What is the Healthiest Sandwich at Potbelly's?

January 13, 2026 •

3 min read

According to Potbelly's own menu, all of their 'Skinny' sandwiches contain less than 400 calories. This makes them an excellent starting point for determining what is the healthiest sandwich at Potbelly's, though customizations and specific ingredients play a crucial role in overall nutritional value.

Quick Summary

This guide reveals the most nutritious sandwich choices available at Potbelly, analyzing the caloric, fat, and sodium content of popular options. It also provides tips on how to customize your order to maximize health benefits and offers an overview of the brand's other healthy menu items, including salads and soups.

Key Points

Mediterranean (Skinny) is the Top Choice: The vegetarian Mediterranean (Skinny) is the best option for overall health, boasting low calories and high fiber.
Turkey Skinny is Lowest Calorie: For meat lovers, the TKY (Turkey) Skinny is the lowest calorie sandwich on the menu.
Skinny Sandwiches are Under 400 Calories: All 'Skinny' sandwiches at Potbelly are a good starting point for a healthier meal, as they are all under 400 calories.
Multigrain Bread is Recommended: Choosing multigrain bread over white adds more fiber and nutrients to your sandwich.
Customize to Reduce Calories and Fat: Request less cheese and swap creamy dressings like mayo for mustard, hot peppers, or a vinaigrette to reduce calories and fat.
Use the Online Nutrition Calculator: Potbelly's website provides a nutrition calculator to help you create and track the healthiness of your custom sandwich.

Navigating a fast-casual menu for healthy options can be challenging, but Potbelly's offers several transparent choices for calorie-conscious diners. To find the healthiest sandwich, you must look beyond just the type of meat and consider the bread, toppings, and overall portion size. The 'Skinny' sandwich lineup is a great place to start, as all sandwiches in this category are under 400 calories. The Mediterranean (Skinny) and TKY (Turkey) Skinny are often cited as top contenders for the most nutritious choice, especially with smart modifications.

The Top Contenders for Healthiest Sandwich

Mediterranean (Skinny)

This vegetarian option is a standout due to its fresh ingredients and balance of macronutrients. On multigrain bread, it features hummus, cucumbers, artichoke hearts, and roasted red peppers. It is rich in fiber and offers a respectable amount of protein for a meat-free meal. Opting for the Skinny version keeps the calories significantly lower than the Original size, making it a very nutritious choice.

TKY (Turkey) Skinny

For those who prefer a classic turkey sandwich, the TKY Skinny is a solid option. With hand-sliced turkey breast and Swiss cheese on thin-cut bread, it offers a high protein, lower-calorie profile. Customizing it by adding fresh vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, and onions can further enhance its nutritional value without adding significant calories or fat.

Avo Turkey (Skinny)

Combining lean turkey breast with the healthy fats of fresh avocado, the Avo Turkey Skinny is a flavorful and filling choice. While it has slightly more fat and calories than the TKY Skinny due to the avocado, it remains a very healthy option, providing monounsaturated fats that are beneficial for heart health. Ordering it on multigrain bread adds more fiber and nutrients.

Veggie Melt (Skinny)

The Veggie Melt Skinny is another strong vegetarian candidate. It combines fresh avocado, mushrooms, and cheese on thin-cut bread. To make it even healthier, ask for less cheese and pile on extra fresh vegetables. This offers a delicious, low-sodium profile, especially compared to some of the meat-based or cheese-heavy alternatives.

Customizing Your Potbelly Order for Maximum Health

Ordering a pre-selected sandwich is a good start, but customizing your meal is key to optimizing its health benefits. Potbelly's offers a nutritional calculator on its website, allowing you to build your meal and track its nutritional content.

Here are some tips for building a healthier sandwich:

Choose the right bread: Opt for the multigrain bread or the thin-cut version of either multigrain or white bread to reduce carbohydrate and calorie intake.
Load up on veggies: Take advantage of the free vegetable toppings like cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. They add fiber, vitamins, and bulk for very few calories.
Go light on cheese: Cheese adds significant calories and saturated fat. Consider omitting it or asking for a reduced amount to keep your meal light.
Choose condiments wisely: Avoid creamy, high-fat sauces like mayo. Instead, flavor your sandwich with mustard, hot peppers, or a light vinaigrette.
Consider a 'Flat' sandwich: Potbelly's Flats feature a naturally thinner bread with about the same calorie count as the Thin-Cut Originals, providing a different but still lighter experience.

Comparison Table: Healthy Potbelly Sandwiches


Sandwich	Calories (Skinny)	Protein (approx.)	Fiber (approx.)	Key Benefit
Mediterranean	440	20g	7g	High fiber, low-fat vegetarian option
TKY (Turkey)	295	22g	1g	Lowest calorie, high protein
Avo Turkey	410	29g	7g	Healthy fats from avocado, high protein
Veggie Melt	450	22g	7g	Good source of healthy fats and fiber from vegetables

*Note: Nutritional information can vary based on portion sizes and customizations.

Beyond Sandwiches: Other Healthy Options

Potbelly also offers other menu items that are excellent healthy choices:

Powerhouse Salad: Features grilled chicken, avocado, and hummus on a bed of field greens. When ordered with the fat-free vinaigrette, it is a very nutritious and filling meal.
Garden Vegetable Soup: A low-calorie, fat-free option loaded with vegetables like beans, carrots, and mushrooms in a light tomato broth.
Half Sandwich + Salad Combo: For variety, you can choose a 'Pick-your-Pair' to get a skinny sandwich and half salad, controlling both portion sizes.

The Final Verdict

While the answer to "what is the healthiest sandwich at Potbelly's?" depends on your specific dietary goals, the Mediterranean (Skinny) is the clear winner for a combination of low calories, high fiber, and balanced macronutrients. For meat-eaters, the TKY (Turkey) Skinny offers the lowest calorie count. Remember that with a few simple customizations, nearly any Potbelly sandwich can be made healthier. The key is choosing the right base, controlling your condiments, and loading up on the fresh, fibrous vegetables available.

Frequently Asked Questions

The TKY (Turkey) Skinny sandwich has the lowest calorie count, starting at around 295 calories before any additional toppings or condiments.

The Veggie Melt Skinny is a healthy vegetarian choice, especially if you ask for less cheese and pile on extra fresh vegetables. It provides healthy fats from avocado and is lower in sodium.

To make your sandwich healthier, choose multigrain or thin-cut bread, load up on free vegetable toppings, opt for less cheese, and choose low-calorie condiments like mustard or hot peppers instead of mayo.

Yes, all 'Skinny' sandwiches are designed to be a lighter alternative, with less meat, cheese, and bread than the Original size, ensuring they stay under 400 calories.

A 'Flat' sandwich uses a naturally thinner bread than the traditional loaf, resulting in a different texture and a calorie count similar to the thin-cut bread options.

Yes, the standard Mediterranean sandwich is vegetarian, featuring hummus, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, cucumbers, and feta cheese on bread.

The Powerhouse Salad is considered the healthiest salad, especially when ordered with the fat-free vinaigrette. It includes grilled chicken, avocado, and hummus for a protein and fiber-rich meal.