34 Healthy Diabetic-Friendly Appetizer Recipes

Air-Fryer Eggplant Fries

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 135 calories, 5g fat (2g saturated fat), 68mg cholesterol, 577mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 4g fiber), 9g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 fat, 1/2 starch.

My kids love these air-fryer fries—and I like that they’re healthy. Coated with Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese and garlic salt, these eggplant fries are delicious and guilt-free. —Mary Murphy, Atwater, California

Go to Recipe

Roasted Beetroot and Garlic Hummus

This tasty beetroot hummus is the prettiest pink snack I’ve ever seen. The healthy recipe is handy to make in large batches and keep in the fridge for lunches and snacks throughout the week. —Elizabeth Worndl, Toronto, Ontario

Taste of Home

Asian Wraps

This recipe is just like any other Asian wrap, but with more delicious and healthy flavor. Instead of ordering Chinese, you’ll be making these yourself! —Melissa Hansen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Taste of Home

Peachy Jalapeno Guacamole

Fresh jalapenos and summer-ripe peaches lighten up this creamy guacamole. It’s got a little kick, but I love that it’s not so spicy it burns off my taste buds! —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia

Taste of Home

Sweet Pea Pesto Crostini

I made a healthier spin on my favorite celebrity chef’s recipe by subbing in vegetable broth for some of the oil and going easy on the cheese. To top crostini, use this recipe for a pastelike pesto. For use on pasta, add more broth for a saucelike consistency. —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas

Get more snacks for people with diabetes.

Cilantro & Lime Chicken with Scoops

I came up with this recipe when I was preparing for a large party and I wanted a healthy chicken appetizer to serve in tortilla cups. You can make this party dish ahead of time to free yourself for time-sensitive dishes. Serve it in tortilla chip cups or any other savory crispy cup you like. Enjoy leftovers over salad greens or wrapped up in tender tortillas for burritos. — Lori Terry, Chicago, Illinois

Taste of Home

Avocado Endive Cups with Salsa

I jazz up guacamole by serving it atop endive leaves to keep it low-carb. Add a brilliant red pepper salsa, and you’ve got a standout appetizer. —Gilda Lester, Millsboro, Delaware

Balsamic-Goat Cheese Grilled Plums

Make a real statement at your summer dinner party with this simply elegant treat that’s low in calories. Ripe plums are grilled and then dressed up with a balsamic reduction and sprinkled with tangy goat cheese. —Ariana Abelow, Holliston, Massachusetts

Tangy Texas Salsa

I’m a “transplant” from Wisconsin currently living in Texas. Even after 20 years, I can’t get enough of our wonderful local citrus. The combination of tangy fruit, spicy jalapeno and distinctive cilantro is so refreshing and light. —Lois Kildahl, McAllen, Texas

Makeover Creamy Artichoke Dip

Folks are sure to gather around this ooey-gooey, lightened-up dip whenever it’s placed on any buffet table. With cheese, jalapenos and a hint of lemon, it’s a treasured favorite. —Mary Spencer, Greendale, Wisconsin

Taste of Home

Baked Pot Stickers with Dipping Sauce

Twisting these wonton wrappers like little candies makes them fuss-free, and the dipping sauce is packed with sweet heat. Baking instead of frying keeps them lower in calories. —Taylor Marsh, Algona, Iowa

Cannellini Bean Hummus

My version of hummus features a delightful nuttiness from tahini, a peanut butter-like paste made from ground sesame seeds. The beans pack a lot of protein so it’s a healthy snack for kids. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California

Pork Satay

Cilantro layers on the freshness, while the sesame oil and Thai chili sauce add Asian flavors to lean chicken that pair perfectly with peanut butter. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Colorful Corn Salsa

This colorful, fat-free salsa is worth the extra time it takes to grill the ears of corn. The flavor goes well with barbecued meats, but it’s also tasty served with chips. —Nancy Horsburgh, Everett, Ontario

Caprese Salad Kabobs

Trade in the usual veggie party platter for these lively kabobs. I often make them for my family as a healthy snack, and the kids like to help with the recipe! —Christine Mitchell, Glendora, California

Fresh from the Garden Wraps

We moved into a house with a garden that needed tending. Using the herbs we found, we made these fresh-tastic wraps for our first dinner there. —Chris Bugher, Asheville, North Carolina

Apple-Nut Blue Cheese Tartlets

These tasty appetizers look and taste gourmet, but they’re easy to make. Blue cheese is so flavorful that you don’t need much to add loads of flavor, which keeps them light. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

Taste of Home

Four-Tomato Salsa

The variety of tomatoes, onions and peppers makes this chunky salsa so healthy. Whenever I try to take a batch to a get-together, it’s hard to keep my family from finishing it off first! It’s a super snack with tortilla chips or as a relish with meat. —Connie Siese, Wayne, Michigan

Garlic Pumpkin Seeds

Wondering what to do with all those pumpkin seeds guests will be scooping out at your pumpkin-carving party? This healthy, microwave-easy recipe is the answer! Save some for yourself before they’re gone! —Iola Egle, Bella Vista, Arkansas

Roasted Red Pepper Tapenade Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Roasted Red Pepper Tapenade

When entertaining, I often rely on my pepper tapenade recipe because it takes only 15 minutes to whip up and pop in the fridge. Sometimes I swap out the almonds for another healthy nut like walnuts or pecans. —Donna Magliaro, Denville, New Jersey

Taste of Home

Southwest Egg Rolls

Moderately crispy with a rich and creamy filling, these semi-spicy appetizers taste like they’ve been fried. —Danielle Booth, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Taste of Home

Yogurt & Honey Fruit Cups

This tasty snack of fresh fruit and creamy orange-kissed yogurt is one that you can feel good about serving. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Orange Shrimp Mojo

With jalapeno, orange and avocado, every bite of this enticing starter is spicy, tangy and fresh. The sauce beautifully glazes the lean shrimp. —Don Thompson, Houston, Ohio

Smoked Salmon New Potatoes

Give twice-baked potatoes a rest this year and try these stuffed spuds. Smoked salmon and cream cheese blended with lemon juice and dill are simply piped into small red potatoes. Leftovers are even good with eggs for breakfast. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

TMB Studio

Garlic Bean Dip

There isn’t a bean that my family does not like. In fact, I serve one kind or another almost every day. This dip is one of our favorite ways to eat them. —Nancy Testin, Harrington, Delaware

Taste of Home

Vegetable Samosas

My family enjoys the wonderful Indian flavors in a traditional samosa. Baked instead of fried, this version has fewer calories but keeps all the classic tastes and textures we love. —Amy Siegel, Clifton, New Jersey

Zippy Shrimp Skewers

These low-fat skewers deliver a mouthwatering kick with minimal effort. Fix them for your next party and watch them disappear. —Jalayne Luckett, Marion, Illinois

Taste of Home

Skinny Quinoa Veggie Dip

Don’t let the name fool you. This good-for-you recipe will appeal to the health-conscious, but it has plenty of flavor to satisfy everyone. We use crunchy cucumber slices for dippers. —Jennifer Gizzi, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Chili-Lime Roasted Chickpeas

Looking for a lighter snack that’s still a crowd-pleaser? You’ve found it! This zesty, crunchy chickpea recipe will have everyone happily munching. —Julie Ruble, Charlotte, North Carolina

Spicy Shrimp Salsa

Radishes add a wonderful crunch to this colorful salsa that is also great over grilled fish. There’s just enough jalapeno to give flavor without much of the heat. —Mary Beth Relyea, Canastota, New York

Taste of Home

Curried Chicken Meatball Wraps

My strategy to get picky kids to eat healthy: Letting everyone assemble their dinner at the table. We love these easy meatball wraps, topped with crunchy veggies and peanuts, sweet raisins, and a creamy dollop of yogurt. —Jennifer Beckman, Falls Church, Virginia

Old Bay Crispy Kale Chips

Here in East Hampton, NY, harvest time means big bunches of kale from local growers. These crunchy kale chips are delicious, super healthy and easy to make. I make them with Old Bay Seasoning to give them a little zing. For spicy chips add a dash of cayenne pepper.—Luanne Asta, East Hampton, New York

Rosemary Walnuts

My Aunt Mary started making this recipe years ago, and each time we visited her she would have a batch ready for us. Cayenne adds an unexpected zing to the savory combo of rosemary and walnuts. When you need a good housewarming or hostess gift, double the batch and save half for yourself. —Renee Ciancio, New Bern, North Carolina

TMB Studio

Baked Veggie Cups

These colorful veggie cups are not only tasty, but they also pack in a surprising amount of nutrition! The addition of mozzarella and Parmesan is the perfect Italian touch. —Cathy Horvath, Surrey, British Columbia