Health Conditions Diabetes-Friendly Diabetic Lunch Recipes Diabetes-Friendly Sandwich Recipes 17 High-Protein Sandwiches for Better Blood Sugar By Camryn Alexa Wimberly Camryn Alexa Wimberly Camryn Wimberly is EatingWell's Editorial Fellow. As a food and mental health blogger, Camryn explores how food and cooking can help improve mental health and also be an avenue to connect with one's culture and heritage. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 18, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Close Calling all sandwich fans! We have a variety of tasty recipes that pack at least 15 grams of protein per serving. If you’re following a diabetes-friendly eating pattern, these sandwiches are great choices since they’re mindful of carbohydrates and calories while being lower in saturated fat and sodium. They are loaded with healthy ingredients like veggies and herbs, alongside complex carbs like legumes and whole grains to help you digest food more slowly and maintain stable blood sugar levels. Enjoy options like our Chicken & Cucumber Pita Sandwiches with Yogurt Sauce or 3-Ingredient Salmon & Veggie Sandwich for a healthy boost of protein to keep you fueled and satisfied. 01 of 17 Tuna Salad & Tomato Sandwich Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser This classic deli-style tuna sandwich is packed with protein and topped with a juicy slice of fresh tomato. This recipe makes one sandwich, but you can easily double or quadruple the recipe to make more. Sweet pickle relish adds a contrast of flavors to the mix, but if you prefer something less sweet, dill pickle relish can be used in its place. View Recipe 02 of 17 Chicken & Cucumber Pita Sandwiches with Yogurt Sauce Cucumbers do double duty in this healthy Greek-inspired chicken pita recipe—they're grated to lend a refreshing flavor to the quick cucumber-yogurt sauce and sliced to provide cool crunch tucked into the pita. Serve these sandwiches for a healthy dinner or light lunch. View Recipe 03 of 17 10-Minute Tuna Melt Ali Redmond This variation of a classic sandwich uses mayonnaise, but not where you think! Mayo is brushed on the outside of the sandwich in place of butter to make the sandwich golden and crispy as it heats in a skillet. Plain Greek yogurt takes mayo's place in the salad—along with crunchy celery, roasted red bell peppers and scallions—for a satisfying lunch with less saturated fat. View Recipe 04 of 17 3-Ingredient Salmon & Veggie Sandwich Photographer: Carson Downing, Food stylist: Annie Probst, Prop stylist: Joseph Wanek This 3-ingredient salmon sandwich recipe is a great way to use up leftover cooked veggies and salmon (you can also use canned salmon). Pulling out the insides of the bread makes a nice pocket for the filling. Use those bread pieces to make breadcrumbs or croutons. View Recipe 05 of 17 Beef & Bean Sloppy Joes This healthy copycat recipe of the comfort food classic trades beans for some of the meat to bump up fiber by 7 grams. We also cut back on the sugar and ketchup in this Sloppy Joe recipe makeover to save you 12 grams of added sugar. View Recipe 06 of 17 Avocado, Tomato & Chicken Sandwich In this healthy chicken sandwich recipe, the avocado is mashed to create a healthy creamy spread. View Recipe 07 of 17 Italian-Herbed Chicken and Mozzarella Melts Chicken thighs are slowly cooked with Italian-style sauce and herbs, then served on crusty bread slices with olives and two savory cheeses. View Recipe 08 of 17 Spicy Tuna Salad English Muffin Sandwich Sara Haas This quick lunch idea has a delicious balance of flavors. A slightly spicy Sriracha-mayonnaise mixture adds heat to the tuna salad, while the quick-pickled cucumbers provide brightness. Be sure to toast the English muffin so the sandwich doesn't get soggy. View Recipe 09 of 17 Lentil Burgers Walnuts and fresh marjoram accent these vegan lentil burgers. Substitute oregano for marjoram if you like. Serve with a smear of whole-grain mustard and roasted sweet potato wedges. View Recipe 10 of 17 Pulled Chicken & Pickled Veggie Wraps These colorful chicken wraps are perfect for a crowd. Marinated radishes, onions and carrots add a salty crunch—and a sneaky serving of vegetables! View Recipe 11 of 17 Egg Salad English-Muffin Sandwich Brie Passano When you boil eggs ahead of time, it's easy to create a lickety-split and delightful lunchtime egg salad. And using the flavorful leafy carrot tops in it is like getting herbs for free. View Recipe 12 of 17 Salmon Burgers with Coleslaw and Roasted Carrots Salmon burgers on toasted rolls are served with tasty coleslaw and roasted carrots for a budget-friendly meal with plenty of vegetables. View Recipe 13 of 17 Chicken Shawarma with Yogurt Sauce The key to cooking juicy chicken without a spit in this healthy recipe is high heat and dark meat. The yogurt in the marinade gives the chicken both its tender texture and its alluring char. More yogurt in the sauce, along with crunchy cucumbers and herbs, keeps the flavors bright. View Recipe 14 of 17 Veggie Wrap with Cilantro Hummus These healthy multigrain wraps are filled with mixed greens, chopped cucumber, tomato and red onion, as well as feta cheese and a homemade cilantro hummus. As a time-saver, the hummus can be prepared up to 3 days ahead and chilled until you're ready to make the wraps. View Recipe 15 of 17 Salmon Pita Sandwich This quick lunch recipe is loaded with heart-healthy omega-3s thanks to the canned sockeye salmon. If you're bringing this sandwich for lunch, keep the salmon salad separate and stuff the pita just before eating. View Recipe 16 of 17 Turkey-Apple-Brie Sandwiches Hollowed-out baguettes hold a satisfying combo of tart apples, creamy Brie and protein-rich shredded turkey. View Recipe 17 of 17 Pork Wrap with Lime-Jalapeño Slaw A leftover cooked pork cutlet and coleslaw from earlier meals make this lunch a breeze to put together. View Recipe Medically reviewed by Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit