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  6. 20 Diabetes-Friendly Summer Dinners That Can Help Reduce Inflammation

20 Diabetes-Friendly Summer Dinners That Can Help Reduce Inflammation

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Danielle DeAngelis Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD July 19, 2022
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
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Crispy Chickpea Grain Bowl with Lemon Vinaigrette

Serve up your favorite seasonal flavors with these bright and filling summer dinners. These recipes are naturally low in saturated fat and sodium, and focus on complex carbs like quinoa and beans, making them a great fit for a diabetes-friendly eating pattern. Plus, the summer veggies and fish in these dinners can help reduce inflammation and its pesky symptoms like joint stiffness and mental fog. Recipes like our Big Beautiful Summer Salad and Salmon with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce are delicious and nutritious.

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Sheet-Pan Poblano-&-Corn Chicken Fajitas

Sheet-Pan Poblano-&-Corn Chicken Fajitas
Credit: Photographer / Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist / Christine Kelly, Food Stylist / Karen Rankin
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These sheet-pan poblano-and-corn chicken fajitas are seasoned with mild ancho chile powder, paprika and cumin. The chicken and vegetables cook on a sheet pan under the broiler so you can forget working over a hot stove or grill to get dinner on the table fast. Plus, with only one pan, cleanup is a breeze!

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Crispy Chickpea Grain Bowl with Lemon Vinaigrette

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Our favorite part of these vegetarian grain bowls is the tangy lemon vinaigrette, which ties together a satisfying combo of quinoa, toasted pumpkin seeds, and roasted chickpeas and kale. Whip them up for easy meal-prep lunches or a healthy and satisfying dinner.

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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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Salmon with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

Salmon with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
Credit: Jamie Vespa
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A jar of sun-dried tomatoes does double duty for this healthy dinner recipe—the flavorful oil they're packed in is used to sauté the shallots and the actual tomatoes help to add delicious flavor to the creamy sauce. Served with perfectly cooked salmon, you really can't go wrong with this easy 20-minute weeknight meal. This recipe is a variation on our insanely popular Chicken Cutlets with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce recipe by Carolyn Malcoun.

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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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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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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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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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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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Salmon Couscous Salad

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This healthy and easy salad is designed to be made with precooked or leftover salmon. To quickly cook salmon, lightly brush with olive oil, then roast in a 450 degrees F oven until the fish is opaque and firm, 8 to 12 minutes.

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Charred Vegetable & Bean Tostadas with Lime Crema

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Pile vegetables and black beans onto crisp tostadas and top them off with lime crema for a vegetarian dinner the whole family will love. Charring the vegetables under the broiler infuses them with smoky flavor while cooking them quickly.

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Goddess Veggie Bowls with Chicken

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Dark green dinosaur kale contrasts with the warm tones of bell peppers and tomatoes in these hearty chicken and veggie bowls.

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Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Salmon

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Wondering what to do with leftover salmon? This is a delicious and easy way to turn it into another weeknight-friendly, quick dinner. Don't forget to reserve some pasta water--its starch thickens the lemon-garlic pasta sauce and makes it silky-smooth.

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Spiced Grilled Chicken with Cauliflower "Rice" Tabbouleh

spice grilled chicken
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Chicken breasts on the grill have a smoky flavor that's enhanced with an easy spice rub. We chose flat-leaf parsley in this salad because it has a stronger herbal taste than its sometimes-bitter curly counterpart.

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Spring Roll Salad

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All the tastes, color and fun of a spring roll without all the work! This healthy salad recipe is bursting with the colors of rainbow from generous amounts of fresh vegetables, shrimp and whole grains all topped with a peanut dressing for the ultimate satisfying salad.

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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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Seared Scallops with White Bean Ragu & Charred Lemon

Seared Scallops with White Bean Ragu & Charred Lemon
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This recipe for seared scallops with white beans and spinach turns out a healthy dinner that looks impressive (and tastes great) in just 25 minutes. Giving lemons a quick sizzle in the skillet amps up the flavor of this piccata-inspired dish. The heat helps release even more citrus juice and sweetens it too. When shopping for scallops, look for ones labeled "dry." Some scallops are soaked in a solution that prevents them from searing properly and can give them a soapy flavor.

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Tomato, Cucumber & White-Bean Salad with Basil Vinaigrette

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This no-cook bean salad is a delicious way to use summer's best cherry or grape tomatoes and juicy cucumbers for a light dinner or lunch. Fresh basil elevates an easy vinaigrette recipe that dresses up this simple salad into something extraordinary.

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Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajita Bowls

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Skip the tortillas in favor of this warm fajita salad, which features a nutritious medley of chicken with roasted kale, bell peppers and black beans. The chicken, beans and vegetables are all cooked on the same pan, so this healthy dinner is easy to make and the cleanup is easy too.

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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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    1 of 20 Sheet-Pan Poblano-&-Corn Chicken Fajitas
    2 of 20 Crispy Chickpea Grain Bowl with Lemon Vinaigrette
    3 of 20 Big Beautiful Summer Salad
    4 of 20 Salmon with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
    5 of 20 Grilled Chicken with Farro & Roasted Cauliflower
    6 of 20 One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Broccoli
    7 of 20 Quinoa, Avocado & Chickpea Salad over Mixed Greens
    8 of 20 Air-Fryer Tilapia
    9 of 20 Chopped Chicken & Sweet Potato Salad
    10 of 20 Salmon Couscous Salad
    11 of 20 Charred Vegetable & Bean Tostadas with Lime Crema
    12 of 20 Goddess Veggie Bowls with Chicken
    13 of 20 Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Salmon
    14 of 20 Spiced Grilled Chicken with Cauliflower "Rice" Tabbouleh
    15 of 20 Spring Roll Salad
    16 of 20 Salmon Rice Bowl
    17 of 20 Seared Scallops with White Bean Ragu & Charred Lemon
    18 of 20 Tomato, Cucumber & White-Bean Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
    19 of 20 Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajita Bowls
    20 of 20 No-Cook Black Bean Salad

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    20 Diabetes-Friendly Summer Dinners That Can Help Reduce Inflammation
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