11 Best Diabetes-Friendly Pizza Recipes [Dietitian Approved]
If you’re a pizza lover who happens to have diabetes, you shouldn’t feel as though you need to cut pizza completely out of your diet to live a healthy, balanced life. To prove it, I’ve rounded up 11 dietitian-approved pizza recipes tailored specifically for people with diabetes, so you can indulge in your favorite cheesy treat while managing your blood sugar.
What pizza is best for diabetics?
Since traditional pizza tends to be high in saturated fat, sodium and refined carbs, it will raise your blood sugar. But if you’re managing diabetes, there are still healthy and balanced ways to enjoy this food.
Of course, every person has different needs, so finding the best pizza for blood glucose support may require some trial and error. Ideally, the best pizza for diabetics is one with a good balance of macronutrients and nutrient-dense toppings.
Remember, when you consume carbohydrates along with fat, fiber, and protein, you can slow down how quickly those carbohydrates raise blood sugar levels. Here are a few things to keep top of mind when picking the best pizza for your health goals.
- Pair pizza with healthy sides: Enjoying a slice of pizza alongside a large salad with a protein source like grilled chicken or salmon is a smart way to cover all of your nutrient needs and make the meal more filling.
- Eat lower carb crusts that are higher in fiber and protein: Refined grains are stripped of certain nutrients like protein and fiber, and have a greater effect on blood sugar levels. Crusts made from cauliflower, whole-grains, or almond flour can provide additional fiber, protein and micronutrients. They also tend to be much lower in carbs.
- Be mindful of portion sizes: When considering pizza, be aware of the serving sizes. You can also choose thin-crust pizzas, which typically contain fewer calories and carbs.
- Go for nutrient-dense toppings high in fiber and protein: Top your pizza with high fiber foods like mushrooms, leafy greens, and broccoli, along with a lean protein, such as grilled chicken or beans. This balance creates a satisfying meal that promotes stable blood sugar levels while keeping you full for hours to come.
- Use moderate amounts of cheese: Although cheese can offer a variety of benefits when it comes to blood sugar management, it can also be a source of excessive saturated fat, sodium, and calories. Watch your portion sizes and opt for low-fat, softer cheeses when possible.
11 Diabetes-Friendly Pizza Recipes To Try
Get ready to satisfy your pizza craving with the ultimate lineup of dietitian-approved pizza recipes for diabetes! These mouthwatering recipes feature low carb crust alternatives, plenty of veggies, and lean proteins to promote steady blood sugar control.
Keto Pizza Rolls | Erin Palinski-Wade
If you have diabetes and love pizza, you may feel like you can’t always eat what you want. But thanks to this easy keto pizza roll recipe, that is no longer the case. Each roll is made with low-carb ingredients to minimize the impact on blood sugar levels. They are also perfect for customizing for the whole family. Whether adding extra vegetables or adjusting the seasoning, it’s easy to create a delicious, filling meal with only 2 grams of carbohydrates per serving!
Calories: 16 Carbs: 2g Protein: 1g Fat: 1g Fiber: 1g
Easy Cauliflower Pizza | Erin Palinski-Wade
Give your pizza a healthy upgrade with this easy cauliflower pizza crust. It tastes just like a crispy flatbread, but uses cauliflower instead of refined flour to maintain the texture with less calories and zero net carbs per serving! This gluten-free crust is so easy to make, I promise your whole family will love it.
Calories: 61 Carbs: 1g Protein: 5g Fat: 4g Fiber: 1g
High Fiber Pizza Bites | Erin Palinski-Wade
These better-for-you pizza bites make a nutritious and convenient snack or appetizer. Swapping standard dough for Flatout Light flatbread means more whole grains, fiber, and protein for a lighter snack that’s easier on your blood sugar.
Each serving has only 8 grams of net carbohydrates and 164 calories so you can enjoy a favorite food like pizza while managing your diabetes. Best of all? Your kids will be happy to eat them!
Calories: 164 Carbs: 17g Protein: 13g Fat: 7g Fiber: 9g
Everything Bagel Low Carb Chicken Pizza | Milk & Honey Nutrition
Anytime you hear the words low carb pizza, you might think of something bland and flavorless. But this Everything Bagel Low Carb Chicken Pizza recipe is anything but! Using Egglife Wraps makes for a high protein pizza with a bit of everything but extra carbs. It’s the perfect pizza for managing blood sugars as one serving has only 4 grams of net carbs and packs 36 grams of protein.
Calories: 270 Carbs: 4g Protein: 36g Fat: 12g Fiber: 0g
Breakfast Pita Pizza | Chelsea LeBlanc, RND, LD
Pizza for breakfast? Why not!? Ready in less than 10 minutes, this fun and nutritious breakfast pita pizza is a great source of whole grain, fiber and protein to help you power through the day. Topped with peanut butter and berries, to give you a daily boost of antioxidants, omega 3 fatty acids and enough fat to leave you satisfied.
Using a whole-grain pita provides additional fiber and slower-digested carbohydrates to help keep blood sugar levels in balance. Depending on how many carbohydrates your meal plan includes, you can swap the pita with a low carb bread.
Pizza Bites | Kelsey P. RD
These Pizza Bites are a cross between a bagel bite and a pizza muffin, only made from scratch using a Greek yogurt dough. With just four ingredients, they make a great afterschool snack or appetizer. The Greek yogurt adds 17 grams of protein to each bite and provides a feeling of fullness while slowing down the absorption of glucose in the bloodstream.
Perfect for adding any of your favorite pizza toppings, including a keto-friendly sauce and plenty of vegetables!
Calories: 215 Carbs: 28g Protein: 17g Fat: 6 g Fiber: 4g
Air Fryer Tortilla Pizza | Mackenzie Burgess, RDN
With just a few minutes of prep, you’ll have a crispy, delicious pizza that beats any store-bought frozen alternative. Using a whole wheat tortilla as the base makes for a super thin, low calorie crust that’s just as satisfying as a traditional slice.
Loaded with fresh vegetables like squash, broccoli, peppers, tomatoes and mushrooms alongside plant-based Beyond Meat Steak, this pizza is high in protein, fiber, and flavor. Customize it to suit your taste and dietary needs with your choice of cheese and veggies.
Calories: 430 Carbs: 34g Protein: 25g Fat: 23g Fiber: 8g
Chicken Spinach Pita Pizza | Elysia Cartlidge, RD
One serving of this Chicken Spinach Pita Pizza is under 400 calories, so it can serve as a lighter portion-controlled option. Each pizza is packed with protein and fiber, and of course, due to the thinner crust, lower in carbs than your traditional pizza.
While many pizzas use loads of greasy cheese, this recipe uses a mix of mozzarella and ricotta over each slice for some creamy decadence without the calories and fat.
Calories: 379 Carbs: 37g Protein: 33g Fat: 12g Fiber: 5g
Healthy Mediterranean Diet Pizza | Alex Evink, MS, RD
Craving pizza but without all the guilt? Try this healthy Mediterranean diet pizza. Bursting with fresh Mediterranean flavors, this recipe is packed with vegetables on a thin, wheat crust and ready in under 30 minutes. One serving has 7 grams of fiber and is well-balanced with protein and healthy fat fat to fill you up and slow the digestion of carbohydrates. Serve with a side of salmon and you’ve got a super nutritious Mediterranean Diet meal.
Calories: 329 Carbs: 43g Protein: 11g Fat: 13g Fiber: 7g
Air Fryer English Muffin Pizza | Summer Yule, RD
These English muffin pizzas have only 13 net carbs per serving and are quick to make in the air fryer. Using the air fryer cuts down on fat and calories while keeping these pizzas crisp and delicious. Each serving is automatically portion controlled and under 200 calories each. The small portions are perfect for enjoying a hot and savory slice while trying to lose weight.
Check out some of my other low-carb air fryer recipes to help you better manage your blood sugar.
Calories: 172 Carbs: 17g Protein: 12g Fat: 6g Fiber: 4g
Curry Pizza | Moushumi Mukherjee MS, RDN
A tasty low-carb pizza that comes together in 20 minutes? Yes please! You’ll love the delicious fusion of flavors in this Curry Pizza. Swapping pizza dough, or even tortillas, for Egglife Wraps means fewer carbohydrates and calories for a lighter pizza that’s easier on your blood sugar. Topping it with plant based protein from black beans along with lots of non-starchy vegetables adds soluble fiber which can lower cholesterol and keep you full.
Mexican Pizza | Chelsea LeBlanc, RDN, LD
This delicious Mexican pizza is ready in less than 20 minutes and beyond easy to make. Using Sabra Jalapeno Hummus for the “sauce” adds big time flavor while also boosting the protein and healthy fat content for a satisfying meal. Plus, this plant based protein cuts down on sneaky added sugars found in some sauces.
The bottom line:
The best pizza for diabetes is one loaded with nutrients like protein, fiber, and healthy fats to keep you full and satisfied without spiking your blood sugars. Whether you love a pizza piled high with toppings, demand a good cheese pull, or crave something in between, this list has plenty of options for anyone following a diabetes meal plan.
More blood sugar friendly recipes you’ll love!
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