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  6. 25 Diabetes-Friendly Recipes You Can Make in a Cast-Iron Skillet

25 Diabetes-Friendly Recipes You Can Make in a Cast-Iron Skillet

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Danielle DeAngelis Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD September 05, 2022
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
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You can make breakfast, lunch and dinner in a cast-iron skillet for something that is simple to make but spares no deliciousness. These meals feature complex carbs like whole-wheat pasta and legumes and have lower counts of saturated fats and sodium, so they are a great fit for a diabetes-friendly eating pattern. Try recipes like our Skillet Chicken Potpie and Southwest Breakfast Skillet for a delicious dinner that makes cleanup a breeze.

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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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Garlic-Sautéed Shrimp

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Peeled shrimp may be convenient, but here the shells--and heads if you are lucky enough to find them still on--are transformed into a quick stock that adds a boost of flavor. Serve the garlic-sautéed shrimp as an appetizer or use them as a topping for pasta or risotto.

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Chicken Enchilada Skillet Casserole

Chicken Enchilada Skillet Casserole
Credit: Jacob Fox
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This simplified take on cheesy chicken enchiladas only requires one pan for cooking and eliminates the need to stuff and roll corn tortillas. Charring the veggies in a cast-iron skillet adds depth of flavor. Don't worry if you don't have one, because you can use any oven-safe skillet instead.

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Easy Cauliflower Fried Rice

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This vegetarian faux fried rice uses riced cauliflower in place of white or brown rice to pack in extra veggies and cut down on carbs. Chile-garlic sauce pumps up the heat, and fresh ginger adds a bright, warm bite. If you don't like the heat of the chile-garlic sauce, leave it out and add a bit more tamari or soy sauce for a rich, fermented tang.

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Southwest Breakfast Skillet

Southwest Breakfast Skillet
Credit: Carolyn Hodges, M.S., RDN
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One skillet is all you need to create this satisfying, veggie-loaded breakfast (or dinner) dish. This skillet is packed with mushrooms, bell pepper and chard to help up your veggie count for the day and is topped with bacon, eggs, cheese, pico de gallo and fresh cilantro.

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Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan

Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan
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This one-pan pasta that combines lean chicken breast and sautéed spinach for a one-bowl meal is garlicky, lemony and best served with a little Parm on top. I call it "Mom's Skillet Pasta" and she called it "Devon's Favorite Pasta." Either way it's a quick and easy weeknight dinner we created together and scribbled on a little recipe card more than a decade ago, and it remains in my weekly dinner rotation to this day. It's a simple dinner the whole family will love.

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Skillet Lemon Chicken & Potatoes with Kale

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This easy one-pan skillet-roasted lemon chicken is perfect for weeknight dinners. Juicy chicken thighs are cooked in the same pan as baby potatoes and kale for a satisfying meal with the added bonus of minimal cleanup.

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Summer Skillet Vegetable & Egg Scramble

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Don't toss out those almost-past-their-prime vegetables and fresh herbs. Toss them into this skillet egg scramble for a quick vegetarian meal. Nearly any vegetable will work in this easy skillet recipe, so choose your favorites or use what you have on hand.

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Chicken Sausage & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan

Chicken Sausage & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan
Credit: Jamie Vespa
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This one-pan pasta combines tasty chicken sausage and sautéed spinach for a one-bowl meal that's garlicky, lemony and best served with a little Parm on top. It's a quick and easy weeknight dinner everyone is sure to love. This recipe is a variation on our Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan, which is a super-popular recipe developed by Devon O'Brien.

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10-Minute Tuna Melt

10-Minute Tuna Melt
Credit: Joy Howard
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This variation of a classic sandwich uses mayonnaise, but not where you think! Mayo is brushed on the outside of the sandwich in place of butter to make the sandwich golden and crispy as it heats in a skillet. Plain Greek yogurt takes mayo's place in the salad—along with crunchy celery, roasted red bell peppers and scallions—for a satisfying lunch with less saturated fat.

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Two-Ingredient Banana Pancakes

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These delicious and unbelievably simple pancakes are best enjoyed right after cooking. With just eggs and a banana, you can have healthy grain-free pancakes with no added sugar. Serve with maple syrup and yogurt or ricotta cheese to add in some protein.

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Tofu & Snow Pea Stir-Fry with Peanut Sauce

Tofu & Snow Pea Stir-Fry with Peanut Sauce
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A fast dinner recipe perfect for busy weeknights, this easy stir-fry recipe will quickly become a favorite. To save time, use precooked rice or cook rice a day ahead.

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Cheddar and Zucchini Frittata

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This frittata is made with cheddar cheese and zucchini and is quick and easy to prepare. With just 115 calories per serving, this is a guilt free meal.

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Skillet Lemon-Pepper Salmon

skillet lemon pepper salmon
Credit: Ali Redmond
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Simple ingredients like lemon, cracked black pepper and paprika completely awaken this fall-apart-tender salmon with a crispy exterior. Use this salmon to add protein to a grain bowl or salad, or enjoy alongside roasted veggies.

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Rosemary Chicken with Sweet Potatoes

Rosemary Chicken with Sweet Potatoes
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Chicken and sweet potatoes unite with the delicious taste of rosemary in this easy, one-skillet meal. Because we use parcooked and unseasoned sweet potatoes, the cooking time is much shorter--making this recipe perfect for weeknight cooking.

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"Egg in a Hole" Peppers with Avocado Salsa

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Colorful bell pepper rings stand in for bread in this healthy version of egg in a hole. Cook an egg inside the peppers and top with a vibrant avocado salsa for a cheerful breakfast.

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Lemon-Thyme Roasted Chicken with Fingerlings

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Fingerling potatoes are small, long, knobby spuds that are shaped like fingers. Look for them in the produce department or at farmers' markets.

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Southwest Breakfast Quesadilla

Southwest Breakfast Quesadilla
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Pico de gallo and cheesy eggs make this quick breakfast flavorful and satisfying.

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Red Beans and Rice with Chicken

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Fiber-rich red beans, whole-grain brown rice and skillet-cooked chicken breast are ready in just 20 minutes.

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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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Spicy Chicken and Snow Pea Skillet

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Chock-full of nutrients, snow peas shine in this 20-minute, harissa-sauced, one-pot meal that feeds the whole family. Harissa is a North African hot chile paste--use just a teaspoon if you prefer a mild flavor.

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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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Mushroom & Tofu Stir-Fry

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This tofu veggie stir-fry is quick and easy, making it a great go-to weeknight meal. Baked tofu has a firm, toothsome texture that crisps well in a hot pan. You can find it in flavors like teriyaki and sesame, both of which are delicious here. Or opt for a smoked version, which has the same texture with a more robust flavor. Serve over brown rice.

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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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Beef & Bean Sloppy Joes

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This healthy copycat recipe of the comfort food classic trades beans for some of the meat to bump up fiber by 7 grams. We also cut back on the sugar and ketchup in this Sloppy Joe recipe makeover to save you 12 grams of added sugar.

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    1 of 25 Skillet Chicken Potpie
    2 of 25 Garlic-Sautéed Shrimp
    3 of 25 Chicken Enchilada Skillet Casserole
    4 of 25 Easy Cauliflower Fried Rice
    5 of 25 Southwest Breakfast Skillet
    6 of 25 Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan
    7 of 25 Skillet Lemon Chicken & Potatoes with Kale
    8 of 25 Summer Skillet Vegetable & Egg Scramble
    9 of 25 Chicken Sausage & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan
    10 of 25 10-Minute Tuna Melt
    11 of 25 Two-Ingredient Banana Pancakes
    12 of 25 Tofu & Snow Pea Stir-Fry with Peanut Sauce
    13 of 25 Cheddar and Zucchini Frittata
    14 of 25 Skillet Lemon-Pepper Salmon
    15 of 25 Rosemary Chicken with Sweet Potatoes
    16 of 25 "Egg in a Hole" Peppers with Avocado Salsa
    17 of 25 Lemon-Thyme Roasted Chicken with Fingerlings
    18 of 25 Southwest Breakfast Quesadilla
    19 of 25 Red Beans and Rice with Chicken
    20 of 25 Skillet Steak with Mushroom Sauce
    21 of 25 Spicy Chicken and Snow Pea Skillet
    22 of 25 Salmon with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
    23 of 25 Mushroom & Tofu Stir-Fry
    24 of 25 Spinach & Egg Scramble with Raspberries
    25 of 25 Beef & Bean Sloppy Joes

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    25 Diabetes-Friendly Recipes You Can Make in a Cast-Iron Skillet
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