Diabetes-Friendly Holiday & Event Recipes

Find healthy, delicious holiday and event recipes for diabetes, including diabetes-friendly Christmas, Thanksgiving and birthday recipes. Healthier recipes, from the food and nutrition experts at EatingWell.

Staff Picks

Chhole (Chickpea Curry)

Rating: 4.5 stars 53
This healthy Indian recipe is a flavorful chickpea curry that you can make in just 20 minutes. If you want to add a vegetable, stir in some roasted cauliflower. Serve with brown basmati rice or warm naan.
Shefaly Ravula, PA-C
By Shefaly Ravula, PA-C

Chicken & White Bean Soup

Rating: 4.5 stars 21
Once again, rotisserie chickens can really relieve the dinner-rush pressure-especially in this Italian-inspired soup that cries out for a piece of crusty bread and a glass of red wine.
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By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajitas

Rating: 5 stars 25
One sheet pan is all you'll need to whip up this chicken fajita recipe. They're quick and easy to make and cleanup is even faster!
By Carolyn Casner

Roasted Honeynut Squash

Rating: 5 stars 6
Honeynut squash looks just like mini butternut squash, but on the inside you'll find an even sweeter, deeper orange flesh. This winter squash has only been available at farmers' markets and in select grocery stores for a few years. If you see it, grab a few to try! This simple roasting method enhances the natural flavor of the squash with butter and spices.
By Carolyn Casner

No-Cook Black Bean Salad

Rating: 5 stars 9
The dressing for this vegan black bean 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.
Hilary Meyer
By Hilary Meyer

Slow-Cooker Arroz con Pollo (Chicken & Rice)

Rating: 4.5 stars 6
This one-pot chicken dinner, inspired by the traditional dish of Spain and Latin America, comes together easily in the crock pot. The instant brown rice is added near the end, to keep it from overcooking.
By Laura Walsh

Caesar Salad Dressing

Rating: 4.5 stars 4
Double this Caesar salad dressing recipe to have extra on hand for tomorrow night's salad.
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By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Peanut Butter-Oat Energy Balls

Rating: 4.5 stars 10
Sweet, sticky dates act as the glue for these no-bake energy balls. Perfect for hikes or during sports, this healthy snack travels well. For the best flavor and texture, use Medjool dates--the largest and most luscious date variety. Look for them in the produce department or near other dried fruits.
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By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Sunomono (Japanese Cucumber Salad)

Rating: 4.5 stars 6
This version of sunomono uses more readily available English or slicing cucumbers, but if you live near an Asian market you could substitute Japanese cucumbers. Some recipes call for salting the cucumbers first, but we found that squeezing them in paper towels removed enough excess moisture without adding additional sodium. This Japanese-inspired salad is cool, crisp and simply delicious.
By Jessie Price

One-Bowl Chocolate Cake

Rating: 4.5 stars 34
This easy-to-make chocolate cake is dark, moist, and rich, and it's made with healthful canola oil and whole-wheat flour. Plus, it only dirties one bowl! It's not quite as easy as boxed cake mix, but our simple 3-step recipe gives you an entirely homemade cake in about an hour.
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By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Sheet-Pan Roasted Root Vegetables

Rating: 5 stars 11
One pan is all you need for a heaping pile of nutritious, tender and colorful roasted root vegetables. Whip up this recipe at the beginning of the week to use in easy, healthy dinners all week long.
By Sylvia Fountaine

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Onions

Rating: 5 stars 11
Fresh herbs, onion and sautéed bacon flavor this easy Brussels sprouts recipe. This savory dish is delicious in the fall and winter months, when Brussels sprouts are in season. If you can find them still attached to the stalk, don't be intimidated—buy them, as they're likely more fresh. Recipe adapted from The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters.
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By EatingWell Test Kitchen
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Inspiration and Ideas

19 Vegetarian Diabetes-Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes
These meatless Thanksgiving dishes—ranging from appetizers to entrees—include complex carbs like whole grains and starchy vegetables and have heart-healthy levels of saturated fats and sodium, so they fit well into a diabetes-friendly eating pattern.
17 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Desserts for Diabetes
Ease some of the Thanksgiving cooking stress with these make-ahead diabetes-friendly dessert recipes.
Maple-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Rating: 5 stars 15

In this healthy side dish, sweet potatoes are tossed with maple syrup, butter and lemon juice and roasted until golden brown. The delicious glaze that forms transforms this simple dish into something sublime.