30 Diabetes-Friendly Dinners You'll Want to Make Forever By Leah Goggins Leah Goggins Leah Goggins is a journalist and an editor at EatingWell. She assigns and edits all kinds of news content, from delicious grocery roundups to new studies in health and nutrition. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 19, 2025 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is the senior nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Close Get ready to dig into a truly delicious and healthy dinner that will help you meet your goals. These recipes run the gamut from creamy soups to spicy tacos and lots of tasty options in between. With lower levels of saturated fat and sodium and a focus on complex carbs, like whole grains, these dishes will shake up your dinner routine while sticking to a diabetes-friendly eating pattern. Recipes like our Roasted Potato Tzatziki Bowls and Creamy Lemon-Dill Chicken & Rice Casserole are satisfying ways to end your day. Love any of these recipes? Tap "Save" to add them to MyRecipes, your new, free recipe box for EatingWell. 01 of 30 Ginger-Tahini Oven-Baked Salmon & Vegetables The tahini sauce does double duty in this healthy salmon recipe, serving as a glaze for the fish and also as a drizzle for the entire dish at the end of cooking. The green beans are cooked just slightly in this recipe, to still be crisp. If you like your green beans tenderer, look for thinner beans or haricot verts in the grocery store; they'll cook more quickly. This sheet-pan dinner recipe is not only delicious--it also comes together with just 25 minutes of active prep time, and there's only one pan to clean up afterwards! View Recipe Save 02 of 30 Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajita Bowls 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. View Recipe Save 03 of 30 Creamy Fettuccine with Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms Sliced Brussels sprouts and mushrooms cook quickly and cling to the pasta in our fall version of pasta primavera. Look for presliced mushrooms to cut prep time. Serve with a tossed salad. View Recipe Save 04 of 30 Charred Shrimp, Pesto & Quinoa Bowls These shrimp, pesto and quinoa 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. View Recipe Save 05 of 30 Cilantro Bean Burgers with Creamy Avocado-Lime Slaw 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. View Recipe Save 06 of 30 Sheet-Pan Salmon with Sweet Potatoes & Broccoli photography / Caitlin bensel, Food Styling / Emily Nabors Hall The vibrant combo of cheese, cilantro, chili, and lime--inspired by Mexican street corn--makes this salmon sheet-pan dinner burst with flavor. View Recipe Save 07 of 30 Lemon Chicken Pasta 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. View Recipe Save 08 of 30 Roasted Root Veggies & Greens over Spiced Lentils Ali Redmond 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. View Recipe Save 09 of 30 Kung Pao Chicken with Bell Peppers 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. View Recipe Save 10 of 30 Broccolini, Chicken Sausage & Orzo Skillet 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. View Recipe Save 11 of 30 Slow-Cooker Arroz con Pollo (Chicken & Rice) 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. View Recipe Save 12 of 30 Paprika Baked Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes & Broccoli You'd never guess that this elegant meal comes together on just one baking sheet. While the pork rests, whip together an easy red pepper sauce to complete this impressive and healthy dinner. The sauce would also be delicious with chicken. We're willing to bet this easy sheet-pan dinner recipe will go into heavy rotation on your kitchen playlist. View Recipe Save 13 of 30 Chicken Chili with Sweet Potatoes Tons of spice, corn and bell pepper give this healthy one-pot chicken chili recipe Southwestern flair. Serve with your favorite hot sauce, tortilla chips and a cold beer. View Recipe Save 14 of 30 Basil Pesto Pasta with Grilled Vegetables 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. View Recipe Save 15 of 30 Sheet-Pan Chicken & Shrimp This Creole-inspired variation of a shrimp boil can be made in the oven on just one baking sheet. A medley of spices gives this healthy dish of chicken, sausage and veggies a rich, complex flavor. Bonus: This easy sheet-pan dinner requires just 20 minutes of active prep time. View Recipe Save 16 of 30 Carne Asada Tacos These flank-steak soft tacos are so tasty and easy, they should be in everyone's repertoire. Plus they're made with fresh corn tortillas (not fried) and topped with a quick homemade salsa made with avocado, tomato, onion and a bright squeeze of lime. View Recipe Save 17 of 30 Chicken, Arugula & Butternut Squash Salad with Brussels Sprouts Hot roasted vegetables lightly wilt the arugula in this healthy dinner salad recipe. Keep prep time minimal with leftover chicken, precut butternut squash and trimmed Brussels sprouts. View Recipe Save 18 of 30 Vegetarian Lo Mein with Shiitakes, Carrots & Bean Sprouts A hit of Sriracha gives a sweet and spicy edge to this healthy vegetarian recipe. Traditional lo mein is made with fresh lo mein noodles, which can be found in Asian markets. You can also use fresh or dried linguine noodles--fresh linguine is in the refrigerated section of some grocery stores. This easy dinner comes together in just 30 minutes, so it's perfect for weeknights. View Recipe Save 19 of 30 High-Protein White Bean Salad with Feta & Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen This white bean salad with feta and lemon-garlic vinaigrette is a quick salad that requires no stove time. White beans provide plant-based protein while also adding fiber to keep you full. Creamy feta cheese provides a tangy, salty contrast to the bright vinaigrette. Tossed with fresh herbs and toasted walnuts, this salad is perfect for a light lunch. View Recipe Save 20 of 30 Creamy Lemon-Dill Chicken & Rice Casserole Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong This creamy lemon-dill chicken and rice casserole is pure comfort in a bowl, bursting with the bright, fresh flavors of lemon and dill. Tender chicken and brown rice make it a satisfying, cozy dish everyone will love. Using microwaveable rice is a game-changer for convenience. It cuts down on prep time, ensuring the dish comes together quickly. Of course, if you have it, leftover cooked brown rice will work just as well. View Recipe Save 21 of 30 Roasted Potato Tzatziki Bowls Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Christina Daley Our roasted potato tzatziki bowls are the perfect plant-based dinner, with bright, fresh and creamy flavors in every bite. Crispy, golden roasted potatoes are the centerpiece, accompanied by a tangy, herb-packed tzatziki sauce at the base. Loaded with fresh veggies like cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and red onion with a side of chickpeas for added fiber and plant-based protein, these bowls deliver big on flavor and nutrition. View Recipe Save 22 of 30 Ginger-Dill Salmon with Cucumber & Avocado Salad Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Christina Daley This ginger-dill salmon with cucumber and avocado salad is a light, refreshing meal that doesn’t skimp on flavor. Tender, flaky salmon is infused with the unusual combination of warm ginger and fresh dill, making it the perfect complement to the cool, creamy salad. View Recipe Save 23 of 30 Saag Aloo Matar photographer: Jen Causey, food stylist: Julian Hensarling, prop stylist: Josh Hoggle This cozy one-skillet recipe draws inspiration from two Indian dishes: saag aloo and aloo matar. It’s packed with plenty of vegetables, including leafy greens, potatoes and peas, all simmered in an aromatic tomato-based sauce. Saag aloo matar is perfect on its own or served with warm naan or basmati rice. View Recipe Save 24 of 30 Sheet-Pan Chicken Thighs with Red Cabbage & Sweet Potatoes photographer: Jen Causey, food stylist: Julian Hensarling, prop stylist: Josh Hoggle These chicken thighs with sweet potatoes and cabbage are a delicious and easy meal to prepare. The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity—everything cooks together on one sheet pan, making cleanup a breeze. As the ingredients roast together, the chicken juices meld with the vegetables, creating a savory dinner for when you want something comforting and healthy. View Recipe Save 25 of 30 Roasted Salmon & Broccoli Rice Bowls Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Amanda Holstein, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Gochujang, mayonnaise and honey combine to bring a spicy-sweet flavor to roasted salmon fillets. The honey allows the sauce to cling to the salmon while also providing a slight caramelization. Store-bought kimchi adds a nice tang to complete these weeknight-friendly rice bowls. View Recipe Save 26 of 30 Brothy Lemon-Garlic Beans Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Amanda Holstein, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong These brothy lemon-garlic beans offer a comforting dinner that comes together in minutes. The creamy beans soak up the garlicky, lemon-infused broth, which is perfectly sopped up with a piece of toasted whole-wheat bread. For a little extra flair, finish the dish with a drizzle of good olive oil—or, for a creamier take, a dollop of Greek-style yogurt. View Recipe Save 27 of 30 Za’atar-Roasted Chicken with Chickpeas Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey This za’atar-roasted chicken is bursting with vibrant flavors. Za’atar—a fragrant blend of dried oregano, thyme and/or marjoram, sumac and toasted sesame seeds—mingles with lemon and garlic, infusing chicken thighs and chickpeas with tangy, earthy and savory notes. This delicious meal is roasted on one sheet pan, making it not only full of flavor but also easy to prepare and clean up, creating a satisfying, hassle-free meal that’s perfect for busy nights. View Recipe Save 28 of 30 One-Skillet Garlicky Salmon & Broccoli Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey This one-skillet salmon and broccoli recipe is the perfect 20-minute dinner for busy weeknights! This dish combines tender, flaky salmon with crisp, garlicky broccoli and bell pepper, all cooked in one pan for easy prep and cleanup. Packed with lean protein, omega-3s and a generous serving of veggies, this is one recipe you’ll want on repeat! View Recipe Save 29 of 30 Pasta with Garlicky Tomato Sauce & Bay Scallops Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower his scallop pasta is an easy yet elegant dish that delivers restaurant-quality flavor without the fuss. Sweet, tender bay scallops are lightly seared to perfection and combined with a fresh, garlicky tomato sauce simmered with zucchini to deepen the flavors. When buying scallops, look for ones that are dry-packed and don’t feature artificial preservatives. View Recipe Save 30 of 30 Chicken Parmesan Soup Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood, Food Stylist: Sally McKay This chicken Parmesan soup combines the rich flavors of a traditional chicken Parm—juicy seasoned chicken, tangy marinara sauce and savory Parmesan cheese—with the warmth and comfort of a soup. It’s a perfect dish for those chilly days when you crave something familiar with a fun, innovative twist! We love the punchy burst of flavor that Parmesan crisps offer as a garnish, but feel free to add freshly grated Parmesan in their place. View Recipe Save Explore more: Healthy Recipes Health Conditions Diabetes-Friendly Diabetes-Friendly Dinner Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit