Healthy Diabetic Recipes That Are The Best! (2024)

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Are you looking for healthy diabetic-friendly recipes that can easily be prepared in under 30 mins?

Well, this is exactly why I think it’s important to have healthy diabetic recipes available that are simple, easy, and can be made in under 30 minutes! That way it ensures that when life gets in the way, you have the ability to whip something up that’s quick, nutritious and filling even when you have diabetes.

The majority of these 30 minute meals consist of slow releasing, healthier carbs, as opposed to processed, sugary carbohydrates. Which is why these meals are also perfect for people who are living with insulin resistance, are prediabetic, or have type II diabetic.

And did I mention that these diabetic friendly recipes and meals are healthy and tasty? That’s enough of an advantage to want to cook meals at home any day of the week!

So let’s get started by checking out the following list of 30 minute diabetic recipes below!

For simplicity sake, I’ve divided each section into different categories. Each category is based upon the main ingredient present within the dish. For example, you’ll see a meat section, a vegetarian section, a vegan section etc. Also, I’ve added my personal suggestions next to some of the recipes (based on how I would prepare the meal). 😊

Table of Contents

THE BEST 100 HEALTHY DIABETIC-FRIENDLY RECIPES

Meatless Dishes (Vegetarian) for Healthy Diabetics

1) 30 Minute Black Pepper Tofu – Dishing Out Health

2) Fresh Corn & Tomato FettucciniTaste of Home

3) 5-Ingredient Mexican Brown Rice – Kim’s Cravings

4) One Pot Moroccan Chickpea Quinoa Salad – Ambitious Kitchen

5) Warm Caprese Salad – The Endless Meal (To make this recipe even healthier, I would use chickpea or GF pasta and cashew cheese in place of the mozza ball).

6) Instant Pot Lentil Tacos – My Crazy Good Life

7) 15 Minute Lo-Mein – Pinch of Yum (My suggestions would be to use sodium reduced soy sauce in place of dark soy sauce and coconut aminos in place of light soy sauce. I would also replace sesame oil while cooking the noodles and use avocado oil instead).

8) Thai Peanut Coconut Cauliflower Chickpea Curry – Ambitious Kitchen

9) Baked Sweet & Sour Cauliflower Dish – Crème De La Crumb(My suggestions – Substitute vegetable oil with extra virgin olive oil, soy sauce with sodium reduced soy sauce or coconut amino, and sugar with 2 tbs of maple syrup instead!)

10) Mediterranean Avocado Chickpea Pasta Salad– Ambitious Kitchen

11) Vegetable Asian Stir-Fry Noodles – The Endless Meal (My suggestion would be to use low sodium vegetable broth and coconut aminos in place of soy sauce. This will reduce the high sodium content in the meal. I would also use soba noodles in order to reduce the sugar content by half!)

12) Grilled Garden Veggie Pizza – Taste of Home

13) Quick & Easy Black Bean Soup – Ambitious Kitchen

14) Black Bean Veggie Burger – The Endless Meal

Healthy Diabetic Recipes That Are The Best! (2)

Meat Dishes (Chicken & Turkey) for Healthy Diabetics

15) 20 Minute Honey Garlic Chicken – Our Salty Kitchen

16) Chicken Gyro Bowl with Homemade Tzatziki – My Crazy Good Life

17) Thai Chicken Meatballs with Spicy Peanut Sauce – My Sugar Free Kitchen (My suggestions: use either reduced sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos vs. regular soy sauce).

18) Weight Watchers Spanish Rice with Chicken – My Crazy Good Life

19) Chicken Shawarma Salad with Tahini Dressing – Our Salty Kitchen (Cooking time is 30 mins but marinating time is 3 hours, so preferable to do the night before.)

20) Cauliflower + Turkey Taco Bowl – My Crazy Good Life

21) 5-Ingredient Lemon Chicken Asparagus – Pinch of Yum (My suggestions would be to use extra virgin olive oil (instead of butter) and use an equal combination of almond flour and coconut flour!)

22) Healthy Instant Pot Orange Chicken – My Crazy Good Life

23) Turkey Taco Stuffed Sweet Potato – Cookin Canuck

24) Grilled Pineapple Chimichurri Chicken – Taste of Home (My suggestion would be to use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil instead).

25) Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa – Joyful Healthy Eats

26) Ground Turkey Tacos in Lettuce Wraps with Cilantro Lime Crema – Joyful Healthy Eats

27) Easy Ground Turkey Curry – Evolving Table

Seafood Recipes for Healthy Diabetics

28) Black Bean Avocado Tuna Salad Sandwich – Ambitious Kitchen

29) Low Carb Curried Riced Cauliflower with Shrimp – Living Sweet Moments

30) One-Pan Spiced Baked Cod with Brussel Sprouts – Happy Body Formula

31) Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos – Fox and Briar

32) Naked Fish Tacos – Taste of Home

33) Healthy Shrimp Pasta – My Crazy Good Life (My suggestion – I would replace the whole wheat pasta with chickpea or some vegetable pasta and switch ¼ cup of honey with 1-2 tbs of maple syrup instead! This will make it more diabetic friendly.)

34) 20 Minute Honey Garlic Shrimp – Sally’s Baking Addiction

35) Crumb Coated Red Snapper – Taste of Home

36) Easy Shrimp Cakes – My Crazy Good Life

37) Grilled Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos with Chipotle Lime Crema – Joyful Healthy Eats

38) Easy Thai Shrimp Soup – Damn Delicious

39) Garlic Shrimp Pasta – Well Plated

40) Lemon Parsley Tilapia – Taste of Home

41) Cajun Mahi Mahi with Mango Pineapple Salsa – Joyful Healthy Eats

Salmon Dishes for Healthy Diabetics

42) Panko Herb-Crusted Dijon Salmon – Peas and Crayons

43) Basil & Lemon Baked Salmon in Foil – Evolving Table

44) Asian Salmon in Foil – Damn Delicious

45) Baked Herbed Salmon – The Bitter Side of Sweet

46) Salmon & Summer Veggies in Foil – Cooking Classy

47) Rainbow Salmon Skewers – The View From Great Island

48) Kale Pesto Zucchini Noodles with Salmon – Kristine’s Kitchen

49) Spice Rubbed Cedar Plank Salmon with Strawberry Salsa – Joyful Healthy Eats

50) Easy Eggless Salmon Patties – Mommy’s Home Cooking

51) Salmon Gremolata with Roasted Vegetables- Noshtastic

Vegan Dishes for Healthy Diabetics

52) Vegan Tacos with Quinoa Taco Meat – Our Salty Kitchen

53) Vegan Sloppy Joes – Stacey Homemaker (I personally would use half the amount of ketchup and omit the maple syrup altogether. This will make the dish more diabetic friendly! And less sweet.)

54) Easy Lemon Tahini Falafel Wrap – Vibrant Plate

55) 30-Minute Vegan Curry – Stacey Homemaker

56) Famous Crunchy Cashew Thai Quinoa Salad – Ambitious Kitchen

57) Mexican Cauliflower Rice – Our Salty Kitchen

58) Vegan Pesto Pasta – Stacey Homemaker

59) Vegan Black Bean Burgers with Tahini Garlic Cream – Ambitious Kitchen

60) Vegan Saag Paneer (Spinach and Tofu Curry) – Curry Trail

61) Vegan Ramen Bowls with Edamame and Mushrooms – Peas and Crayons

62) Vegan Crunchwrap Supreme – Stacey Homemaker

63) Tempeh Fried Rice – Cupful of Kale (My suggestion would be to replace the dark soy sauce with coconut aminos when making the sauce. And then use reduced sodium soy sauce for the topping!)

64) Thai Buddha Bowl with Peanut Red Curry Sauce – The Stingy Vegan

Gluten Free Recipes for Healthy Diabetics

65) 20 Minute Chopped Thai Chickpea Salad with Curry Peanut Dressing – Ambitious Kitchen

66) Cranberry Chicken – 40 Aprons

67) Avocado Basil Pesto Zucchini Noodles – Ambitious Kitchen

68) Jalapeno Curry Turkey Burgers – Ambitious Kitchen (Make sure to use lettuce or GF buns.)

69) Healthy Roasted Chicken & Veggies in One Pan – Gimme Delicious

70) Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast – Basil and Bubbly

71) Ground Turkey Skillet with Green Beans – Primavera Kitchen

72) 20 Minute Chicken, Rice, & Broccoli – Gimme Delicious

73) Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet – Life Love Liz

74) Mediterranean Roasted Cabbage Steaks with Pesto – Inspector Gorgeous

75) Easy Greek Chicken Skillet – Physical Kitchness

Mediterranean Recipes Perfect for Healthy Diabetics

76) Caprese Chicken – Our Salty Kitchen

77) Easy Mediterranean Pesto Chickpea Salad – Ambitious Kitchen

78) Mediterranean Boneless Pork Chops with Summer Vegetables – Skinny Taste

79) Mediterranean Chickpea Salad – Our Salty Kitchen

80) Italian Skillet Chicken with Tomatoes and Mushrooms – The Mediterranean Dish (My suggestions would be to replace the all purpose flour and use either whole wheat or a equal combination of almond and coconut flour!)

81) Grilled Veggie Pita – Beauty Bites

82) Tuscan Kale & Sundried Tomato Chicken Sausage Gnocchi – With Salt and Wit

83) Chicken Avocado Burger – Laughing Spatula

84) Shrimp & Calamari in Garlicky Tomato Sauce – Beauty Bites

85) Almond-Crusted Chicken Caprese Salad – Floating Kitchen

86) Chicken Souvlaki – Gimme Some Oven

Keto – Friendly Recipes for Healthy Diabetics

87) Eggroll in a Bowl with Creamy Chili Sauce – 40 Aprons

88) Mexican Cauliflower Rice – My Food Story

89) Skinny Bell Pepper Nacho Bowls – SkinnyMs

90) Almond Crusted Chicken Tenders – Skinny Minnie Moves

91) Easy Keto Salmon Cakes – Hey Keto Mama

92) Pizza Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms – Don’t Go Bacon My Heart

93) Shrimp Vegetable Skillet – Primavera Kitchen

94) Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken – Life Made Sweeter

95) Keto Shrimp Scampi – Ketogasm

96) 15 Minute Garlic Shrimp Zoodles – Salt and Lavender

97) Keto Fish Fingers with Chimichurri Mayo– Keto Diet App

98) Zucchini Pasta with Chicken & Pistachios – Happy Body Formula

99) 20 Minute Low Carb Turkey & Peppers – Healthy Seasonal Recipes

100) Vegetarian Korean Bibimpap – Wicked Spatula

I hope these healthy diabetic friendly recipes all under 30 minutes help you out on busy weeknights and hectic weekends too!

If you are interested in lowering your blood sugar and reversing your diabetes by losing weight, then be sure to check out our book SMART & Skinny Habits. We designed this program to help diabetics not only lose weight but REVERSE their diabetic symptoms.

Healthy Diabetic Recipes That Are The Best! (17)

Please be sure to check out this link for all information on Smart & Skinny Habits!

Stay happy, stay healthy!

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Dr. Tina Gupta

Hi I'm Dr. Tina Gupta physician-turned-type 2 diabetes, prediabetes and weight loss coach who helps you easily lower your blood sugars and lose weight by getting to the heart of your needs and desires instead of depending on food to fill that void. If you're interested in working together, email me at drnav@thelifestylecure.com to get started today!

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Healthy Diabetic Recipes That Are The Best! (2024)

FAQs

What are the 5 super foods for diabetics? ›

5 Superfoods to Lower Your Blood Sugar
  • Berries. Don't make your trip to the store fruitless. ...
  • Go nuts. That's right—go ahead and snack on almonds, cashews or even pistachios. ...
  • Leafy greens. ...
  • Non-starchy vegetables. ...
  • Whole grains.

What's a good healthy meal for a diabetic? ›

Examples of what to try
  • a small handful of raw nuts and seeds as a snack or chopped with a green salad.
  • using beans and pulses in a casserole to replace some – or all – of the meat.
  • eggs scrambled, poached, dry fried or boiled – the choice is yours.
  • grilled fish with masala, fish pie, or make your own fishcakes.

What can diabetics eat an unlimited amount of? ›

Non-starchy vegetables are typically one food choice you can eat in unlimited amounts. Load up when you can to help to keep you full. Sweets: The American Heart Association suggests that the max amount of added sugars per day be limited to: Men: 150 cal per day (37.5 grams or 9 teaspoons).

What meals can diabetics eat freely? ›

Dinner ideas when you have diabetes
  • lasagne and salad.
  • roast chicken and vegetables, with or without potatoes.
  • beef stir-fry and vegetables, with or without brown rice.
  • chicken tortillas and salad.
  • salmon and vegetables, with or without noodles.
  • curry with chickpeas and brown rice.

What are the 5 best foods for diabetics? ›

What superstar foods are good for diabetes?
  • Beans. Kidney, pinto, navy or black beans are packed with vitamins and minerals such as magnesium and potassium. ...
  • Dark green leafy vegetables. ...
  • Citrus fruit. ...
  • Berries. ...
  • Tomatoes. ...
  • Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids. ...
  • Nuts. ...
  • Whole grains.

What food quickly lowers blood sugar? ›

We look at these foods below.
  • Legumes. Studies have shown that protein-rich legumes can help reduce your blood sugar response to meals you eat later in the day. ...
  • Nuts and nut butters. Like legumes, nuts are rich in protein. ...
  • Vegetables. Vegetables are a great source of fiber. ...
  • Seeds. ...
  • Whole fruits. ...
  • Whole grains.
Mar 18, 2024

What is the first thing a diabetic should do in the morning? ›

Testing your blood sugar is an essential part of managing your diabetes. Test your blood sugar first thing in the morning to get a baseline reading for the day. This can help you adjust your diabetes management plan as needed.

What foods can diabetics eat all the time? ›

Choose healthy foods and drinks
  • dairy or plant-based dairy products.
  • fruits.
  • nonstarchy vegetables.
  • protein foods.
  • whole grains.

What is the most important meal of the day for a diabetic? ›

You've probably heard it before, but we will say it again: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This is especially true for blood sugar management. Starting your day with a well-balanced meal may be the best way to keep blood sugar levels in check.

What food is the number one enemy of diabetes? ›

Sweets. Sugary foods can cause dangerous spikes in your blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates found in most vegetables and whole grains don't affect your blood sugar as much, and the fiber in them helps you digest them slowly. This will keep your blood sugar from going high.

What are the three meals for diabetics? ›

Eating a carbohydrate-rich breakfast followed by a substantial lunch and a small dinner — the so-called "three-meal diet" (3Mdiet) — promotes weight loss and significantly improves glucose control in type 2 diabetes, a randomized, controlled trial suggests.

What are the 5 worst foods for blood sugar? ›

Top foods and drinks to avoid with diabetes
  • Whole milk. ...
  • Hot dogs. ...
  • Pre-packaged lunch meat. ...
  • Sweetened cereals. ...
  • Regular pancake syrup. ...
  • Sherbet. ...
  • Loaded baked potatoes. A plain baked potato is a relatively healthy food choice. ...
  • Fried foods. Deep-fried food such as French fries and fried chicken are not healthy choices.
Sep 4, 2023

Is peanut butter good for diabetics? ›

Peanut butter contains essential nutrients, and it can be part of a healthful diet when a person has diabetes. However, it is important to eat it in moderation, as it contains a lot of calories. People should also make sure their brand of peanut butter is not high in added sugar, salt, or fat.

What should diabetics drink first thing in the morning? ›

Water is the best all-round drink. If your family likes flavoured waters, make your own by adding a squeeze of lemon or lime, or strawberries.

What can I drink before bed to lower my blood sugar? ›

Drinking water is an excellent way to stay hydrated without consuming sugar. Green tea, cow's milk, and fermented milk (kefir) could also help you manage your blood sugar responses. Coffee also contains compounds that may help regulate blood sugar, but confirming this requires more research.

What's the best food to eat to stop diabetes? ›

5 Foods People Should Eat Every Day to Help Prevent Diabetes
  • Nuts.
  • Oatmeal.
  • Fruits.
  • Vegetables.
  • Legumes.

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