A plethora of top selling deli meat brands bombard the market with their options, but which are the best? For the carnivorous among you who are always looking for meat and meat products to add protein to your diet, this list will give you insight into some great choices. Discover the top-selling deli meats you should try to make your next gourmet sandwich or platter.
The top-selling deli meat brands are popular for good reasons, usually their flavor, affordability, and healthiness. Statistics show that a vast proportion of Americans choose Boar’s Head as their favorite brand. Other favorites include Hillshire Farm, Oscar Mayer, and more.
If you need to change your deli meat brand because your favorite is out of stock or suddenly tastes different, how do you choose the best substitute for your next charcuterie board when entertaining or even for your work lunch? Our cheatsheet of the top-selling deli meat brands will help you decide what to try.
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The 10 Top-Selling Deli Meat Brands You Should Try
A 2020 survey asked Americans which brand of deli meats they preferred and bought. 73.77 million Americans chose “store brands,” and 39.98 million selected “other brands” under the options. But these were the most popular deli meat brands you could add to your list to try in order of their popularity.
Boar’s Head Is The Top Seller
Boar’s Head has a vast selection of products, including maple honey ham, pastrami rounds, sliced ham, and even mortadella, to name a few.
Their products are delicious, thinly sliced, and remain moist. 84 million Americans chose Boar’s Head as their preferred brand in 2020. That must mean the company is doing something right!
Oscar Mayer Is A Popular Brand
After “store brands,” Oscar Mayer was the next favorite deli meat brand in the 2020 survey, with 66.14 million votes. Oscar Mayer’s Deli Fresh line offers the typical deli meats most other brands produce.
They have good sliced chicken and turkey options, but if you’re a bologna fan, Oscar Mayer’s is a cut above the rest, and their cotto salami and oven-roasted turkey rolls are excellent too.
Hillshire Farm Has Some Meaty Reasons For Its Popularity
Hillshire Farm is one of the most well-known brands of deli meats and is found on most grocery store shelves. They offer thinly sliced and thicker-sliced options.
The meat is flavorful, but it also gives you the most value for your money, and 50.97 million people prefer it. That’s a good reason to try a new brand.
Butterball Is A Favorite Deli Turkey Brand
Except for their Buffalo Style Chicken Breast, Butterball focuses entirely on turkey meat. Turkey meat is a leaner option, and Butterball also adds no nitrites and nitrates to their products, which makes it a healthier choice.
There is no form of turkey that Butterball doesn’t offer, so if you’re a fan of this type of poultry, give it a try. 29.4 million Americans say it’s their favorite.
Bar-S Is One Of The Top-Selling Deli Meat Brands
Bar-S’s deli meat options include poultry and ham products, bologna, and a variety of other lunch meats.
The company has been in operation for nearly four decades, focusing on producing quality meat that more than meets the required health and safety standards. Their meats are favorites because of their variety, quality, and delicious taste.
Many Americans Buy Tyson Deli Meats
Tyson has a three-tier range of gluten-free, lean turkey, beef, and ham cold cuts, including the Premium, Favorites, and Basics tiers.
Their products are tasty and low-risk when it comes to food safety, as they use natural antimicrobials in their meats. With a wide selection of deli meats and cost-effective choices, it became a favorite of 20.49 million people.
Dietz & Watson Have Many Fans
With the focus on healthy food these days, Dietz & Watson would be a good brand to try because their lunchmeats are low in sodium, carbohydrates, and fat and go through the minimum amount of processing. Dietz & Watson is the preferred brand of 17.39 million people.
Sara Lee Premium Meats Is A Favorite
In their range of 15+ varieties, Sara Lee offers traditional favorites like Honey Ham and Oven Roasted Turkey and bolder options like Chipotle Seasoned Chicken and Mesquite Smoked Turkey. Sara Lee only uses the best cuts of meat, roasted slowly in the oven. Nearly 16 million Americans love this brand.
Jennie-O Is A Preferred Turkey Brand
Turkey is the preferred choice for most of those concerned about health. Jennie-O does minimal processing and does not include any artificial ingredients. 13.26 million Americans fancy Jennie-O’s turkey options, so it’s worth giving it a try.
Is A Popular Deli Meat Brand Choice
The big plus for Land O’ Frost is its affordability. 12.4 million people spend their deli meat budget on Land O’ Frost’s products. While it doesn’t have a massive range, it still offers some classics like Black Forest ham, oven-roasted turkey, and tasty peppercorn beef.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The Most Popular Deli Meats?
Turkey is the most popular option. You can see the deli meat market division below.
| Deli Meat Type | Percentage Of Market |
| Turkey | 34.6% |
| Ham | 30.9% |
| Beef | 11.7% |
| Chicken | 7.8% |
| Salami | 5.7% |
| Bologna | 3.6% |
| Other | 5.7% |
What Is The Best Deli Meat To Buy?
There is some debate over whether to buy fresh or prepackaged deli meat. On the one hand, fresh meat comes straight from the bone or slab, has natural nitrates, and goes through less processing. On the other hand, prepackaged lunch meat has definite expiry dates, while nobody knows how long fresh meat stays in the deli under the glass.
If you choose prepackaged meat, look for the leanest cuts, like chicken breast, turkey, roast beef, or lean ham. Check the list of ingredients and look for nitrate-free, low-sodium brands. Also, avoid BHA, BHT, Aspartame, corn syrup, and smoked flavors, as these can cause inflammation or cancer.
What Is The Most Popular Cold Cut?
Boar’s Head is the most popular cold cut brand, taking the largest portion of the deli meat market. It’s gluten-free, has less sodium, is milk-free, sugar-free, and MSG-free. It does not contain fillers, by-products, or any hydrogenated oil trans-fats.
What Is The Best Brand Of Deli Turkey?
365 Whole Foods Market’s Oven-Roasted Turkey Breast is the healthiest option. It contains no antibiotics or hormones. The curing ingredients consist only of sea salt and vinegar powder.
The Final Cut
With 84 million Americans purchasing Boar’s Head deli meats, this makes it the top-selling brand in the USA. It is healthier than some brands, but the best meat to buy at a deli is fresh turkey or chicken, free of as many additives as possible.