10 Diabetes-Friendly Side Dishes to Complete Your Meal

What’s a well-rounded meal without side dishes? Sides are where much of the mealtime magic happens regarding taste, texture, and nutrition.

With diabetes, side dishes are an opportunity to enhance your overall health without throwing off your blood sugar.

By focusing on foods high in fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals, you’ll round out your meal with choices that are both filling and blood sugar-friendly. And never fear, there’s no shortage of mouth-watering recipes that fit the bill.

Whether you want to impress at a dinner party or just want to whip up something healthy for a weeknight dinner, here are 10 recipes to step up your side dish game.

Join the free T2D community!

Connect with thousands of members and find support through daily live chats, curated resources, and one-to-one messaging.

Sign up

Garlic crispy smashed potatoes

Pro tip: You don’t have to give up potatoes because of a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Idaho Potatoes was the first veggie company to partner with the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) Better Choices for Life program in 2023. The company uses the ADA’s guidelines to help people make informed food choices.

Enjoy this crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside garlic mashed potatoes recipe. Besides being a unique take on taters, they’re just a whole lot of fun to smash!

Get the recipe from Healthy Fitness Meals.

Superfood salad with kale and blueberries

This salad has it all. It’s practically a meal itself with antioxidants from blueberries, protein from almonds and edamame, and plenty of flavors from a zingy dressing.

But feel free to serve it alongside any protein you like, such as grilled chicken or pan-seared salmon.

Get the recipe from Hoorah to Health.

Cubano roasted broccoli florets

Roasted broccoli can be tasty with minimal seasonings like salt and pepper, but it’s even more interesting when you add Cuban-inspired flavors like cumin, garlic, and lime juice. They make this broccoli side perfect for serving with tacos, mojo pork, or a zesty black bean soup.

Get the recipe from Diabetes Food Hub.

Roasted sweet potato and rosemary sorghum pilaf

If you’ve never cooked with sorghum before, consider this your introduction. Sorghum (great millet) is a chewy, nutty whole grain worth adding to your diabetes diet. It’s rich in both fiber and protein.

Since sorghum’s flavor isn’t overpowering, it pairs well with just about any savory veggies and herbs, like the sweet potatoes and rosemary in this recipe. This side is practically the definition of hearty.

Get the recipe from PowerHungry.

Mediterranean farro salad with arugula, feta, and walnuts

Greens and grains join healthy forces in this colorful farro salad. The addition of walnuts is also a nice touch for diabetes management.

Nuts are among many foods recommended by the ADA. They contain healthy fats that keep you fuller longer. Walnuts, in particular, are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Get the recipe from The Mediterranean Dish.

Lemon and herb white bean dip and veggies

Pull out your food processor and crack open a can of white beans. With a few added herbs and olive oil, it will quickly become a creamy side for dipped veggies like carrot sticks or cucumber slices.

This recipe can accompany a casual barbecue or elegant charcuterie board. It can also be enjoyed with toasted whole wheat pita bread. Just be sure to look for pita bread that says “100% whole grain,” a good source of fiber, and low in added sugars.

Get the recipe from Minimalist Baker.

Vegetable kabobs

Everything is more fun when you eat it on a skewer, including vegetables! This kabob recipe calls for mushrooms, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and zucchini, but you can mix and match other quick-cooking veggies like asparagus or eggplant if you like.

Get the recipe from Damn Delicious.

Cauliflower tots

The cauliflower-for-everything trend may have gotten a bit carried away in recent years, but there’s good reason to include this cruciferous veggie in a diet for diabetes. It’s low in carbs at just 5 grams per cup, 2 of which come from fiber.

Make the most of cauliflower’s blank slate with tasty baked tots. Their savory cheesiness and crispy texture make them ideal for meats, burgers, or fish like tilapia or cod.

Get the recipe from Ambitious Kitchen.

Creamy coconut lentil curry

Lentils are a power player of plant-based protein and fiber. When you make them in this savory recipe, you’ll get 13 grams of protein and 15 grams of fiber — just from a side dish! Just go easy on the added salt here.

Get the recipe from The Endless Meal.

Easy, no-fail whole wheat bread

Sometimes, a light soup or salad needs a little something sturdier to bulk it up. Try this easy homemade whole wheat bread. It starts with whole wheat flour, a whole grain that won’t spike your blood sugar as much as white flour.

Need some motivation to get baking? According to a 2021 study, people with diabetes who ate whole wheat bread daily for 12 weeks had lower HbA1c and body weight, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels.

Get the recipe from Loving It Vegan.

Takeaway

When meal planning with diabetes, you might think of your main dish first, then add sides. But for a slightly different strategy, consider building meals around tasty, diabetes-friendly sides. This might round out your eating with even more nutrition and novelty.