37 Easy Diabetic-Friendly Dinners with 5 Ingredients (or Less!)
37 Easy Diabetic-Friendly Dinners with 5 Ingredients (or Less!)
Read Time: 16 mins
37 Easy Diabetic-Friendly Dinners with 5 Ingredients (or Less!)
The kids don’t even mind the spinach on top!
Diabetes. 2/37 Bacon and Spinach Pizza 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Bacon and Spinach Pizza Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 6 slices Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Our go-to pizza is a snap to make using packaged pizza crust and ready-to-serve bacon. The kids don’t even mind the spinach on top! —Annette Riva, Naperville, Illinois Nutrition Facts: 1 slice: 269 calories, 10g fat (4g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 726mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 2g fiber), 15g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 medium-fat meat. 3/37 Tuna Nicoise Salad 6 Reviews Test
Cooking the potatoes and beans together helps the dish come together fast
Kitchen Approved MARK DERSE FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Like the French, I pack my classic Nicoise salad with veggies, potatoes, tuna and eggs. Cooking the potatoes and beans together helps the dish come together fast. —Valerie Belley, St. Louis, Missouri Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 327 calories, 15g fat (2g saturated fat), 206mg cholesterol, 691mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 5g fiber), 21g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 vegetable, 2 fat, 1 starch. 4/37 Chicken & Vegetable Curry Couscous 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Chicken
Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat
& Vegetable Curry Couscous Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: For my busy family, a semi-homemade one-pot meal is the easiest way to get dinner done in a hurry. Use your favorite blend of frozen veggies and serve with toasted pita bread for smiles all around. —Elizabeth Hokanson, Arborg, Manitoba Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 273 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 311mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 4g fiber), 21g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat. 5/37 Cider-Glazed
The maple flavor really shines through
Pork Tenderloin 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This is a super easy recipe full of sweet fall flavor. The maple flavor really shines through. —Susan Stetzel, Gainesville, New York Nutrition Facts: 3 ounces cooked pork with 1 tablespoon glaze: 239 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 64mg cholesterol, 200mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 0 fiber), 23g protein. Diabetic exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 starch, 1 fat. 6/37 Spicy French Dip 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 8 hours 10 min Servings
It’s a timesaver that never fails to get rave reviews
12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: If I’m cooking for a party or family get-together, I can put this beef in the slow cooker in the morning and then concentrate on other preparations. It’s a timesaver that never fails to get rave reviews. —Ginny Koeppen, Winnfield, Louisiana Nutrition Facts: 1 sandwich: 315 calories, 8g fat (2g saturated fat), 72mg cholesterol, 582mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 28g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch. 7/37 Grilled Brown Sugar-Mustard Chicken 33 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Grilled Brown Sugar-Mustard Chicken Recipe photo by Taste of Home
It’s a snap to throw together with ingredients I have on hand
Total Time 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I came up with this recipe in college and it’s been a household staple ever since. It’s a snap to throw together with ingredients I have on hand. —Kendra Doss, Colorado Springs, Colorado Nutrition Facts: 1 chicken thigh with 1-1/2 teaspoons mustard mixture: 224 calories, 9g fat (2g saturated fat), 76mg cholesterol, 597mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 1g fiber), 22g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 starch. 8/37 Shrimp Ramen 8 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved TASTE OF HOME Total Time 15 min Servings 4
servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:
servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A package of store-bought ramen noodles speeds up assembly of this colorful broth with shrimp and carrots. My mother passed the recipe on to me. —Donna Hellinger, Lorain, Ohio Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 148 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 83mg cholesterol, 857mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 12g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 lean meat. 9/37 Crispy Dill Tilapia 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Every week I try to serve a
new healthy fish
new healthy fish. With its fresh dill and delicious panko bread crumb herb crust, this dish with mild tilapia is a winner. —Tamara Huron, New Market, Alabama Nutrition Facts: 1 fillet: 256 calories, 9g fat (2g saturated fat), 83mg cholesterol, 251mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 34g protein. Diabetic exchanges: 5 lean meat, 1-1/2 fat, 1/2 starch. 10/37 Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Orzo 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Orzo Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Broccoli and rice casserole tops
Chicken and veggie orzo cooked on the stovetop speeds everything up
my family’s comfort food list, but when we need something fast, this is the stuff. Chicken and veggie orzo cooked on the stovetop speeds everything up. —Mary Shivers, Ada, Oklahoma Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 359 calories, 9g fat (4g saturated fat), 77mg cholesterol, 655mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 3g fiber), 30g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 fat. 11/37 Pistachio Salmon 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Pistachio Salmon Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This simple salmon gets its crunch
from a coating of crushed pistachios, panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese
from a coating of crushed pistachios, panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Add steamed veggies and rice and it’s dinnertime! —Anthony Oraczewski, Port St. Lucie, FL Nutrition Facts: 3 ounces cooked fish: 269 calories, 17g fat (3g saturated fat), 61mg cholesterol, 497mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 23g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 fat, 1/2 starch. 12/37 Honey-Garlic Pork Chops 23 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Pork Chops with Honey-Garlic Sauce Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: The sauce on these honey garlic
pork chops is so good, I sometimes double it
pork chops is so good, I sometimes double it so there’s extra for dipping whatever veggie we have on the side. —Michelle Smith, Eldersburg, Maryland Nutrition Facts: 1 pork chop with 2 tablespoons sauce: 249 calories, 7g fat (3g saturated fat), 74mg cholesterol, 342mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (18g sugars, 0 fiber), 27g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 1 starch. 13/37 Thai Red Curry Chicken 8 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Thai Red Curry Chicken Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I recreated a favorite
On a busy night, frozen stir-fry veggies really speed things up
red curry chicken dish from a restaurant, and now I cook it almost weekly for my family. On a busy night, frozen stir-fry veggies really speed things up. —Mary Shenk, DeKalb, Illinois 14/37 Garlic Herbed Beef Tenderloin 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Garlic Herbed Beef Tenderloin Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: You don’t need much seasoning to add flavor to this tender beef roast. The mild blend of rosemary, basil and garlic does the trick. —Ruth Andrewson, Leavenworth, Washington Nutrition Facts: 3 ounces cooked beef:
Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat
198 calories, 10g fat (4g saturated fat), 78mg cholesterol, 249mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 25g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat. 15/37 Grilled Basil Chicken and Tomatoes 24 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Grilled Basil Chicken and Tomatoes Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Relax after work with a cold drink while this savory chicken marinates in an herby tomato blend for an hour, then toss it on the grill. It tastes just like summer. —Laura Lunardi, West Chester, Pennsylvania Nutrition Facts: 1 serving:
Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat
177 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 171mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 1g fiber), 24g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat. 16/37 Peppered Pork Pitas 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Believe it: Cracked black pepper is all it takes to give my pork pitas some pop. With these, any weeknight meal is awesome. I like to fill them with caramelized onions and garlic mayo. —Katherine White, Henderson, Nevada Nutrition Facts: 1 sandwich: 380 calories, 11g fat
💡 Frequently Asked Questions
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⭐ Expert Tips
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Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.
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Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.
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Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.
✅ Key Takeaways
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These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.
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Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.
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Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.
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