Just because someone has dietary restrictions does not mean that they can’t enjoy a flavorful diet!
If you have diabetes or frequently cook for someone who does, it can be challenging to find new, tasty recipes that are also diabetic-friendly. These chicken recipes for diabetics are not only healthy but can spice up a diet that has become bland and boring! After all, just because someone has dietary restrictions does not mean that they can’t enjoy a diet chockfull of flavorful meals!
Basic Dietary Guidelines for Diabetics
Your health should always be the main priority, which is why it’s so important to check with your doctor before changing up your diet. Each of the chicken recipes for diabetics below follows the basic guidelines for people living with diabetes to balance their blood sugar levels.
A diabetic diet eliminates foods that are high in saturated fats, trans fats, sodium, and sugar. You also want to make sure you avoid things like refined grains, ingredients with added sugar, and alcohol.
Your diabetic-friendly diet should include plenty of nutritious ingredients, such as:
- Vegetables (non-starchy): broccoli, carrots, greens, peppers, tomatoes
- Vegetables (starchy): potatoes, corn, peas
- Fruit: oranges, melons, berries, apples, bananas, grapes
- Whole Grains: whole wheat pasta or bread, brown rice, oats, cornmeal, quinoa, barley,
- Protein: lean meat like chicken breast or turkey (without skin), eggs, fish, dried beans, chickpeas, tofu
- Dairy (low or nonfat): milk or lactose-free milk, yogurt, cheese
- Healthy fats: oils that are liquid at room temperature, such as olive oil or avocado oil, nuts, seeds, avocados
Related: How to Eat Healthy as a Person Living with Diabetes
16 Healthy Chicken Recipes for Diabetics
The delicious and nutritious chicken recipes on this list are all diabetic-friendly and family-friendly! There’s no need to cook separate meals because everyone will enjoy these options!
1. 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken Chili Verde
This super simple 5-ingredient dish is just as tasty as it is nutritious! At 37 grams of protein and only 6 grams of sugar per serving, you’re sure to love it as much as we do!
Here’s the recipe: 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken Chili Verde
2. Slow Cooker Everything Chicken
Our easy slow-cooker everything chicken can literally be anything that you want it to be! Enjoy this versatile recipe as a main course with a side of rice and veggies. Likewise, this meal works great inside of a whole wheat burrito, on top of a salad, or even baked into a yummy casserole. The choice is yours!
Here’s the recipe: Slow Cooker Everything Chicken
3. One-Pan Rosemary Chicken and Root Vegetables
This protein-packed recipe is a meal-prep favorite! It tastes incredible, offers your body plenty of nutrients, and makes clean-up extremely easy!
Here’s the recipe: One-Pan Rosemary Chicken and Root Vegetables
4. Instant Pot Chicken Posole Verde
Our Instant Pot chicken posole verde recipe is rich and hearty in flavor yet will leave you feeling light and satisfied! Using low-sugar and low-sodium ingredients will ensure that this meal is diabetic-friendly!
Here’s the recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Posole Verde
5. Skinny Chicken Fajitas
Making fajitas at home will not only allow you to cut down on fat calories but sodium, too! With only 3 grams of sugar per serving, you can enjoy these yummy fajitas without the guilt!
Here’s the recipe: Skinny Chicken Fajitas
6. Crispy “Un-Fried” Herb Chicken
Fried food is a big no-no when following a diabetic-friendly diet, which is why this “un-fried” recipe is so wonderful! We used whole wheat flour and whole wheat breadcrumbs to create this scrumptious baked chicken dish. And the good news? This delicious meal clocks in at less than 400 calories per serving.
Here’s the recipe: Crispy “Un-Fried” Herb Chicken
7. Easy Skillet Cilantro Lime Chicken
You’ll love the tangy and zesty flavors that come with this easy, single-skillet dish. It’s another versatile recipe that will allow you to switch up how you enjoy chicken!
Here’s the recipe: Easy Skillet Cilantro Lime Chicken
8. Slow Cooker Chicken and Black Bean Chowder
I love pretty much all slow cooker recipes, but this is one of my personal favorites! All you need to do is throw the ingredients into the crock pot, turn it on for a few hours, and voila! You’ll come home to the irresistible aroma of a wonderful, home-cooked meal!
Here’s the recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken and Black Bean Chowder
9. Skinny Chicken Bacon Ranch Wraps
Chicken and bacon in one nutritious and delicious wrap? Yes, please! This is one of those healthy recipes that will have you asking yourself, “Is this seriously diet food?” Well, ladies and gents, you bet it is!
Here’s the recipe: Skinny Chicken Bacon Ranch Wraps
10. Slow Cooker Greek Lemon Chicken
We’re back with another versatile recipe in this slow-cooker Greek lemon chicken! All it requires is 8 simple ingredients and a few hours in the crock pot. Before you know it, you’ll be digging into this moist and flavorful chicken.
Here’s the recipe: Slow Cooker Greek Lemon Chicken
11. Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken Soup
Eating this slow cooker fiesta chicken soup is like having a party in your mouth! Wonderfully seasoned chicken, combined with fiber-rich beans, makes for an awesome, well-rounded lunch or dinner.
Here’s the recipe: Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken Soup
12. “Melt in Your Mouth” Italian Baked Chicken
We’re not even being dramatic… This Italian-baked chicken recipe will melt in your mouth. It is moist, succulent, and rich in flavor! Additionally, it contains a whopping 46 grams of protein per serving and is low in both sugar and saturated fat.
Here’s the recipe: “Melt in Your Mouth” Italian Baked Chicken
13. Stuffed Philly Chicken Peppers
This low-carb option puts a healthy spin on the traditional Philly cheesesteak. Aside from using chicken instead of beef, we’ve also swapped out bread for peppers. This shaves off a good chunk of calories! But don’t worry! These skinny swaps don’t compromise flavor a bit!
Here’s the recipe: Stuffed Philly Chicken Peppers
14. Best Ever Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Chicken
This absolutely delicious recipe takes less than 30 minutes to prepare. It’s the perfect way to add variety to a chicken dish minus the stress. We highly recommend trying this one out for yourself!
Here’s the recipe: Best Ever Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Chicken
15. Grilled Honey Lime Cilantro Chicken Skewers
These sweet, tangy, and tender skewers will rapidly become a new favorite! The grill can add a tremendous amount of flavor to chicken while melting off fat and calories. This recipe contains just 2 grams of sugar per serving and less than 200 mg of sodium. What’s not to love?
Here’s the recipe: Grilled Honey Lime Cilantro Chicken Skewers
16. One Skillet Chicken and Broccoli
Last (but certainly not least), we give you our dinner-time favorite: one-skillet chicken and broccoli. This dish is super easy to make and will provide your body with plenty of vital nutrients!
Here’s the recipe: One-Skillet Chicken and Broccoli Dinner
Which one of these yummy chicken recipes for diabetics are you going to make first? Let us know in the comments!
We hope that they will prove that living with diabetes does not mean you have to eat a bland, flavorless diet!
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