18 One-Pot Winter Dinners for Diabetes to Help Reduce Inflammation

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Published on February 1, 2024

Reviewed by Dietitian

Jessica Ball, M.S., RD

a recipe photo of the One-Pot White Bean, Spinach & Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo with Lemon & Feta — Photo:
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

While chronic inflammation is a risk factor for diabetes, this health condition, over time, can also cause more inflammation in the body. That’s why it’s important to incorporate inflammation-fighting foods into your diet if you have diabetes. This collection of mouthwatering dinners features ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties like spices, dark leafy greens and omega-3-rich fish to help tame inflammation to better manage your condition. Plus, each dish is made lower in saturated fats and sodium to align with a diabetes-friendly eating pattern. You’ll also find delicious seasonal ingredients like broccoli, kale and sweet potato in these meals that make the perfect evening bite for wintertime. Recipes like our Pesto Chicken & Cannellini Bean Soup and One-Pot White Bean, Spinach & Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo with Lemon & Feta will be flavorful and nutritious additions to your weeknight rotation.

01 of 18

Slow-Cooker Chicken & White Bean Stew

Slow-Cooker Chicken White Bean Stew

This load-and-go slow-cooker chicken recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. Serve this Tuscan-inspired dish with crusty bread, a glass of Chianti and a salad.

02 of 18

One-Pot White Bean, Spinach & Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo with Lemon & Feta

a recipe photo of the 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.

03 of 18

One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Broccoli

One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Broccoli — Photography: Kelsey Hansen; Food Styling: Greg Luna

Shrimp and broccoli cook quickly in this easy, one-pot recipe, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Serve this healthy shrimp recipe over whole grains or rice.

04 of 18

Rosemary Chicken with Sweet Potatoes

Rosemary Chicken with Sweet Potatoes

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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Anthony Anderson’s One-Pot Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese with Broccoli

a recipe photo of the Anthony Andersonâs One-Pot Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese with Broccoli — Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

This easy one-pot mac & cheese recipe gets an extra boost of protein from chicken. Buffalo sauce adds spicy tang—look for one without added sugar, like Frank's RedHot.

06 of 18

Shrimp & Fish Stew

Overhead view of a bowl of Shrimp & Fish Stew recipe — Christine Ma

This hearty shrimp and fish stew is inspired by cioppino, an Italian-American dish that originated in San Francisco. Serve with crusty bread to soak up every last bit of the savory broth.

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Pesto Chicken & Cannellini Bean Soup

Pesto Chicken & Cannellini Bean Soup

This healthy, Italian-inspired chicken soup recipe is loaded with fiber-rich vegetables and beans and gets an extra boost of flavor from a swirl of pesto at the end. To get a homemade stock flavor using store-bought broth, we simmer bone-in chicken breasts in the broth before adding the rest of the soup ingredients.

08 of 18

Alaskan Cod Chowder

alaskan cod chowder

In this healthy fish chowder recipe, heavy cream is replaced with milk and flour-thickened fish (or seafood) broth and we keep sodium amounts reasonable with lower-sodium broth. By making your own homemade fish chowder, you'll save up to 300 calories, 20 grams of saturated fat and 500 milligrams of sodium per serving compared to many store-bought or restaurant chowders.

09 of 18

Skillet Lemon Chicken & Potatoes with Kale

Skillet Lemon Chicken & Potatoes with Kale

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.

10 of 18

Vegetable and Tofu Soup

Yasai-To-Tofu-no-Misoshiru (Hearty Miso Soup with Vegetables & Tofu) — Rick Poon

Tofu has a reputation for being bland, but when marinated in Italian seasoning for up to four hours, it's anything but in this veggie-packed soup.

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Slow-Cooker Vegetable Minestrone Soup

Slow-Cooker Vegetable Minestrone Soup

A winter classic, this crock pot version of minestrone is heavy on the vegetables and light on the pasta, keeping carbs in check while providing plenty of flavor.

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One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Spinach

a recipe photo of the One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Spinach — Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist:Christine Keely, Food Stylist:Chelsea Zimmer

Shrimp, spinach and garlic brown and cook quickly for a simple one-pot weeknight dinner. A fast pan sauce gets life from zesty lemon juice, warm crushed red pepper and herby parsley. Serve with a slice of whole-wheat baguette to swipe up every last drop of sauce.

13 of 18

Sausage, Tomato & White Bean Stew

This white bean stew combines cannellini beans and sweet turkey sausage for a filling, flavorful meal. Serve this hearty bean stew for lunch or dinner.

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Slow-Cooker Vegetable Lasagna

Slow-Cooker Vegetable Lasagna

This vegetarian lasagna couldn't be easier, thanks to jarred pasta sauce and no-boil lasagna noodles. Prep it in the morning and let your crock pot do the work.

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Creamy Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms One-Pot Pasta

Creamy Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms One-Pot Pasta — Photography / Kelsey Hansen, Styling / Sammy Mila

You'll only have to dirty one pot in this easy pasta recipe that cooks chicken and vegetables right along with the noodles. Plus, by using the exact amount of water you need to cook the pasta, the starch that usually gets drained off with your pasta water stays in the pot, giving you delectably creamy results.

16 of 18

Weeknight Lemon Chicken Skillet Dinner

Weeknight Lemon Chicken Skillet Dinner in a skillet for serving — Justin Walker

This one-pan chicken dinner doesn't get much easier, or more satisfying. In just half an hour, you can have a complete meal on the table that doesn't require loads of dishes afterwards. We call for tender haricots verts because they're quick cooking; traditional green beans likely won't be tender enough after the brief cooking time at the end. If that's all you have on hand, steam them first, and then add them to the pan for the final step. Serve this hearty chicken and potatoes dinner with a simple side salad to sneak in another serving of veggies.

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Poached Cod & Green Beans with Pesto

Poached Cod & Green Beans with Pesto

Using just one skillet, this easy fish recipe cooks cod right on top of fresh green beans and uses the same pan to make a flavorful sauce. The result is perfectly flaky fish, tender-crisp vegetables, a savory pan sauce and very little cleanup.

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Peanut Noodles with Shredded Chicken & Vegetables

Peanut Noodles with Shredded Chicken & Vegetables

If you can't find a bagged vegetable medley for this easy noodle bowl, choose 12 ounces of cut vegetables from your market's salad bar and create your own mix.

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