20 Diabetes-Friendly Breakfast Recipes for Better Blood Sugar

Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD

Credit: Abbey Littlejohn

Start your mornings with these healthy breakfast recipes that are appropriate for a diabetes-friendly diet. These recipes are low in saturated fat, sodium and calories while also prioritizing complex carbs like whole grains and legumes to make managing your blood sugar easy and delicious. Recipes like our Savory Oatmeal Grain Bowl and Chocolate-Strawberry Baked Oats are the filling and nutritious breakfasts you’ve been looking for.

01 of 20

Raspberry-Banana Yogurt Perfect

Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Ruth Skipworth.
Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Ruth Skipworth.

This quick and easy raspberry and yogurt parfait combines creamy Greek-style yogurt with fiber-rich fruit and crunchy toasted pecans for a gut-friendly start to your day. Layering the ingredients in a jar makes for a portable, pretty and protein-packed meal that’s ready in minutes.

View Recipe

02 of 20

Savory Oatmeal Grain Bowl

Credit: Abbey Littlejohn
Credit: Abbey Littlejohn

Savory oats are an underrated way to enjoy the whole grain—the toppings are endless! Cooking oats in soy milk is an easy way to add protein to this hearty grain bowl. Here, we top the oats with a bright roasted red pepper-olive mixture and a poached egg for richness.

View Recipe

03 of 20

Chocolate-Strawberry Baked Oats

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

These chocolate-strawberry baked oats are a delicious breakfast that uses the classic pairing of sweet, ripe strawberries with chocolate. This dish gets its protein boost from cottage cheese, which blends beautifully into the oats while adding a subtle tang. For an extra protein punch, a scoop of protein powder works seamlessly into the mixture, making the oats an even more satisfying way to start the day.

View Recipe

04 of 20

High-Protein Blueberry & Peanut Butter Chia Pudding

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen.
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen.

This high-protein blueberry and peanut butter chia pudding is a perfect make-ahead breakfast packed with fiber and protein to keep you energized throughout the day. Chia seeds soak up the blended almond milk and blueberries overnight, creating a creamy pudding that’s layered for a peanut butter-and-jelly effect.

View Recipe

05 of 20

Passion Fruit Oatmeal Cakes

Credit: Photographer: Brittney Cottrell, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Credit: Photographer: Brittney Cottrell, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

These fiber-packed passion fruit oatmeal cakes are bursting with tropical passion fruit flavor—a delightful balance of tangy, sweet and slightly floral notes that will instantly brighten your morning. Look for passion fruit in the frozen section of your grocery store. It’s great to have on hand to use here and in smoothies.

View Recipe

06 of 20

Avocado Toast with Jammy Eggs

Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

On those days when you truly cannot be bothered to cook or are short on time, here’s avocado toast with jammy eggs to the rescue. This quick, filling dish can easily slide into breakfast, lunch or even dinner, paired with a side of dressed greens. The “jammy” in jammy eggs refers to yolks that are not runny, but still opaque in the center, yielding a creamy, spreadable texture. If you prefer your yolks fully cooked, simply cook the eggs longer, about 10 minutes total.

View Recipe

07 of 20

High-Protein Cottage Cheese Bowl

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel

This cottage cheese bowl with capers, dill and a soft-cooked egg is the ultimate high-protein meal. This bowl will keep you going strong throughout the morning, while an egg adds richness and even more staying power. Pulled together in only 20 minutes, this breakfast is the perfect choice for starting your day off right.

View Recipe

08 of 20

Slow-Cooker Oatmeal

Credit: Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Food Stylist: Breanna Ghazali
Credit: Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Food Stylist: Breanna Ghazali

Here’s an easy way to serve a crowd a hearty breakfast. You can assemble it in the slow cooker in the evening and wake up to a bowl of hot, nourishing oatmeal. The slow cooker eliminates the need for constant stirring and ensures an exceptionally creamy consistency.

View Recipe

09 of 20

BLT Breakfast Sandwich

Credit: Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl
Credit: Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl

This open-face sandwich is a delicious way to start your day. Turkey bacon provides savory flavor and crunch while keeping fat and calories in check. Country-style whole-wheat bread (or sourdough) often has no added sugars, making it the best choice here.

View Recipe

10 of 20

Banana–Peanut Butter Yogurt Parfait

Credit: Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl
Credit: Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl

This banana–peanut butter yogurt parfait is a delicious and nutritious breakfast or snack that relies on the natural sweetness of ripe bananas to create a creamy, flavorful base. The combination of banana and peanut butter is a classic pairing that provides healthy fats and a boost of protein. This easy parfait is a great way to start your day or enjoy a midday pick-me-up.

View Recipe

11 of 20

Egg, Tomato & Feta Breakfast Pita

Credit: Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl
Credit: Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl

This breakfast pita is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy a delicious start to their day! This easy breakfast combines fresh veggies and feta cheese with za’atar, a fragrant spice blend that enhances the taste without adding sodium or sweeteners.

View Recipe

12 of 20

Copycat Dunkin’ Avocado Toast

Credit: Photographer: Grant Webster,  Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek
Credit: Photographer: Grant Webster,  Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek

This copycat Dunkin’ avocado toast is inspired by the popular menu item. We love the flavors of creamy mashed avocado spread over a slice of toasted sourdough bread, topped with a sprinkle of everything bagel seasoning for added flavor and texture. It’s a quick and easy way to enjoy the flavors of the original without having to leave your house!

View Recipe

13 of 20

High-Protein Strawberry & Peanut Butter Overnight Oats

Credit: Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Sue Mitchell
Credit: Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Sue Mitchell

These overnight oats get a protein boost from Greek-style yogurt, peanut butter and soy milk, combining for 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

14 of 20

The Last Cottage Cheese Toast Recipe You’ll Ever Need

Credit: Ali Redmond
Credit: Ali Redmond

Had your fill of toast that barely takes the edge off your hunger? Say hello to our delicious and nutritious cottage cheese toast! This toast, made with whole-grain bread and topped with creamy cottage cheese, is just the beginning. We’ve added six variations, both sweet and savory, perfect for kick-starting your morning or powering through the afternoon. Savory toasts are packed with lean protein, heart-healthy fats and plenty of plant-based fiber, while sweeter versions feature fruits like antioxidant-rich blueberries and raspberries. No matter which version you choose, satisfaction is guaranteed.

View Recipe

15 of 20

“Egg in a Hole” Peppers with Avocado Salsa

Colorful bell pepper rings stand in for bread in this healthy version of egg in a hole. Cook an egg inside the peppers and top with a vibrant avocado salsa for a cheerful breakfast.

View Recipe

16 of 20

Breakfast Beans with Microwave-Poached Egg

In Costa Rica, this popular breakfast bean dish is called gallo pinto, which means spotted rooster, referring to the dark beans amid the pale rice. We call for cooked barley here, but you can use whatever leftover cooked grain you may have on hand.

View Recipe

17 of 20

Savory Oatmeal with Tomato & Sausage

Oats get a new life in this savory dish, serving as the backbone for a satisfying combo of sausage, greens, tomatoes and herbs.

View Recipe

18 of 20

Strawberry-Orange Breakfast Cakes

Yes, you can pull off baked goods on busy mornings! With a make-ahead batter and filling, these breakfast muffins go from fridge to table in under 30 minutes.

View Recipe

19 of 20

Berry-Mint Kefir Smoothies

Kefir is similar to yogurt, full of gut-friendly probiotics. But it has fewer carbs and a more drinkable consistency—perfect for smoothies.

View Recipe

20 of 20

Pistachio & Peach Toast

This breakfast is great when you have leftover ricotta cheese–plus it comes together in just 5 minutes.

View Recipe

Comments are closed.