Whenever we need a quick yet comforting treat, a homemade fried bologna sandwich never disappoints. It combines the salty, meaty goodness of fried bologna slices with the heartiness of buttery bread and tangy condiments. Making this sandwich only requires a few ingredients and 10 minutes. And to take it to the delicious next level, we spoke to two top chefs for their tricks for perfectly fried bologna, plus delicious ways to upgrade this childhood staple.
The ingredients in a classic fried bologna sandwich
A traditional fried bologna sandwich consists of pan-fried bologna slices, mayonnaise and white bread. Some folks also like to add in mustard for a zesty kick. Once sliced, the bologna is pan-fried in bacon grease, oil or butter until the slices golden brown and crispy. Afterwards, one to four bologna slices are layered onto each sandwich along with the other fillings.
The origins of fried bologna sandwiches
The exact history of the fried bologna sandwich isn’t widely known. But, bologna’s rise in US popularity during the 20th century as an accessible lunchmeat option is believed to have inspired this sandwich’s creation in the South. In this region, bologna has long been fried and added to sandwiches for breakfast or lunch. The love for this sandwich eventually spread throughout the country, where it’s considered to be a quintessential childhood lunch or afternoon snack.
The secret to making the best fried bologna sandwich
Although frying the bologna creates a crunchy exterior, the slices tend to curl up in the pan because they’re so light, which prevents the bologna from cooking evenly. The easy solution? Simply start with thicker slices — since they’re denser and weigh more, they don’t curl up. You can try Oscar Mayer’s Hearty Thick Cut Bologna Deli Lunch Meat (Buy from Walmart, $2.48). But Robbie Shoults, celebrity chef and owner of Bear Creek Smokehouse, prefers his even thicker and likes to use slices that are ¼-inch thick, which you can request from your local deli counter.
The other secret for a perfect fried bologna sandwich? Maria J. Silva, chef and appliance expert for OvenWave.com, scores her slices before frying, which helps them to stay flat. “Make a 1-inch ‘X’ in the center of each slice of bologna,” she says. “This will help to release the air and prevent the bologna from curling up.”
Our favorite classic fried bologna sandwich recipe
A traditional fried bologna sandwich is mouthwatering and hard to beat. Below, Shoults shares his simple recipe that comes together in less than 10 minutes.
Ingredients:
- 2 slices country-hearty bread
- 1 thick-cut bologna slice
- Mayonnaise to taste (enough for both sides of bread)
- 1 Tbs. unsalted butter, bacon grease or olive oil
Directions:
10 ways to upgrade a fried bologna sandwich
Looking to give your fried bologna sandwich a flavor boost? Silva has plenty of ideas that will satisfy your taste buds. Here are 10 ways she suggests taking a sandwich to the next level.
Hungry for more homemade sandwich or snack recipes? Check out these stories below:
The Secret to Making The Perfect Meatball Subs — While Cutting Prep-time In Half!
7 Ways to Make a Basic Sandwich Beautiful — And Delicious
9 Scrumptious Sandwich Recipes to Spice Up Lunchtime
Egg Roll Wrappers Are Your $3 Secret to Deliciously Easy Homemade Snacks
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