Healthy Recipes Nutrient-Focused Diets High-Protein Recipes 21 Best New High-Protein Recipes for Better Blood Sugar By Camryn Alexa Wimberly Camryn Alexa Wimberly Camryn Wimberly is EatingWell's Editorial Fellow. As a food and mental health blogger, Camryn explores how food and cooking can help improve mental health and also be an avenue to connect with one's culture and heritage. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on August 31, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Close Photo: Ali Redmond If you’re looking for some healthy and delicious recipes to add to your menu, check out some of our newest dishes! These recipes have impressed our readers, earning 4- and 5-star reviews already. Made with lower amounts of carbs, saturated fat, sodium and calories, each dish aligns with our diabetes-appropriate parameters. They also are high in protein, boasting at least 15 grams per serving, which can help keep you satisfied and energized longer. You’ll want to try options like our Melting Cherry Tomato & Mozzarella Pasta or Peanut-Ginger Tofu Scramble for a nourishing, diabetes-friendly meal. 01 of 21 Lemon-Dill Tuna Salad Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower This lemon-dill tuna salad packs plenty of protein and gets a boost of flavor from sumac—a spice used in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and North African cooking that adds a citrusy touch, enhancing the lemon flavor without overshadowing the other ingredients. Serve this between two pieces of whole-wheat bread as a sandwich or by itself with tender Bibb lettuce or crunchy celery sticks. View Recipe 02 of 21 Melting Cherry Tomato & Mozzarella Pasta Ali Redmond This simple yet delicious pasta dish combines cherry tomatoes with mozzarella, highlighting their natural sweetness and mozzarella’s creamy, gooey texture. Mozzarella pearls are the perfect size for mixing into the finished dish. If you can’t find them, chopped fresh mozzarella will work well too. View Recipe 03 of 21 High-Protein Mason Jar Salad Ali Redmond Mason jar salads make for a convenient lunch that can easily be taken on the go or enjoyed at home. With just a few ingredients, you have a well-rounded lunch packed with fiber, protein and micronutrients that won’t spike your blood sugars. This nutritious Mason jar salad allows plenty of room for customization based on your taste preferences. View Recipe 04 of 21 Peanut-Ginger Tofu Scramble Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel A favorite among our EatingWell editors, this vegan breakfast scramble is wonderfully versatile, doubling as a satisfying dinner when served with noodles or rice and a side of roasted broccoli. The crispy tofu is perfectly coated in a peanut ginger sauce, which should be added off the heat for the creamiest texture. View Recipe 05 of 21 Ginger-Soy Salmon Bites Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall These ginger-soy salmon bites are perfectly cooked under the broiler and finished with a sweet ginger glaze. These poppable bites are an ideal appetizer for a get-together with friends, or turn them into a main dish by serving them alongside veggies or as part of a grain bowl. View Recipe 06 of 21 Crispy Salmon Bites with Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Dipping Sauce Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist Tucker Vines These salmon bites are paired with a creamy sun-dried tomato dipping sauce that adds a tangy-sweet flavor that complements the richness of the fish. It’s the perfect appetizer or snack for any occasion, whether you’re hosting a party or simply treating yourself to a flavorful bite. Plus, it’s a great way to incorporate healthy omega-3 fatty acids from the salmon into your diet. View Recipe 07 of 21 Shrimp Lettuce Wraps Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist Tucker Vines Enjoy these shrimp lettuce wraps filled with crisp veggies and juicy shrimp sautéed with garlic and soy sauce. This light and flavorful dish is perfect for a weeknight meal or weekend gathering. Sambal oelek, a spicy chile paste known for its vibrant red color and intense heat, adds an extra kick. Reduce or omit it to adjust the heat to your liking. View Recipe 08 of 21 Hot-Honey Chicken & Pineapple Kebabs Photographer: Stacy k. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf These grilled chicken kebabs are sweet and hot thanks to hot honey, juicy chunks of pineapple and the grill itself, which caramelizes the bell peppers, onion and chicken pieces to smoky perfection. Because the glaze (and the pineapple) are sweet, the kebabs may burn if left in one spot for too long. Be sure to move them from any hot spots on the grill and brush on the glaze in only the last couple of minutes on the grill. View Recipe 09 of 21 High-Protein Strawberry & Peanut Butter Overnight Oats Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Sue Mitchell These overnight oats get a protein boost thanks to Greek-style yogurt, peanut butter and soymilk, which leads to 17 grams of protein per serving. We mix it up with chopped strawberries, but any berry or chopped fruit will pair nicely with this easy grab-and-go breakfast. View Recipe 10 of 21 Honey-Garlic Chicken Casserole Photographer: Stacy k. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Lauren Odum This honey-garlic chicken casserole is the perfect option for when you want a stir-fry with less mess to clean up. To keep prep to a minimum, we use precooked brown rice. Look for it in pouches at the store or whip up this one-pot meal when you have leftovers to spare. View Recipe 11 of 21 Ranch Roasted Chicken Bites EatingWell Calling all ranch lovers—these chicken bites are for you! We reinforce the flavors of ranch dressing by coating the chicken in dried herbs like dill, parsley and tarragon. Serve these chicken bites with even more ranch on the side for a crowd-pleasing appetizer. Or, add them on top of your favorite salad greens. View Recipe 12 of 21 Spiced Couscous-Stuffed Peppers Courtesy Photo These spiced stuffed peppers are flavorful, filling little packages that will make any plant- or meat-eater happy. There’s something deeply satisfying about making a delicious pilaf-style filling of couscous and lentils to tuck inside juicy bell peppers. To take things up a notch, we drizzle everything with a fresh cucumber yogurt sauce. View Recipe 13 of 21 Crispy Parmesan Chicken Bites Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Crispy, cheesy and oh-so-delicious—what else could you ask for in this easy chicken appetizer? Serve these chicken bites with a dipping sauce like marinara or chipotle aioli, or switch it up and use them as a salad topper. Chicken breast works as a substitute, although it won’t be as tender and moist as thighs. View Recipe 14 of 21 Spiced Chickpea Confit Ali Redmond This endlessly versatile side dish pairs beautifully with any grilled meat or fish and can also be a wonderful plant-based main dish. You can serve it over rice or pasta to round it out, or pair it with whole grains or whole-wheat pasta to reinforce the nuttiness. View Recipe 15 of 21 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. View Recipe 16 of 21 Crispy Salmon Rice Bowl Ali Redmond Tender pieces of salmon get a sweet and crispy coating thanks to sweet and savory teriyaki glaze in this salmon rice bowl. We love crunchy cucumber and creamy avocado as toppings, but feel free to add whatever toppings you like best for your own spin on this easy meal. View Recipe 17 of 21 Tuna Salad & Tomato Sandwich Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser This classic deli-style tuna sandwich is packed with protein and topped with a juicy slice of fresh tomato. This recipe makes one sandwich, but you can easily double or quadruple the recipe to make more. Sweet pickle relish adds a contrast of flavors to the mix, but if you prefer something less sweet, dill pickle relish can be used in its place. View Recipe 18 of 21 Skillet Salmon with Orzo & Green Pea Pesto Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco This delightful one-pan dinner combines salmon fillets with fresh green pea pesto and orzo pasta. Green pea pesto adds a unique twist to the traditional pesto, bringing a hint of sweetness, body and a vibrant green color to your plate. If you like a more traditional pesto flavor, swap out the dill for chopped fresh basil, or use store-bought basil pesto or sun-dried tomato pesto in its place. View Recipe 19 of 21 Chicken Milanese with Arugula-Cherry Tomato Salad Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco Chicken Milanese, referring to the city of Milan, Italy, where the dish is believed to have originated, features breaded and pan-fried chicken cutlets usually served with a side salad and a generous squeeze of lemon. Here we stick (mostly) to tradition, but we skip the pan-frying in favor of cooking the chicken in the oven. Preheating the pan helps get a nice crispy crust on one side, so it’s important not to skip that step. View Recipe 20 of 21 Chickpeas alla Vodka Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser This Chickpeas alla Vodka is the ultra-quick, fiber-packed dinner you’ve been waiting for! Chickpeas are swimming in a creamy vodka sauce that gets enhancements from sautéed garlic, onion and vibrant green baby kale. Crispy, toasted whole-wheat bread is perfect for dipping. You can customize this dish easily by using chard or spinach in place of kale. View Recipe 21 of 21 High-Protein Black Bean Breakfast Bowl (No Eggs!) Ali Redmond While eggs offer plenty of protein, you can make a satisfying, high-protein breakfast without them. This breakfast bowl includes black beans, yogurt and Monterey Jack cheese, providing 15 grams of protein to keep you feeling full and energized throughout the morning. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit