15 Low-Carb Dinners That are Diabetes-Friendly

Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

Put a delicious dinner on the table tonight that meets all of your nutritional needs. With each of these dishes containing 14 grams of carbohydrates or fewer as well as reduced levels of saturated fats and sodium, these low-carb meals are perfect for those who follow a diabetes-friendly eating pattern. Save recipes like our Balsamic Chicken with Roasted Tomatoes & Zucchini or our One-Skillet Garlicky Salmon & Broccoli for the next time you need inspiration.



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Balsamic Chicken with Roasted Tomatoes & Zucchini

Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Sammy Mila, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco.

Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Sammy Mila, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco.

This balsamic chicken with roasted tomatoes and zucchini is a flavorful dish that’s perfect for busy evenings. With only five ingredients (not including salt, pepper and oil), it’s both simple and satisfying. Balsamic vinegar adds a rich tang that complements the sweetness of the roasted veggies. If you have some extra time, a longer marinade will result in more flavorful chicken.

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One-Skillet Garlicky Salmon & Broccoli

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

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!

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Lemon-Roasted Salmon with Green Herb Sauce

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower

This roasted lemon salmon is a bright and easy dinner with plenty of fresh flavors. The star of the dish is the vibrant green herb sauce, made with fresh parsley and dill; it adds a burst of freshness that complements the fish beautifully. It’s a quick, healthy meal that feels elegant enough for entertaining but simple enough for a weeknight dinner, perfect with a side of steamed green beans and roasted potatoes.

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Sheet-Pan Balsamic Chicken & Asparagus

Ali Redmond

Ali Redmond

This chicken and asparagus recipe is a simple one-pan meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Chicken cutlets are coated in a tangy-sweet balsamic glaze, roasting right alongside tender asparagus for an easy, well-balanced dinner. If you don’t have chicken cutlets on hand, you can easily make your own by slicing two 8-ounce chicken breasts in half horizontally. The thin cut ensures quicker, more even cooking, so everything on the sheet pan finishes at the same time—perfect for a fuss-free, delicious dinner!

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Ginger-Soy Zucchini Noodles with Shrimp

Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food Stylist: Sammy Mila, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek.

Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food Stylist: Sammy Mila, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek.

These ginger-soy zucchini noodles with shrimp are a light, flavorful no-cook dish that’s perfect for warmer days. Thinly sliced zucchini offers a crisp and refreshing base, while the sauce, made with ginger, soy and lime juice, adds bold and bright flavors. Precooked shrimp make this meal fast and convenient—just toss everything together and serve! It’s a fresh, protein-packed bowl that comes together in minutes.

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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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Beef Stir-Fry with Baby Bok Choy & Ginger

Blaine Moats

Blaine Moats

All the ingredients for this easy beef stir-fry recipe are cooked in one wok (or skillet), so not only is the meal prep fast for this healthy dinner, but cleanup is quick too.

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Lemon & Dill Chicken

Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist Lydia Pursell

Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist Lydia Pursell

Fresh lemon and dill create a quick Greek-inspired pan sauce for simple sautéed chicken breasts.

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Parchment Packet Baked Tuna Steaks & Vegetables with Creamy Dijon-Turmeric Sauce

How to bake fish perfectly? Wrapping the fish and vegetables in parchment packets creates steam that keeps the tuna moist while it cooks. Plus, it's a fun presentation.

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Air-Fryer Pork Tenderloin

This air-fryer pork tenderloin is tender and full of flavor from the sweet and tangy rub. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cut the tenderloin in half before cooking.

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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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One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Broccoli

Dotdash Meredith Food Studio

Dotdash Meredith Food Studio

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.

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Salmon Pinwheels

Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Sue Mitchell

Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Sue Mitchell

Don't be intimidated by this fancy-looking breaded salmon pinwheel—it's quite easy to do. This technique works best when you use a "center-cut" salmon fillet. If you don't have a center-cut fillet or want to simplify the preparation, leave the fillet whole, spread the mayonnaise over it, top with the breadcrumb mixture and bake. To cut down on prep time, ask your fishmonger to skin the salmon for you. Serve with garlic-rosemary roasted potatoes and wilted spinach.

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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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Lemony-Garlic Pan-Seared Salmon

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

This pan-seared salmon features fresh herbs of your choice, bright lemon and savory garlic. Leaving the skin on the salmon keeps the fillet in one piece while cooking. The skin is deliciously crispy, but easy to remove if you prefer skinless salmon.

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Original Source:

https://www.eatingwell.com/low-carb-diabetes-friendly-dinner-recipes-11765703