19 diabetes low carb meals you can (almost) make without a recipe (2024)

A list of 19 diabetes friendly low carb meals you can have ready quickly with minimal fuss. Most use only a few ingredients you probably have in your pantry!

19 diabetes low carb meals you can (almost) make without a recipe (1)

I'm always looking for easy, minimal fuss, low carb dinners to help me stay on track. Even though I love to cook, sometimes I just wanna eat! Sound familiar? Well, I decided to make a post with all my favorite "no recipe" low carb meals so I would have them all in one place. Most of these low carb dinners require pretty basic ingredients. Check them out and add to your grocery list the items you don't normally keep on hand.

Be sure to check out my Part 2 of this post- 26 More Low Carb Meals You Can (Almost) MakeWithout A Recipe!

Note: Want more how to details? Click on the highlighted links in the list below for more info.

How to Make Easy Low Carb Dinners:

1.Patty Melt Wraps- cook up a pan of cheeseburgers and wrap them in lettuce leaves instead of buns.

2.Grilled Chicken Salad- grill chicken tenders and add to salad bowl of lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, low carb dressing. Top with a few avocado chunks if desired.

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3.Baked Fish and Oriental Salad- season fish filets with old bay seasoning and bake at 400 degrees until cooked -about 20 minutes. Add low carb Asian dressing to a bag of slaw mix- toss in a few roasted chopped peanuts and toasted crushed ramen noodles for crunch as desired.

4.Zoodles and Meatsauce- brown ground beef or ground turkey and add low carb spaghetti sauce or a can or seasoned tomatoes. Serve over a bed of zucchini noodles. Top with parmesan cheese as desired.

5.Tortilla Pizza- start with a low carb flatbread or tortilla and add leftover chopped meats, chopped veggies, olives and cheese. Bake at 375 degrees until cheese melts.

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6.Veggie Omelet- coat a skillet with olive oil and saute veggies such as peppers, onions, tomatoes, spinach. When veggies are tender remove and add a few slightly beaten eggs and cook until set. Top with veggies and cheese as desired.

7.Chef's Salad- add chopped turkey, ham, bacon, cheese to your lettuce and tomato salad.

8.Grilled Steak & Veggie Platter- grill your favorite cut of steak alongside veggies like onions, peppers, squash, zucchini, etc.

9.BLT Wraps-Crispy bacon and sliced tomatoes rolled up in a large lettuce leaf. (Add mayo as desired.)

10.Egg Roll Bowl- lightly coat a wok with oil and heatground pork or sausage until fully cooked. Remove and drain excess fat from wok. Add a bag of slaw mix to wok and sprinkle with soy sauce, ginger and sesame oil (as desired). Cook until slightly wilted then add meat back to slaw mix and toss.

11.Kabobs- thread skewers with chunks of your favorite meat and veggies. Season with salt and pepper or brush on your favorite low carb marinade. Grill until meat is cooked. (Check temp with thermometer.)

12.Chicken Cordon Bleu Bake- lightly coat an oven proof skillet with oil and cook chicken tenders until brown- (tenders will finishcooking in oven). Arrange tenders in skillet and top with a dab of cream cheese, some diced ham and a sprinkle of cheddar cheese. Bake at 375 degrees until chicken is fully cooked about 15-20 minutes. Serve with a salad or steamed veggie.

13.Baked Eggs in Ham Cups- line muffin cups with a ham slice. Drop an egg in and bake at 400 degrees until egg is cooked- about 15-20 minutes.

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14.Fajitas in a Flash-place chopped peppers, onions and chicken tenders in a baking pan. Sprinkle with fajita spices and a dash ofolive oil and bake at 400 degrees until chicken is fully cooked and veggies are tender- about 30-35 minutes.

15.Herbed Chicken and Veggie Bake- Addchicken pieces to a baking pan and sprinkle with your favorite herbs, add veggies like carrots, peppers,etc and bake at 375 degrees until chicken is fully cooked- about 45 minutes.

16.Low Carb Philly Cheesesteak Bowl-Add 1-2 teaspoons olive oil to skillet and saute chopped peppers and onions with ground beef or thin sliced leftoversteak until veggies are tender. Sprinkle with worcestershire sauce and top with your favorite white cheese.

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17.Chicken Salad (make your own or check label for carbs if prepared)- serve in lettuce cups or on sliced cucumbers.

18. Low Carb Stuffed Mushroom Pizzas- stuff portabello mushrooms with low carb tomato sauce, cooked sausage, pepperoni, cheese. Place in 350 degreeoven and bake until mushroom is tender- about 15-20 minutes.

19.Low Carb Taco Salad Bowl-brown and crumble ground beef and sprinkle with cumin and chili powder or taco seasoning mix as desired. In large salad bowls, layer lettuce, tomatoes, meat, cheese, avocado, sour cream, low carb salsa. Crisp a low carb tortilla in the oven and cut into strips- add a few strips to each salad if desired.

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19 diabetes low carb meals you can (almost) make without a recipe (2024)

FAQs

What foods can diabetics eat freely for dinner? ›

Dinner ideas when you have diabetes
  • lasagne and salad.
  • roast chicken and vegetables, with or without potatoes.
  • beef stir-fry and vegetables, with or without brown rice.
  • chicken tortillas and salad.
  • salmon and vegetables, with or without noodles.
  • curry with chickpeas and brown rice.

How do you cook for someone with diabetes? ›

Choose low-fat dairy products like semi-skimmed or skimmed milk, reduced-fat cheeses and low-fat, unsweetened yogurts. Poach, steam, grill, boil or bake foods rather than cooking with added fat. Use an oil sprayer and non-stick pans for stir fries; if it starts to stick, just add a splash of water.

What is the biggest meal of the day for diabetics? ›

How should a person with diabetes start the day? Eat a big breakfast. Eating a large meal in the morning and smaller meals for lunch and dinner may promote weight loss, lower glucose levels, and decrease daily insulin dose in people with type 2 diabetes and obesity, according to a 2022 review.

What foods can a diabetic eat all they want? ›

What foods can I eat if I have diabetes?
  • vegetables. nonstarchy: includes broccoli, carrots, greens, peppers, and tomatoes. ...
  • fruits—includes oranges, melon, berries, apples, bananas, and grapes.
  • grains—at least half of your grains for the day should be whole grains. ...
  • protein. ...
  • dairy—nonfat or low fat.

What is the most filling low carb food? ›

36 tasty, low-carb foods that will keep you full and satisfied
  • Avocado. A whole avocado has about 15 grams of carbs, but you're unlikely to eat the entire thing in one sitting, so it's more realistic that you'll get 4 or 5 carbs in one meal or snack. ...
  • Broccoli. ...
  • Coconut oil. ...
  • Eggplant. ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Grapefruit. ...
  • Greek yogurt. ...
  • Green beans.
Mar 20, 2024

What are the 10 best foods for a diabetic? ›

What superstar foods are good for diabetes?
  • Beans. Kidney, pinto, navy or black beans are packed with vitamins and minerals such as magnesium and potassium. ...
  • Dark green leafy vegetables. ...
  • Citrus fruit. ...
  • Berries. ...
  • Tomatoes. ...
  • Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids. ...
  • Nuts. ...
  • Whole grains.

What are the three meals for diabetics? ›

Eating a carbohydrate-rich breakfast followed by a substantial lunch and a small dinner — the so-called "three-meal diet" (3Mdiet) — promotes weight loss and significantly improves glucose control in type 2 diabetes, a randomized, controlled trial suggests.

What are the 5 worst foods for blood sugar? ›

10 Worst Foods for Your Blood Sugar
  • KETCHUP. ...
  • WHITE PASTA. ...
  • BAGELS. ...
  • ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS. ...
  • FRUIT JUICE. ...
  • ENERGY BARS. ...
  • LOW-FAT SWEETENED YOGURT. ...
  • SPORTS DRINKS AND ENERGY DRINKS. Energy drinks and sports drinks carry all the woes of fruit juice with the added no-no of more sugars.

What does a diabetic dinner look like? ›

The Plate Method

Fill half with nonstarchy vegetables, such as salad, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and carrots. Fill one quarter with a lean protein, such as chicken, turkey, beans, tofu, or eggs. Fill one quarter with carb foods.

Can diabetics eat spaghetti? ›

People with diabetes can include pasta as part of a healthy diet. However, they should choose whole grain varieties and be mindful of their portion size. A person can use the Plate Method, carb counting, or half-cup measurements to determine how much pasta they eat.

What is the best dinner time for diabetic? ›

Compared to dining at 10 p.m., which may be the worst time to have dinner, around 6 p.m. is the best time to eat dinner to experience reduced blood sugar levels.

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