This post will share the Top 10 Best Deli Meats so you know what to pick and what to avoid.
Let’s face it, just about everyone goes for a deli meat sandwich now and then. They taste good, are a quick protein fix, and a thrifty choice for lunch.
I love a good deli meat sandwich or wrap, layered with homemade hummus, fresh tomato, crisp lettuce, avocado, and deli turkey breast—Yum!
Unfortunately, many deli meats are deceptively unhealthy, containing nitrates, additives, and coloring. That means there are many things to consider when deciding which brand of deli meat to choose, and I'll discuss them in this article.
In This Post You'll Find:
What Is Deli Meat?
When I hear deli meat, I usually think of the cold cuts you can buy deli sliced at the deli counter. According to the World Health Organization, deli meat is any meat that has been "transformed through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, or other processes to enhance flavour or improve preservation." These are often the meats you'll see at the deli counter.
Top 10 Best Packaged Deli Meats
When shopping for deli meats, here are my top 10 recommended options. These are based on nutrition labels and simple ingredients for the options available to me at the grocery store. It's completely possible other better options may exist at other stores, so please keep that in mind.
1. 365 Whole Foods Market | Black Forest Uncured Ham
Why I like it: According to the product's label, the animals raised for this ham are given vegetarian feed. Plus, the ingredients used to cure the meat are minimal, like vinegar powder.
2. 365 Whole Foods Market | Oven-Roasted Turkey Breast
Why I like it: The packaging states no hormones or antibiotics were given to the animals raised for this product. A simple blend of vinegar powder and sea salt are used as curing ingredients.
3. Gusto | Uncured Pepperoni
Why I like it: 100% vegetarian pork makes up this artisanal meat. There are also no added nitrates or nitrites.
4. Naturalissima | Uncured Hard Salami
Why I like it: This salami is minimally processed and does not contain added nitrates or nitrites.
5. 365 Whole Foods Market | Uncured Pepperoni
Why I like it: This pepperoni is casein-free (casein may cause inflammation) and is made from pork fed a vegetarian diet.
6. Applegate | Organics Black Forest Uncured Ham
Why I like it: Per the label, the pigs used to make this deli meat are never given antibiotics or fed animal by-products.
7. Applegate | Black Forest Uncured Ham
Why I like it: Like many other of the best deli meats, this product is uncured so it has no added nitrates or nitrites. Now, I'm not a huge fan of celery powder, as that will get broken down into the body as nitrates as well. Given that, there are better options, but this is on the way.
8. Diestel | Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
Why I like it: “Thoughtfully Raised” is the motto here. This meat is also organic, sugar free, and does not contain carrageenan or MSG.
9. North Country | Organic Uncured Black Forest Ham
Why I like it: This deli meat is cooked in small batches and has no GMO ingredients. The only sweeteners you'll find are maple syrup and turbinado sugar.
10. Applegate | Organic Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
Why I like it: The turkey raised to make this deli meat was humanely raised, and the final product is casein-free, gluten-free, and verified non-GMO.
To summarize, the best deli meats I have highlighted here are all solid choices that I would purchase. I’ve only mentioned a few things about each one, although typical good points are no added nitrates and nitrites, added colors or sweeteners. It’s also great to see that each product has minimal ingredients. This also applies to beef jerky, FYI!
What Is The Healthiest Deli Meat?
I look for deli meat from an animal that has been grass-fed, humanely raised and certified organic. Additionally, I want the meat to be uncured and contain no added sugars or coloring.
What Deli Meats Are Not Processed?
To qualify as deli meat that ha snot been processed, it should meet these requirements:
- It has not been salted, cured, fermented, smoked, or processed to enhance flavor or improve preservation
- It has been sliced fresh from a cooked cut of beef, turkey, or ham
Pro Tip: What I do is avoid ingredients commonly found in packaged deli meats, like caramel color, which is often added to give a more appealing color to the meat. I also recommend roasting your own meat and slicing it yourself, like I do with this roast beef recipe.
Healthy Alternatives
There are tons of ways to make a tasty sandwich without deli meat, too. These options are healthy, easy to prep, and delicious.
- Chilled salmon
- Canned tuna
- Homemade roast beef (enjoy my French dip with homemade au jus)
- Nut butter (try my easy recipe!)
- Veggies and hummus in a homemade tortilla <--yum!
- Turkey
- Roasted chicken
- Chicken breasts cooked and used in a chicken and hummus wrap
- Fried egg
- Protein Powder (see below)
Karen Noell
Thank you for this information. My husband has just finished cancer treatment and I want to keep him eating healthy. He likes a sandwich and I was not sure what processed meat ment.
Lacey Baier
I wish you and your husband the best and am happy to hear this article helps you 🙂
John Johnson
Awesome
Lacey Baier
Thanks!!