FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

• Why You Need My Cucumber Subs Recipe
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How To Make Cucumber Subs
• My Recipe Tips
• Serving Ideas
• Cucumber Subs (Easy Recipe) Recipe card
• Recipe Reviews

Why You Need My Cucumber Subs Recipe

• Fresh, crisp, and satisfying – These subs have that perfect crunch from the cucumbers, plus creamy mayo , savory turkey, and juicy tomatoes in every bite. It’s such a refreshing combo.
• Just a handful of ingredients – You only need a few basic things to throw these together, and there’s zero cooking involved. I make them when I want something quick but still fresh and filling.
• Perfect for picnics, lunches, or low-fuss dinners – They pack well, taste great chilled, and you can easily switch up the fillings depending on what you have. My kids love building their own!

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my cucumber sandwiches recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Cucumbers – This is what I use instead of white bread. I find English cucumbers work best because they’re longer and straighter, which makes them easier to fill and close. You could also use bell peppers like I did for my bell pepper sandwiches — they’re just as crunchy and fun.
• Mayonnaise – I usually have some of my homemade avocado mayo on hand, but any kind you love will work.
• Veggies – I used Roma tomatoes and lettuce for my cucumber subs, but feel free to mix it up. You can’t go wrong with spinach, red onion, avocados (or guacamole ), or sliced cucumbers for extra crunch.
• Lunchmeat – I went with turkey slices for a lean option, but feel free to swap in whatever you like — salami, ham, roast beef, or even my chicken salad all work great.
• Cheese – I used provolone, but you could go with cheddar, Swiss, or even a herbed cream cheese mixture (like cream cheese mixed with garlic powder, dill, and chives). Or skip the cheese entirely if you want it dairy-free.

How To Make Cucumber Subs

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Prep cucumbers. Chop off the ends, slice lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Then cut each one in half to make sub-sized pieces.
2. Add mayo. Spread about a teaspoon of the mayo inside each cucumber half — you’ll have 8 total.

1. Stuff them. Layer one half with lettuce, tomato, provolone (folded), and 2 turkey slices. Roll a 3rd turkey slice and tuck it into the other half.
2. Finish. Place the halves together to make a sub. Repeat with the rest to make 4 cucumber subs total.

My Recipe Tips

• Use a sharp knife. A good chef’s knife makes slicing the cucumbers quick and easy — no squishing or uneven cuts.
• Scoop the seeds. This keeps the subs from getting watery and makes more room for the fillings. I just use a spoon — it’s super quick.
• Use sturdy cucumbers. English cucumbers work best because they’re long and straight, which makes them easier to stuff and hold together.
• Don’t use too much mayo. A thin layer inside each half adds flavor and helps the fillings stick, but too much can make things slippery.
• Layer it just right. I like putting lettuce on the bottom and rolling an extra slice of meat into the top half — it helps everything stay put when you close it up.
• Secure with toothpicks . Not a must, but they help hold everything together, especially if you’re packing these up or serving them for a party.

Serving Ideas

Wondering what to serve with your cucumber subs? Here are a few of my favorite sides to round out the meal:

• Soups – I like pairing cucumber subs with something warm and light, like cabbage soup or zucchini soup . It makes a super satisfying lunch without feeling heavy.
• Salads – You really can’t go wrong with a cold side like creamy cucumber salad or broccoli salad — both are crisp, refreshing, and come together fast.
• Chips & Dip – When I want something crunchy on the side, I go for baked tortilla chips with guac or salsa . It totally hits the spot.

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 2 large Cucumbers ▢
• 8 tsp Mayonnaise (2 tbsp + 2 tsp) ▢
• 2 medium Roma tomatoes (sliced) ▢
• 4 leaves Lettuce ▢
• 4 oz Turkey slices ▢
• 4 slices Provolone cheese ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Cut both ends off each cucumber. Cut each in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out the seeds. Then, cut in half to make them half the length.
2. Spread a teaspoon of mayonnaise inside each cucumber cavity (8 total).
3. Top one cucumber boat with lettuce, tomato slices, a provolone slice folded in half, and 2 turkey slices. Roll a 3rd turkey slice and place into a second empty cucumber boat, so that it fits in there. Close the second half over the first.
4. Repeat with the remaining cucumbers, making 4 subs total.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size : 1 cucumber sub

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you keep your subs crisp, your fillings in place, and every bite perfectly balanced.
• Store: Keep leftovers stored in seperate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 2 days.
• Meal prep: For best taste, prep the ingredients ahead and assemble the day-of. For convenience, you can make them fully — just know they’ll soften a bit.
• Note on nutrition info: I shared some other options in the Ingredients & Substitutions section, but just a heads up — the nutrition facts will change if you use different meats, veggies, or cheeses.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Cucumber Subs

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

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The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Cucumber Subs (Easy Recipe)

Ditch the bread and make these easy cucumber subs instead! They’re fresh, low carb, and loaded with turkey, cheese, and a swipe of mayo!

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/cucumber-subs-recipe-how-to-make-cucumber-sandwiches/

Ingredients

• 2 large Cucumbers
• 8 tsp Mayonnaise (2 tbsp + 2 tsp)
• 2 medium Roma tomatoes (sliced)
• 4 leaves Lettuce
• 4 oz Turkey slices
• 4 slices Provolone cheese

Instructions

1. Cut both ends off each cucumber. Cut each in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out the seeds. Then, cut in half to make them half the length.
2. Spread a teaspoon of mayonnaise inside each cucumber cavity (8 total).
3. Top one cucumber boat with lettuce, tomato slices, a provolone slice folded in half, and 2 turkey slices. Roll a 3rd turkey slice and place into a second empty cucumber boat, so that it fits in there. Close the second half over the first.
4. Repeat with the remaining cucumbers, making 4 subs total.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size : 1 cucumber sub

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you keep your subs crisp, your fillings in place, and every bite perfectly balanced.
• Store: Keep leftovers stored in seperate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 2 days.
• Meal prep: For best taste, prep the ingredients ahead and assemble the day-of. For convenience, you can make them fully — just know they’ll soften a bit.
• Note on nutrition info: I shared some other options in the Ingredients & Substitutions section, but just a heads up — the nutrition facts will change if you use different meats, veggies, or cheeses.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)