18 Diabetic-Friendly Comfort Food Recipes to Satisfy Your Cravings

These recipes for classic comfort foods dish up their familiar flavors in a healthy way.

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

Of all the recipes I make in my slow-cooker, this is my favorite. If you like your BBQ sweet with a little spice, this will be your new favorite, too. Shared by Yvonne McKim, Vancouver, Washington.

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Mini Apple Strudels

Present strudel in a whole new way! Phyllo dough surrounds tender slices of apple in this version. One strudel is only 100 calories, so you can have dessert without any guilt. Recipe shared by the Taste of Home Test Kitchen. Check out these tasty diabetic recipes you’ll want to make over and over.

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Creamy Chicken Rice Soup

I came up with this thick flavorful soup while making some adjustments to a favorite stovetop chicken casserole. Recipe shared by Janice Mitchell, Aurora, Colorado.

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Hamburger Noodle Casserole

People have a hard time believing this homey and hearty casserole uses lighter ingredients. The taste is so rich and creamy. It’s a great weeknight family entree! Recipe shared by Martha Henson, Winnsboro, Texas.

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Gluten-Free Angel Food Cake

My daughter can’t have gluten, and my husband is diabetic, so there are a lot of special-diet recipes in our house. This fruit-topped cake is often on the table. Recipe shared by Anne Wiebe, Gladstone, Manitoba.

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Homemade Fish Sticks

I’m a nutritionist and needed a healthy fish fix. Moist inside and crunchy outside, these fish sticks are great with oven fries or roasted veggies and low-fat homemade tartar sauce. Recipe shared by Jennifer Rowland, Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

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Veggie Chowder

Packed with potatoes, carrots and corn, this soup is a great healthy dinner choice. It’s not too heavy, so it also makes a nice light partner for a sandwich. Recipe shared by Vicki Kerr, Portland, Maine. Check out this vegetable all people with type-2 diabetes should be eating more of.

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Rolled Buttermilk Biscuits

I scribbled down this recipe when our family visited the Cooperstown Farm Museum more than 25 years ago. I must have gotten it right, because these biscuits turn out great every time. Recipe shared by Patricia Kile of Greentown, Pennsylvania.

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Mexi-Mac Skillet

My husband loves this recipe, and I love how simple it is to put together. Since you don’t need to pre-cook the noodles, it’s a time-saving dish. Recipe shared by Maurane Ramsey, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Here’s how to eat healthy at Mexican restaurants.

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Italian Pork Stew

Don’t skip the anchovy paste in this stew! It gives a good, salty flavor, but doesn’t taste fishy at all. Add a salad and crusty bread for an incredible meal. Recipe shared by Lynne German, Cumming, Georgia.

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Frosted Mocha Cake

The mixture of both sugar and sugar substitute helps keep the sweetness while still cutting calories and carbs. If you want to make the recipe even better for you, use reduced-fat whipped topping in the frosting. Recipe shared by the Taste of Home Test Kitchen. 

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Makeover Beef & Sausage Lasagna

The original version of this dish was much higher in cholesterol and saturated fat. You’ll love this trimmed-down take. Recipe shared by Jacob Kitzman, Seattle, Washington. When you’re tired of making meals at home,  try out these tasty restaurant dishes that are great for people with diabetes.

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Creole Jambalaya

Jambalaya is a traditional Louisiana dish, coming from our Spanish and French culture. Rice is the main ingredient, with different meats or seafood mixed in. I particularly like this variation with shrimp and ham. Recipe shared by Ruby Williams, Bogalusa, Louisiana.

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Zesty Horseradish Meat Loaf

You’ll love this tasty, zippy meat loaf. Make sandwiches out of the leftovers to get double duty out of this delicious meal with a kick. Recipe shared by Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey.

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Banana Oatmeal Pancakes

These pancakes have less sodium per serving than other pancakes made from mixes. Lower the sodium even further by stretching the mix with banana, oats, and walnuts. In our house we just sprinkle these with a little confectioners’ sugar, because the fruit is so sweet you don’t need syrup. Recipe shared by Patricia Swart, Galloway, New Jersey. Here are some helpful tricks for diabetes diet planning.

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Tomato Soup with Cheese Tortellini

Tortellini gives this garden-fresh tomato soup stick-to-your-ribs goodness. It’s a staple on my family’s table. Recipe shared by Susan Peck, Republic, Missouri. Check out the real reason some of us crave pasta so much.

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Small Batch Brownies

If the dessert just has to be chocolate, these rich fudgy brownies are a perfect solution for your family. And you can pretty them up with a dusting of powdered sugar. Recipe shared by the Taste of Home Test Kitchen.

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Cheese Smashed Potatoes

Who doesn’t like mashed potatoes? Try this slimmed-down dish with any entree. Recipe shared by Janet Homes, Surprise, Arizona. Here are 15 foods that people with diabetes can—and should—enjoy.

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Reader's Digest
Originally Published in Reader's Digest