22 Diabetes-Friendly Dinners That Are Low in Carbs

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Updated on June 25, 2024

Reviewed by Dietitian

Christa Brown, M.S., RDN, LD

Slow-Cooker Braised Beef with Carrots & Turnips

Just because you have diabetes doesn't mean you need to cut out carbs entirely—getting in your daily dose of carbohydrates fuels your body, giving you energy for the day ahead. But on days when you want to scale back your intake, turn to one of these delicious dinners with 15 or fewer grams of carbs per serving. Each of these low-carb meals for diabetes highlights complex carbs, like whole grains, and sticks to heart-healthy levels of saturated fats and sodium. With recipes like our Slow-Cooker Braised Beef with Carrots & Turnips and Easy Sesame Chicken with Green Beans on the menu, you're in for something healthy and tasty.

These are the kinds of recipes that are great to have on hand because everyone at your table can enjoy them together, without anyone's dietary concerns being placed in the spotlight or broadcasting the meal being a healthy alternative. Plus most of these recipes come with serving suggestions and extra tips that might come in handy for other meals.

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Slow-Cooker Braised Beef with Carrots & Turnips

The spice blend in this healthy beef stew recipe—cinnamon, allspice and cloves—may conjure images of apple pie, but the combo is a great fit in savory applications too. Serve over creamy polenta or buttered whole-wheat egg noodles.

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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.

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Easy Sesame Chicken with Green Beans

Easy Sesame Chicken with Green Beans

Sweet-salty hoisin sauce and nutty sesame team up in this easy meal that's cooked on one baking sheet. Serve this sesame chicken with brown rice and sliced cucumbers, drizzled with sesame oil and rice vinegar.

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Stir-Fried Green Beans with Steak & Peanuts

Fish sauce, a fragrant Southeast Asian condiment, gives this easy stir-fry a flavor punch, but you can use reduced-sodium soy sauce instead. Add more or less crushed red pepper to adjust the heat.

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Basil-Tomato Chicken Skillet

Quick cooking chicken tenderloins and packaged spinach make this dinner recipe come together in just 25 minutes.

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Easy Jerk-Marinated Chicken Drumsticks with Cabbage Slaw

Milas easy jamaican jerk chicken with steamed cabbage — Joy Howard

The marinade is the star of the show in this recipe for roasted chicken drumsticks. Mila Clarke pulls from her family's Jamaican heritage tradition by using a complex marinade made with soy sauce, ginger, lime, cinnamon and habanero peppers to create these oven-baked drumsticks that are delightfully savory but have a spicy kick. A simple cabbage slaw, which comes together in minutes, is the perfect accompaniment.

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Low-Carb Cauliflower Fried Rice with Shrimp

Low-Carb Cauliflower Fried Rice with Shrimp — Jacob Fox

This fried rice variation uses riced cauliflower instead of traditional rice to lower the calories and carbs. You can adjust the amount of chile-garlic sauce according to taste.

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Chicken Fajita Stir-Fry

Chicken Fajita Stir-Fry — Jacob Fox

A wok makes easy work of chicken and vegetables in this quick variation on fajitas. You can serve this with rice or beans on the side, if desired.

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Ginger Beef Stir-Fry with Peppers

Ginger Beef Stir-Fry with Peppers — Jacob Fox

This vibrant, colorful dish is great for those who love a little heat. Adjust the amount of chile-garlic sauce according to your preferred heat level. To smash ginger, use the side of a chef's knife or the flat bottom of a sturdy mug. Serve with rice, if desired.

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Apricot-Mustard Pork Tenderloin with Spinach Salad

An easy apricot-mustard sauce both seasons the pork and dresses the salad.

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Sweet & Peppery Flank Steak with Shishitos

This flank steak recipe comes together easily on a baking sheet, but if you're itching to take it outside, fire up the grill instead. Just be sure to use a grill basket for the peppers so you don't end up chasing them around the grates, or worse, losing them to the fire.

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Moroccan Chicken & Tomato Stew

This Moroccan chicken stew is inspired by a traditional tagine, a dish which takes its name from the pottery vessel it's made in (a skillet works here). Serve with a side of roasted vegetables and whole-wheat couscous, if desired.

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Herby Fish with Wilted Greens & Mushrooms

This healthy fish recipe makes a tasty and easy weeknight meal. Serve with wild rice or roasted potatoes.

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Chopped Salad with Shrimp, Apples & Pecans

Sweet and crunchy apples and celery combine with savory shrimp and nutty pecans in this easy, colorful dinner salad.

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Spiced Grilled Chicken with Cauliflower 'Rice' Tabbouleh

spice grilled chicken

Chicken breasts on the grill have a smoky flavor that's enhanced with an easy spice rub. We chose flat-leaf parsley in this salad because it has a stronger herbal taste than its sometimes-bitter curly counterpart.

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Mushroom & Tofu Stir-Fry

This tofu veggie stir-fry is quick and easy, making it a great go-to weeknight meal. Baked tofu has a firm, toothsome texture that crisps well in a hot pan. You can find it in flavors like teriyaki and sesame, both of which are delicious here. Or opt for a smoked version, which has the same texture with a more robust flavor. Serve over brown rice.

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Air-Fryer Cauliflower Gnocchi with Marinara Dipping Sauce

Air-Fryer Cauliflower Gnocchi with Marinara Dipping Sauce

These tasty bites are perfect for any time you need an easy appetizer or side dish. Cauliflower gnocchi gets a crispy, cheesy coating on the outside and a tender middle in an air fryer. Marinara is the perfect complement for dipping.

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Pan-Seared Steak with Crispy Herbs & Escarole

Pan-Seared Steak with Crispy Herbs & Escarole

This easy dinner takes just 20 minutes to prepare, meaning that seared steak can be a weeknight meal. Cooking herbs in the pan with the steak releases their aroma, infusing it into the meat while creating a crispy garnish. After the steaks and herbs are pan-seared, the escarole is cooked in the same skillet, so this healthy dinner requires minimal cleanup too.

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Rainbow Chard Spanish Tortilla

Don't toss those stems! Rainbow chard is sold in bunches with a mix of yellow, pink, and pale green stems that add a pop of color, a bit of crunch, and an extra dose of fiber.

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Spicy Chicken Noodle Soup with Soft-Boiled Eggs

Homemade Chicken Ramen Noodle Bowls

Transform canned chicken noodle soup into quick ramen bowls by adding fresh ginger, crunchy vegetables, herbs and a jammy soft-boiled egg. Look for a low-sodium soup that has 450 mg sodium or less per serving.

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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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Salmon-Stuffed Avocados

Salmon-Stuffed Avocados

Canned salmon is a valuable pantry staple and a practical way to include heart-healthy, omega-3-rich fish in your diet. Here, we combine it with avocados in an easy no-cook meal.

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