featuring fiber-packed complex carbs like quinoa and sweet potatoes, these dinner recipes are low in saturated fat and sodium to seamlessly fit into a diabetes-friendly eating pattern. Recipes like or Air-Fryer Fish Tacos and Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Bowl are healthy, seasonal and easy to make for dinner tonight.

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Salmon Rice Bowl

Salmon Rice Bowl
Credit: Ali Redmond
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Inspired by the viral TikTok trend, this tasty bowl makes for a satisfying lunch or dinner. With a handful of healthy ingredients, like instant brown rice, heart-healthy salmon and lots of crunchy veggies, you'll have a filling and flavorful meal in just 25 minutes. Looking to cut down on carbs? Try swapping in riced cauliflower in place of the brown rice.

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Sheet-Pan Garlic-Soy Chicken & Vegetables

Sheet-Pan Teriyaki Chicken & Vegetables
Credit: Photographer / Brie Passano, Food Stylist / Annie Probst, Prop Stylist / Holly Raibikis
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This easy dish comes together quickly and is cooked all on one baking sheet. Putting the pan in the oven while it preheats makes it hot enough to lightly sear the chicken and vegetables, adding texture and flavor and also reducing the cook time. Chicken thighs emerge from the oven succulent and coated in the savory sauce (with less salt because of the low-sodium soy sauce) and fragrant from the garlic, ginger and scallions. We recommend serving this with brown rice or whole-wheat noodles.

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Farro Salad with Arugula, Artichokes & Pistachios

8427587.jpg
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Precooked farro makes this dish come together in no time. And you can make it in the same bowl you serve it in, minimizing cleanup!

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Skillet Lemon-Garlic Salmon

skillet lemon garlic salmon
Credit: Jacob Fox
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This ultra-quick one-skillet lemon-garlic salmon recipe features plenty of lemony flavors from both zest and juice. Garlic adds a savory note.

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Easy Pea & Spinach Carbonara

Easy Pea & Spinach Carbonara
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Fresh pasta cooks up faster than dried, making it a must-have for fast weeknight dinners like this luscious yet healthy meal. Eggs are the base of the creamy sauce. They don't get fully cooked, so use pasteurized-in-the-shell eggs if you prefer.

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Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Bowl

cilantro and lime shrimp bowl
Credit: Jen Causey
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This cilantro-lime shrimp bowl has tons of flavor and texture. The cilantro-lime shrimp is tangy and fresh, with brown rice and creamy avocado to balance the flavor. The two-chile cream sauce is easy to make and brings all the flavors of this bowl dinner together.

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Air-Fryer Tilapia

air fryer tilapia
Credit: Jacob Fox
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This quick and simple air-fryer tilapia recipe is perfect for busy weeknights. The tilapia is moist and flaky and gets brightened up with lemon zest and fresh herbs.

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One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Broccoli

One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Broccoli
Credit: Photography / Kelsey Hansen, Styling / Greg Luna
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Shrimp cooks quickly in this easy, one-pot recipe, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Serve over whole grains or rice.

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Green Veggie Bowl with Chicken & Lemon-Tahini Dressing

a blue bowl full of chicken and vegetables and a smaller bowl with dressing
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For this healthy 30-minute dinner, treat your veggies like pasta and cook until al dente, or just done. If you have a little extra time, double or triple the lemon-tahini dressing and use it to quickly dress a salad or as a sauce for steak or shrimp.

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Lemon Chicken Pasta

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In this easy lemon chicken pasta recipe, we love the combination of lemon zest and toasted breadcrumbs. This healthy dinner is made with rotisserie chicken, quick-cooking spiralized zucchini and baby zucchini, so you get a complete meal in just 10 minutes.

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Air-Fryer Fish Tacos

air fryer fish tacos
Credit: Jacob Fox
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These air-fryer fish tacos get their kick from a crispy breadcrumb coating that's spiked with chili powder. Avocado crema helps balance the flavors, while shredded cabbage slaw adds crunch. These easy air-fryer fish tacos are finished with fresh tomato, but feel free to add your own favorite toppings to the mix.

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Shrimp & Crab Salad

shrimp & crab salad
Credit: Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
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Think of this shrimp-and-crab salad as a lightened-up version of a classic seafood salad. It has crunch from celery plus a hint of Old Bay seasoning. Serve it in a lettuce cup or in a bun, or enjoy it on its own.

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Pan-Seared Steak with Crispy Herbs & Escarole

Pan-Seared Steak with Crispy Herbs & Escarole
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This easy dinner takes just 20 minutes to prepare, meaning that seared steak can be a weeknight meal. Cooking herbs in the pan with the steak releases their aroma, infusing it into the meat while creating a crispy garnish. After the steaks and herbs are pan-seared, the escarole is cooked in the same skillet, so this healthy dinner requires minimal cleanup too.

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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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Cheesy Grits with Seared Mushrooms

cheesy grits and mushrooms
Credit: Ali Redmond
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Made to be enjoyed any time of the day, this beloved Southern staple becomes a complete meal with seared garlicky mushrooms and runny eggs.

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Kung Pao Chicken with Bell Peppers

bowls of chicken and peppers
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Here's an easy chicken recipe you'll definitely want to add to your dinner repertoire. A quick marinade tenderizes the chicken and infuses flavor in this stir fry. Adding a little oil to finish the marinade coats the chicken and helps keep it from sticking to the pan.

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Quinoa, Avocado & Chickpea Salad over Mixed Greens

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Protein-rich quinoa and chickpeas add staying power to this zesty and healthy salad recipe.

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Sesame Kohlrabi & Chicken Salad

Sesame Kohlrabi & Chicken Salad
Credit: Charlotte & Johnny Autry
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Kohlrabi (a bulbous vegetable related to broccoli and Brussels sprouts but with a milder, sweet flavor) and almonds add crunch to this crowd-pleasing salad. Baked tofu or shrimp can be used instead of the chicken.

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Baked Crab Cakes

Baked Crab Cakes
Credit: Photographer / Jen Causey, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Chelsea Zimmer
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These baked crab cakes are brimming with chunks of crabmeat and just enough fillers to hold them together. Not firmly packing the crabmeat helps them stay tender and flaky. They're perfect for a light, summery lunch.

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Big Beautiful Summer Salad

plate with microgreens, radishes, avocado
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This gorgeous and healthy summer vegetable salad is loaded with pretty produce, including golden beets, avocado, corn, microgreens and radishes. Chickpeas and edamame add substance, and an herb-filled buttermilk-avocado dressing makes this salad really special. Serve it on its own for a light vegetarian meal or add grilled chicken for an easy weeknight dinner.

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Baked Fish Tacos with Avocado

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Instead of deep-frying, the fish fillets in this quick-and-easy 5-ingredient recipe are coated with a flavorful seasoning blend and baked. Several varieties of flaky white fish can be used for these tacos. When you go to the market to purchase fish, the best strategy is to be flexible and choose the variety that looks freshest that day.

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No-Cook Black Bean Salad

No-Cook Black Bean Salad
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A classic black bean salad is a must for picnics and potlucks. This vegan version gets its creaminess from blended avocado. Any mix of salad greens will work well, but try arugula if you want to give this hearty salad a peppery kick.

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Skillet Steak with Mushroom Sauce

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This steak, broccolini and pea dinner is a one-skillet meal that will be on your table in just 25 minutes! The pan drippings combine with mushrooms, broth and grainy mustard to make a thick and delicious sauce.

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Chopped Chicken & Sweet Potato Salad

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This easy salad recipe allows for a wonderful use of leftover cooked chicken. Look for escarole in the produce section near the leafy greens; if you can't find it, you can use romaine instead.

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Grilled Chicken with Farro & Roasted Cauliflower

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You can find farro in most grocery stores, near the rice. If you can't find farro, you can use wheat berries or brown rice instead; cook according to package directions.

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    1 of 25 Salmon Rice Bowl
    2 of 25 Sheet-Pan Garlic-Soy Chicken & Vegetables
    3 of 25 Farro Salad with Arugula, Artichokes & Pistachios
    4 of 25 Skillet Lemon-Garlic Salmon
    5 of 25 Easy Pea & Spinach Carbonara
    6 of 25 Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Bowl
    7 of 25 Air-Fryer Tilapia
    8 of 25 One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Broccoli
    9 of 25 Green Veggie Bowl with Chicken & Lemon-Tahini Dressing
    10 of 25 Lemon Chicken Pasta
    11 of 25 Air-Fryer Fish Tacos
    12 of 25 Shrimp & Crab Salad
    13 of 25 Pan-Seared Steak with Crispy Herbs & Escarole
    14 of 25 Zucchini-Chickpea Veggie Burgers with Tahini-Ranch Sauce
    15 of 25 Cheesy Grits with Seared Mushrooms
    16 of 25 Kung Pao Chicken with Bell Peppers
    17 of 25 Quinoa, Avocado & Chickpea Salad over Mixed Greens
    18 of 25 Sesame Kohlrabi & Chicken Salad
    19 of 25 Baked Crab Cakes
    20 of 25 Big Beautiful Summer Salad
    21 of 25 Baked Fish Tacos with Avocado
    22 of 25 No-Cook Black Bean Salad
    23 of 25 Skillet Steak with Mushroom Sauce
    24 of 25 Chopped Chicken & Sweet Potato Salad
    25 of 25 Grilled Chicken with Farro & Roasted Cauliflower

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    25 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dinners You'll Want to Make This Summer
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