29 Salmon Recipes for People with Diabetes (2024)

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Updated: Jun. 24, 2024

Salmon is an excellent protein source for people with diabetes. Here are ideas for how to make it tonight.

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Air-Fryer Salmon

Preparing salmon in the air fryer is, hands down, one of the easiest ways to cook it. Air-fryer salmon stays succulent, but still gets lightly browned on the outside. Use this simple salmon recipe as a starting point for different flavors and styles of salmon. The possibilities are endless! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Easy Grilled Salmon Salad

Try this grilled salmon salad with your favorite herb vinaigrette. Add berries during the summer months when they are in season or citrus when berries aren’t available. —Susan Bronson, Rhinelander, Wisconsin

3/28

Salmon Tacos

You can have a restaurant-style dinner in less than 30 minutes with these easy salmon tacos. In addition to the zesty coleslaw, add your favorite toppings like sliced avocado, radishes or jalapeno peppers. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

4/28

Baked Salmon in Foil

Baking salmon in foil is an easy technique that can also be used on the grill. This quick recipe uses lemon zest and slices plus garlic for flavor, but you could also try other citrus fruits, herbs and spices. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

5/28

Grilled Salmon Fillets

The grill is a perfect cooking method for salmon. The smokiness is a subtle way to amp up salmon’s mild flavor, and the high heat creates a delicious charred finish. —Lindsay Mattison, Hillsboro, Oregon

6/28

Sheet-Pan Soy-Ginger Salmon with Veggies

This salmon and veggie sheet-pan dinner is packed with umami Asian flavors and is so easy to make. It's high in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and so many other nutrients, but it's delicious! We like to serve it over brown rice or quinoa. —Pamela Gelsomini, Wrentham, Massachusetts

7/28

Balsamic-Salmon Spinach Salad

This salmon spinach salad is really healthy and super fast. It's an absolute cinch to make after a long workday. —Karen Schlyter, Calgary, Alberta

8/28

Walnut and Oat-Crusted Salmon

I think this recipe gives you the most omega-3 fatty acid bang for your buck! —Cristen Dutcher, Marietta, Georgia

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Poached Salmon with Dill Sauce

Add salmon, know for its omega-3 fatty acids, to your dinner rotation. This tender poached salmon gets extra flavor from a creamy classic dill sauce. —Patti Sherman, Schenectady, New York

10/28

Salmon with Tomato-Goat Cheese Couscous

Rich with goat cheese and tomato, this recipe works for a weeknight supper or an elegant company dinner—and is adjustable for number of people. —Toni Roberts, La Canada, California

11/28

Rosemary Salmon and Veggies

My husband and I eat a lot of salmon. One night, while in a rush to get dinner on the table, I created this rosemary salmon meal. It's a keeper! You can also include sliced zucchini, small cauliflower florets or fresh green beans. —Elizabeth Bramkamp, Gig Harbor, Washington

12/28

Pressure-Cooker Salmon

I love this recipe because it’s healthy and almost effortless. The salmon always cooks to perfection and is ready in hardly any time! —Erin Chilcoat, Central Islip, New York

13/28

Asian Salmon Tacos

This Asian/Mexican fusion dish is ready in minutes—perfect when time is tight! If the salmon begins to stick, add 2-3 tablespoons of water and continue cooking. —Marisa Raponi, Vaughan, Ontario

14/28

Orange Pomegranate Salmon

A colorful, festive salmon dish makes an impressive addition to your holiday table—and it is as delicious as it is beautiful. What will no one guess? How easy it is to cook. I serve this with roasted baby potatoes and asparagus for a showstopping meal that is wonderful for special occasions. —Thomas fa*glon, Somerset, New Jersey

15/28

Herb Salmon

My roasted salmon is so simple but elegant enough to serve to company. I make it on days when I have less than an hour to cook. The salmon seasoning is an easy way to add flavor. —Luanne Asta, Hampton Bays, New York

16/28

Pan-Seared Salmon with Dill Sauce

This is one of my husband's favorite recipes. Salmon is a go-to for busy nights because it cooks so quickly and goes with so many different flavors. The creamy dill sauce with cucumber tastes light and fresh. —Angela Spengler, Tampa, Florida

17/28

Smoked Honey-Peppercorn Salmon

I found this recipe in an Alaska fishing guide. Now it's the only way we do salmon. The brine gives it a sweet caramelized coating, and the hickory wood chips give it a distinct smoky flavor. —Judy Ashby, Jamestown, Tennessee

18/28

Lemon-Dijon Grilled Salmon Foil Packet

My family enjoys this healthy salmon recipe very much, which makes it a winner in my book. The capers really give it a burst of flavor. And since the salmon are grilled in foil, there's almost no cleanup! —Bonnie McGuire, Sunnyvale, California

19/28

Cedar Plank Salmon with Blackberry Sauce

Here's my go-to entree for a warm-weather cookout. The salmon has a rich, grilled taste that's enhanced by the savory blackberry sauce. It's a nice balance of sweet, smoky and spicy. —Stephanie Matthews, Tempe, AZ

20/28

Salmon Grilled in Foil

Steamed in its own juices, this grilled salmon in foil is incredibly tender. Curry adds a punch of flavor that's perfectly balanced by onion and tomato. —Merideth Berkovich, The Dalles, Oregon

21/28

Pecan Orange Salmon

This baked pecan orange salmon is definitely a favorite to prepare and share, because you can adjust it to suit anyone by dialing up or down the mustard and honey. —Kari Caven, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

22/28

Feta Salmon Salad

My son David always ordered the satisfying salmon sandwich at a local pub. In trying to replicate it, he came up with this salmon salad recipe. It's the only recipe he's ever made, and our entire family thinks it's wonderful. —Susan Griffiths, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

23/28

Cilantro-Topped Salmon

This cilantro lime salmon has been a favorite with everyone who's tried it. A bright and fresh cilantro-lime sauce complements tender salmon fillets in this entree. —Nancy Culbert, Whitehorn, California

24/28

Flavorful Salmon Fillets

Compliments are a sure thing when I fix these fabulous salmon fillets. A tasty marinade pumps up the flavor and keeps them moist and tender. —Krista Frank, Rhododendron, Oregon

25/28

Sensational Spiced Salmon

A bold rub gives this quick seafood entree fantastic flavor. Paired with a green veggie and rice, my spicy salmon is a delightful weeknight dinner that’s special enough for company. —Michele Doucette, Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador

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Maple-Balsamic Salmon

I have a few good recipes for family-favorite, heart-healthy salmon, but this one is always a hit. I serve it this way at least once a week and sometimes more! —David Krisko of Becker, Minnesota

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Grilled Salmon Fillet

Growing up on a family-owned resort, I was expected to help around the kitchen. This grilled salmon fillet recipe became my specialty. —Paul Noetzel, Grafton, Wisconsin

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Baked Salmon

I often make this very moist and flavorful baked salmon for company because I can have it ready in less than half an hour. This salmon with lemon is well complemented by rice or a green vegetable and a tossed salad. —Emily Chaney, Penobscot, Maine

FAQs

Is salmon good for people with diabetes?

Yes, salmon is an excellent protein choice for people with diabetes thanks to its ability to help stabilize blood sugar and reduce diabetes-related inflammation. The omega-3 fatty acids in salmon protect against cardiovascular disease, so eating this food can mean a doubled-up type of protection for your health.

What is the best kind of salmon for people with diabetes?

The best salmon is any type of salmon that you enjoy and can afford to eat regularly. The idea that wild-caught salmon is better than farmed salmon is not necessarily true. That’s because nutrient levels in salmon vary depending on the diet the fish eat and this can change from farm to farm and year to year. Both types of fish are excellent sources of nutrients.

How you prepare salmon is important, too: choose grilled, baked and poached recipes to avoid including additional “bad” fat, which usually comes from deep-frying.

How much salmon should a person with diabetes eat?

Eating two 3-ounce servings per week of fatty fish, such as salmon, is recommended by the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association.

Originally Published: December 31, 1969