Healthy Recipes Health Conditions Diabetes-Appropriate Diabetic Dinner Recipes Our 20 Best New Dinners for Better Blood Sugar By Sadie Schulte Sadie Schulte Sadie Schulte is EatingWell's editorial apprentice. She attends Iowa State University, where she is a senior studying advertising and fashion communications. During her time at college, she has worked as a reporter at the campus newspaper, the Iowa State Daily, where she writes about culture and lifestyle. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 8, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is 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 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Photographer: Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster, Food Stylist: Emily Hall Enjoy one of these new vibrant and flavorful dinner recipes. These meals are packed with a rainbow of veggies, complex carbs, whole grains and are lower in saturated fat and sodium, so they’re suitable if you follow a diabetes-friendly eating pattern. Plus, these recipes are rated 4- and 5-stars by EatingWell readers so we know you’ll love them. Recipes like our Cheesy Asparagus Chicken Cutlets and our Creamy Pesto Shrimp with Gnocchi & Peas will have you savoring each bite while aligning with your health goals. 01 of 20 Cauliflower Steaks Piccata Is Perfect for Meatless Mondays Ali Redmond This cauliflower steak piccata recipe swaps out chicken for thick, center-cut slices of cauliflower while staying true to the flavors of the rich, lemony sauce. To serve this recipe as a side dish, cut the braised cauliflower into large wedges or florets and serve in a bowl topped with the sauce and parsley. View Recipe 02 of 20 Cheesy Asparagus Chicken Cutlets Deliver 32 Grams of Protein Photographer: Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster, Food Stylist: Emily Hall A creamy cheese sauce spiked with tender-crisp asparagus blankets chicken cutlets in this early-spring-inspired weeknight dinner. The asparagus can be swapped with other tender, snappy steamed veggies, like snap peas or green beans. Serve with fingerling or new potatoes for a starchy side to complement the sauce. View Recipe 03 of 20 These Roasted Sweet Potato & Beet Sandwiches Are a Must-Try Recipe Photography: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco These hearty sandwiches are piled high with veggies—including earthy roasted beets and sweet potatoes, lemony arugula and quick-pickled onions—for a satisfying lunch or dinner. We use a whole-wheat baguette, but whole-wheat buns would work as well, if you prefer. Any color of beet would be delicious—try golden or Chioggia if you want to avoid the stains that red beets can leave. View Recipe 04 of 20 Creamy Pesto Shrimp with Gnocchi & Peas Is a 20-Minute Dinner Photographer: Greg DuPree, Prop stylist: Shell Royster, Food stylist: Emily Hall This speedy dinner recipe combines shrimp with pillowy gnocchi, pesto and peas in a creamy sauce. Feel free to substitute the peas with other veggies such as broccoli or asparagus. For a bit of heat, sprinkle in some crushed red pepper, or garnish with grated Parmesan cheese to enhance the savory flavor. View Recipe 05 of 20 15-Minute Eggs in Vodka Sauce Photographer: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Amanda Stanfield, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Drawing inspiration from the classic Italian recipe Uova al Purgatorio (Eggs in Purgatory), this easy one-pot meal melds tangy tomato sauce with perfectly poached eggs, ideal for sopping up with crispy toasted bread. We like to add a dash of heavy cream to give the sauce some added richness, but you can leave it out if you prefer. A garnish of chopped fresh basil or parsley, if you have it on hand, would be a welcome addition. View Recipe 06 of 20 Sheet-Pan Teriyaki Salmon with Green Beans Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell Think of this sheet-pan teriyaki salmon as a stir-fry without the stirring! Instead, rice and veggies are baked on a hot sheet pan alongside green beans and salmon coated in a sweet teriyaki glaze. Microwaveable precooked rice or leftover brown rice works well here. Just be sure to break up any clumps of rice that are stuck together so it cooks evenly. View Recipe 07 of 20 Sheet-Pan Gnocchi with Broccoli & White Beans Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell This effortless dish comes together on two baking sheets for easy preparation and a fast cleanup. A blend of lemon and broccoli mixes with tender gnocchi and rich cannellini beans, all brought together with a generous drizzle of olive oil. For an added protein boost, toss in some shrimp or flaked cooked salmon. View Recipe 08 of 20 Slow-Cooker Sun-Dried Tomato & Spinach Pasta Bake Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell This simple vegetarian pasta bake is rich in protein and comes together effortlessly in the slow cooker, for a convenient one-pot meal. The combination of sun-dried tomatoes, sun-dried tomato pesto and plenty of veggies delivers a mix of sweet and savory flavors with every bite. Feel free to replace the sun-dried tomato pesto with basil pesto, offering a fresh twist on the dish. View Recipe 09 of 20 Slow-Cooker Three-Bean Chili Mac Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell Chili meets mac and cheese in this fix-it-and-forget-it slow-cooker dinner. Hot tomato sauce, a Mexican canned tomato sauce that also includes spices and chiles for heat, kicks up the flavor. If you can’t find hot tomato sauce, regular canned tomato sauce with a tablespoon of chili powder mixed in is a good substitute. You can cook the pasta separately and add it in at the end of cooking, or use our alternative method and cook the pasta in the slow cooker with a few adjustments listed below. View Recipe 10 of 20 Sheet-Pan Salmon with Crispy Quinoa Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell Enjoy a complete protein-rich dinner cooked on just two baking sheets for easy cleanup with this salmon, roasted tomato and quinoa recipe. Baked quinoa adds texture and crunch to the dish. After the quinoa finishes cooking, fluff it with a fork to release steam and encourage it to crisp up as it sits. Packages of precooked quinoa streamline the prep, but if you have leftover quinoa, it works just as well. View Recipe 11 of 20 Chicken & Broccoli Stir-Fry Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle This juicy chicken and broccoli stir-fry features tender-crisp broccoli coated in a velvety sauce flavored with hoisin—a flavorful sauce made from fermented soybean paste that strikes the perfect balance between sweet and tangy. Try this easy stir-fry with chicken tenders, boneless, skinless chicken thighs, or even pork tenderloin for a different twist. View Recipe 12 of 20 Agrodolce Zucchini & Chicken Pasta Ali Redmond Replacing some of the pasta with spiralized zucchini allows for a totally twirlable dish with all the pleasure of noodles. The light lemony sauce and savory shredded chicken are comfort food at its finest, and a sweet-and-sour topping provides crunch, chew, herbal brightness and a palate awakener. View Recipe 13 of 20 Balsamic Butter Chicken Bites Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle These balsamic butter chicken bites are crispy and sticky sweet, thanks to balsamic glaze. Cooking balsamic vinegar with a bit of brown sugar helps it achieve the perfect consistency to cling to the chicken. Serve these tasty bites on a platter with wooden picks for guests to enjoy, or get creative by wrapping them up in a sandwich or using them as a flavorful salad topper. View Recipe 14 of 20 Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Skillet Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle This unstuffed cabbage recipe is ideal for hectic weeknights when time is limited. This savory, meaty dish is prepared in a skillet and baked, capturing the essence of the classic dish while simplifying the process. To expedite prep, we recommend using precooked microwaveable brown rice. However, if you have leftover brown rice that you’d like to use up, that’s a great option too. View Recipe 15 of 20 Baked Garlicky Salmon Cakes Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle These baked salmon cakes are super moist and packed with just the right amount of garlic. Brushing just a little oil on top of the patties gives the salmon cakes a brown, crispy crust. For a twist, swap out the salmon for tuna. Serve with your favorite burger or crabcake sides, like tartar sauce, mayonnaise, leafy greens and a sandwich bun, if desired. View Recipe 16 of 20 Spaghetti with Creamy Lemon-Spinach Sauce Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Give your veggie servings a boost with this easy spaghetti with spinach sauce recipe. Loosely inspired by the flavors of classic pesto, this vibrant pasta packs in plenty of spinach and basil with a garnish of nutty walnuts and savory Parmesan cheese. Serve with a drizzle of good olive oil and a green salad on the side. View Recipe 17 of 20 Creamy Balsamic Chicken & Mushroom Skillet Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle The sauce in this creamy balsamic chicken and mushroom skillet recipe strikes the perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. The shallots, garlic and thyme add aroma and flavor to the dish. Thin-cut chicken cutlets are key for getting dinner on the table quickly. If you can’t find chicken cutlets, make your own: Look for boneless, skinless chicken breasts that are about 8 ounces each. Slice them in half horizontally and pound to an even thickness. View Recipe 18 of 20 Teriyaki Chicken Skillet Casserole with Broccoli Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco Whip up this quick and easy teriyaki chicken casserole in just one skillet—it’s the perfect go-to recipe for hectic weeknights that’s sure to satisfy a crowd. It’s ideal for making use of any leftover chicken and rice you have on hand. If you’re short on leftovers, a rotisserie chicken paired with a package of microwaveable brown rice is a good substitute. View Recipe 19 of 20 Creamy Lemon-Dill Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Casserole Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless Imagine this simple recipe as the casserole version of classic chicken noodle soup! The key to enhancing the flavor is using high-quality broth or homemade chicken stock. Don’t overlook the step of slightly undercooking the noodles—it guarantees they maintain the perfect texture after baking. While we enjoy the fresh, grassy notes of dill, feel free to use parsley or chives as equally delicious alternatives. View Recipe 20 of 20 One-Pot White Bean, Spinach & Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo with Lemon & Feta Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless This one-pot pasta dish with white beans, spinach and sun-dried tomatoes is lively and vibrant and leaves you with an easy cleanup. Toasting the orzo before adding the broth adds another layer of flavor. Another dark leafy green like chopped kale or Swiss chard can stand in for the spinach, but may take longer to wilt in the pan. If you use a sturdier green, add it to the pan during the last 5 minutes of cooking time. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit