20+ Diabetes-Friendly Winter Dinner Recipes for Weight Loss

Estimated read time 7 min read



Enjoy a cozy winter dinner dish and reach your nutrition goals with these flavorful meals. Each recipe is low in calories and high in fiber and/or protein—a combination that can help you lose weight and stay satisfied. Plus, these delicious dinners highlight complex carbs, like whole grains, legumes and produce, and stick to heart-healthy levels of saturated fat and sodium, making them a good fit for a diabetes-friendly eating pattern. Recipes like our Lemon-Garlic Clams with Brown Rice Risotto and our Creamy White Chili with Sweet Potatoes & White Beans are healthy, tasty ways to incorporate seasonal veggies, like kale, cauliflower and sweet potatoes into your routine

Lemon-Garlic Clams with Brown Rice Risotto

Ali Redmond


Littleneck clams are steamed in a white wine and garlic sauce and served over no-stir brown rice risotto that’s baked in the oven and made creamy by adding Parmesan cheese and a little butter. The clams are garlicky and briny, with a pop of heat from red pepper and a bit of acidity from lemon, a perfect contrast to the creamy risotto. This fuss-free dish is perfect for holiday gatherings like Feast of the Seven Fishes but easy enough for a weeknight dinner.

High-Protein Veggie Sandwich

Ali Redmond


From beans to tofu to tempeh bacon, this high-protein veggie sandwich formula can help mitigate blood sugar spikes and keep you feeling full until your next meal.

Creamy White Chili with Sweet Potatoes & White Beans

Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Sally McKay, Prop Stylist Hannah Greenwood


A bowl of creamy white chili with sweet potatoes is the perfect comfort food to warm you from the inside out. This hearty plant-based dish blends white beans and the subtle sweetness of sweet potatoes in a rich, flavorful broth. A can of chopped green chiles adds to the warmth. If you like your chili on the mild side, opt for mild green chiles.

Chicken Parmesan Soup

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood, Food Stylist: Sally McKay


This chicken Parmesan soup combines the rich flavors of a traditional chicken Parm—juicy seasoned chicken, tangy marinara sauce and savory Parmesan cheese—with the warmth and comfort of a soup. We love the punchy burst of flavor that Parmesan crisps offer as a garnish, but feel free to add freshly grated Parmesan in their place.

Lemon-Garlic Sheet-Pan Salmon with Potatoes & Green Beans

Photographer: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Sally McKay, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood


This sheet-pan salmon with green beans recipe is a game-changer for weeknight dinners, offering a balanced meal made entirely on one sheet pan. With tender salmon, crispy potatoes and fresh green beans drizzled with lemon, this dinner is not only delicious but also easy to prepare and clean up.

Veggie Wraps

Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek


These wraps are packed with veggies, including zucchini, bell pepper and spinach. The vegetables cook quickly in a skillet, so you can pull together this easy lunch in no time. Hummus adds plant-based protein and keeps the wrap from getting dry.

Roasted Squash & Lentil Kale Salad

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman


This squash lentil salad packs 14 grams of fiber and features plenty of kale, a powerful prebiotic that helps set the stage for a healthy gut. This salad can be assembled in a Mason jar so you can prep it the night before for a healthy, grab-and-go lunch the next day.

Laksa Ayam with Shirataki Noodles

Ali Redmond


This laksa ayam is a delightful twist on traditional Southeast Asian laksa, offering a lower-carb but still deeply satisfying meal. The homemade spice paste is the heart of the dish, infusing the broth with rich, aromatic notes that perfectly complement the light and slightly chewy texture of shirataki noodles. Crispy fried shallots bring a delightful crunch, while Vietnamese coriander or basil leaves add a fresh, herbal note. A spoonful of sambal oelek introduces a spicy kick.

Chicken Fajita Soup

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel


This chicken fajita soup combines the vibrant, smoky flavors of traditional fajitas with the comforting warmth of a soup. This versatile dish is perfect for a cozy dinner, and can be easily adjusted to suit your preferences. To kick up the heat, add a chopped jalapeño to the veggie mixture. You can swap out the rotisserie chicken for another protein like leftover steak, or make it vegetarian by using no-chicken broth and subbing tofu in place of the chicken.

Honey-Chipotle Tofu Bites

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel


These honey-chipotle tofu bites feature crispy tofu drizzled with a spicy-sweet sauce with a hint of smokiness thanks to chipotle peppers. Add to salads, bowls or wraps for some flavorful plant-based protein.

Creamy Chicken Florentine Casserole

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower


This creamy chicken Florentine casserole combines tender pieces of chicken, fresh spinach and a rich, creamy sauce, all baked to perfection with a golden, cheesy crust. Whether you’re looking to cozy up on a chilly evening or share a hearty, home-cooked dinner with family, this casserole delivers an experience that feels like a warm hug on a plate.

Chicken & White Bean Soup

Rotisserie chickens can really relieve the dinner-rush pressure—especially in this Italian-inspired soup that pairs well with a piece of crusty bread.

Baghali Pollow with Quinoa (Persian-Style Quinoa and Beans with Chicken)

Ali Redmond


This adaptation of baghali pollow, a traditional Persian layered rice dish, is made with quinoa instead of basmati rice. Plenty of fresh herbs and fragrant spices and a trifecta of protein—quinoa, chicken and beans—ensure the dish is both flavorful and satisfying.

Chipotle Cauliflower & Turkey Chili

Lean ground turkey and cauliflower soak up the bold flavors in this easy chili. Using cauliflower stems along with the florets adds a meatier texture—just be sure to leave off the tough bottom inch or so of the stem. We love the smoky heat from the chipotle peppers, but use less if you prefer a milder chili.

Eat-the-Rainbow Vegetable Soup

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall , Prop Stylist: Shell Royster


This vibrant and wholesome soup recipe helps support your well-being. It’s packed with a variety of colorful vegetables, like tomatoes, which contain lycopene, a phytochemical that may help reduce inflammation.

Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili

Jason Donnelly


If you like Buffalo wings, you’ll love the flavors in this warm, hearty chili that comes together easily in the slow cooker. Sour cream helps cut the heat, but you could also use plain strained yogurt.

Mini Meatloaves with Whipped Cauliflower & Green Beans

Ali Redmond

This comforting meal incorporates a number of pantry ingredients and shortcuts like frozen cauliflower and steam-in-the-bag green beans to cut way down on prep time. Baking the meatloaf in a muffin tin reduces cook time by more than half and makes portion control easy.

Grilled Chicken with Farro & Roasted Cauliflower

You can find farro in most grocery stores, near the rice. If you can’t find farro, you can use wheat berries or brown rice instead; cook according to package directions.

Sheet-Pan Salmon with Sweet Potatoes & Broccoli

photography / Caitlin bensel, Food Styling / Emily Nabors Hall

The vibrant combo of cheese, cilantro, chili, and lime—inspired by Mexican street corn—makes this salmon sheet-pan dinner burst with flavor.

Lentil Bowls with Fried Eggs & Greens

Lentils are a quick and easy protein. We like French green lentils, which hold their shape when cooked.

Portobello Mushroom Pizzas with Arugula Salad

Roasted portobello mushrooms stand in for pizza crust in these comforting individual “pizzas.” An easy arugula side salad makes a vibrant accompaniment.



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