12 Delicious Ways To Upgrade Store-Bought Bologna
These days, you may find that cutting down on food spending is a good way to stay on top of a tight budget. Luckily, there are still some tasty and affordable options you can find at the grocery store that will keep the whole family fed and happy without compromising on flavor. Bologna is one of those versatile and nostalgic choices that has made a surprising comeback in recent years.
Bologna is a type of sausage typically made by blending pork, beef, chicken, or possibly other meats with salt and seasoning, as explained by Huffington Post. The meat is ground up and stuffed into a sausage casing, and the assembly is then cooked or smoked. The sausage is then thinly sliced to get the familiar lunch meat you're used to seeing in the deli section. With Italian roots and flavors, American bologna is essentially a simplified version of mortadella, which is an Italian cold cut that dates back hundreds of years, per Insider.
While you may remember bologna as a lunchbox staple throughout your youth, it might have fallen off your radar as you got older and developed a more sophisticated palate. However, it's likely that your childhood memories of bologna don't even scratch the surface of its full culinary potential. Here are some delicious ways you can upgrade simple store-bought bologna that will make you take another look at this budget-friendly lunch meat.
1. Pile on the caramelized onions
Caramelized onions pack a punch of sweet and savory flavors that go well with so many things, including bologna. If you want to step up your bologna sandwich, one way to do that is to pan-fry the bologna and top it with caramelized onions. When done the right way, fried bologna has a crispy bite and smoky flavor. The soft and melty texture of the onions pairs perfectly with the crunch of the bologna, leaving you with a mouth-watering combination you're sure to love.
Keep in mind that caramelizing onions is more than simply throwing them in a pan and cooking them up. The process can actually take some time and require a bit of technique if you want to get the most flavor out of your onions. You need to let the sugar that is naturally found in the onions brown and caramelize from the heat, which transforms the onions from crisp and somewhat spicy to sweet and tender.
Although caramelized onions could take about 45 minutes to develop the right texture and taste, it's definitely worth the wait. Once you pile them on top of your fried bologna, you may not want to eat a bologna sandwich any other way.
2. Add cayenne pepper or chili powder
If you're a lover of spicy food, bologna may initially seem somewhat bland for your taste. It has a mellow flavor that leans more on the savory side than anything else. The good news is that you can easily add a pop of heat to your next bologna sandwich by adding a sprinkle of cayenne pepper or chili powder directly to the lunch meat.
As if you needed more reasons to give your next bologna sandwich a spicy kick, it turns out that cayenne pepper and some other chili powders may provide some health benefits along with flavor. According to Healthline, cayenne pepper is rich in nutrients and antioxidants, including capsaicin. This powerful compound can potentially help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, lower blood sugar levels, and even improve athletic performance (via Healthline).
Because bologna has a mild flavor on its own, it almost serves as a blank canvas for your favorite spices and highlights those flavors rather than competing with them. Simply add the desired amount of cayenne or chili powder to the surface of your sliced bologna before crisping it up in a pan. This little boost of heat will give your bologna an unexpected twist that is anything but boring.
3. Top it with a fried egg
There are very few things that a perfectly fried egg can't make better. The warm, runny yolk adds richness and flavor to just about anything. If you're looking for something different to introduce to your brunch repertoire or simply want to indulge in a more decadent version of a bologna sandwich, crispy bologna topped with a fried egg and melted cheese is a fun take on a breakfast classic.
To make a breakfast-style fried bologna sandwich, start with a few slices of store-bought bologna. Using a knife, "notch" or cut into each slice about four times, equally distanced, from the edges to about halfway to the middle of the bologna. This prevents the meat from curling up as it cooks. Then, saute each slice over medium heat until the bologna turns a crispy golden brown before topping it with cheese. Once the cheese is melted, it's time to start layering.
With your bread of choice, place the bologna and melted cheese on the bottom slice of your sandwich. Top it with a runny fried egg and some freshly cracked black pepper before adding the top slice of bread. Although you can stop right there for an amazing breakfast sandwich, you can also grill each side of the sandwich in butter for a crispy finish.
4. Pair it with horseradish
If you've never had horseradish before, your taste buds are missing out. Horseradish is a spicy root vegetable that delivers a strong and pungent flavor when grated — similar to dijon mustard and wasabi. Traditionally, horseradish has been paired with prime rib, roast beef, or steak to cut the richness of the meat with a kick of spicy acidity. However, it can also enhance the flavors of seafood, sauces, and other dishes that can otherwise fall flat.
A bologna sandwich, for example, might seem like a mundane prospect on its own. While a slice of bologna and cheese between two pieces of bread might not sound tempting, add a dash of horseradish to your mayo, and you've got yourself a sandwich worth making. Just a small amount of potent horseradish can go a long way, so be sure to add a little at a time and taste your sandwich spread as you go to get the right amount of bite.
On top of adding spice and flavor, horseradish is also a healthy addition to your bologna sandwich. According to Nourish by WebMD, the compounds and antioxidants found in horseradish may help reduce inflammation and protect against cell damage.
5. Top it with bacon
For people who love a good BLT sandwich, this might be the game-changing bologna upgrade. It's also one of the easiest ways you can enhance the flavors of bologna with something you most likely already have in your fridge: bacon. A few crispy pieces of sizzling bacon stacked on top of your bologna will quickly take your sandwich to the next level.
The salty, savory sweetness of bacon is incredibly versatile and goes well with different flavors. When you take that profile and add it to the tangy smokiness of bologna, it gives you a perfect pairing that hits on all five basic flavors in the best way possible. The key is to find the right balance between the two so that one doesn't outshine the other.
If you're going the BBLT (bologna, bacon, lettuce, and tomato) route, always opt for in-season tomatoes, quality lettuce, bacon that will crisp up, and good bread that will hold its own. Then, simply add a couple of slices of bologna, which you can choose to fry up or not. Top it off with some creamy mayo and slice diagonally for a bologna sandwich that looks as good as it tastes.
6. Pair it with cream cheese
While this one may sound like an odd pairing, cream cheese is surprisingly good with bologna. In fact, Price of Meat shares that bologna cake, made by layering bologna and cream cheese, has been a popular Southern dish for decades because they go together so well. You'll often see it served at holiday gatherings as a savory appetizer or side dish.
So, what makes the combination of bologna and cream cheese so delicious? The saltiness of the bologna and the slightly sweet and tangy taste of cream cheese seem to complement each other in a way that brings out the best of both. Sweet and salty combos tend to bring a balance to food by layering flavors. In the case of bologna and cream cheese, the salt in the bologna enhances all the sweet flavors you love in the cream cheese, giving you an incredibly satisfying pairing.
And you don't have to make an entire bologna cake if you want to try out this tasty combo for yourself. Simply swap out your mayo for cream cheese the next time you make a bologna sandwich. Just be sure to get a good layer of cream cheese on your bread if you want to get the full flavor effect.
7. Top it with spicy brown mustard
It's a classic move to put mustard on a bologna sandwich. However, switching out the traditional yellow mustard from your youth for a spicy brown mustard can really turn up the flavor. Some types of mustard are spicier than others, including brown mustard, so it's the perfect bologna sandwich condiment if you prefer your food to have some heat. Yellow mustard seeds are considered the mildest, so you won't get the more intense sinus-clearing kick you do with brown mustard seeds.
If you're going for a bit of nostalgia with your bologna sandwich, you can still choose a fluffy white bread, mild cheese, and store-bought bologna. All you really need to upgrade this childhood favorite is some spicy brown mustard smeared over each slice of bread. The mustard's pungent spice and pop of acidity help to cut the fattiness of the bologna while adding bold flavors. Also, depending on what mustard brand you use, you might add a satisfyingly gritty texture to your sandwich from the coarsely ground mustard seeds.
8. Pair it with arugula
For some people, the soft, uniform texture of bologna and cheese on untoasted bread can be a bit bland. If you fall into this category, tossing in some sturdy arugula is an excellent way to level up your sandwich and give each bite a satisfying crunch. Arugula also has bright, peppery, and slightly bitter flavors that go really well with the mild spices found in store-bought bologna.
On top of the texture and flavor boost from arugula, you'll also get a good dose of nutrition from this leafy green. According to Medical News Today, arugula is packed with polyphenols, antioxidants, and vitamins that can lower your risk of developing cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, and heart disease. All the more reason to pile it on!
However, if plain arugula isn't your thing, you can definitely dress it with a light mustard vinaigrette before adding it to your sandwich. The tanginess of the mustard and vinegar will actually work really well with the bologna, giving you a nice flavor bonus. Also, the dressing will slightly wilt the leaves and mellow out the bitterness of the arugula if you find it too strong.
9. Add barbecue sauce
If you have a good barbecue sauce at home, here's another way to enjoy one of America's favorite condiments. Barbecue sauce actually dates back several centuries and was invented to enhance the flavors of cooked meats, according to the Tennessee State Museum. Because bologna is a salty and savory combination of meats, it typically goes well with the sweet and tangy flavors you find in barbecue sauce.
One tasty way you can upgrade your next fried bologna sandwich is to slather on some barbecue sauce. Toss a couple of slices of bologna in a skillet over medium-high heat until it starts to brown and crisp. Then, remove them and cover each side with barbecue sauce before returning them to the skillet. Cook for another few minutes on each side, and top with a slice of cheese. Once the cheese is melted, add the fried bologna to your bread or a hamburger bun to complete your sandwich.
If you're feeling particularly adventurous, you can also add some classic cabbage coleslaw and potato chips to your bologna sandwich for a favorite backyard barbecue combination.
10. Vamp up your grilled cheese
A grilled cheese sandwich is one of the most popular comfort foods — and for good reason. The gooey melted cheese and buttery goodness in each crunchy bite often bring back happy childhood memories. Because bologna sandwiches can also elicit the same nostalgia, why not combine the two for a delicious walk down memory lane?
Adding bologna to a grilled cheese sandwich gives it a heartiness and a pop of seasoning that you don't get with just cheese alone. Also, as the bologna begins to warm and the cheese melts, the flavors mingle more than they would in a cold bologna and cheese sandwich. While American or cheddar cheeses are generally the favorites for grilled cheese, bologna also goes well with Swiss and provolone.
To make the perfect grilled cheese and bologna sandwich, go for a thicker or heartier bread, like sourdough. Generously butter each side of the bread before layering on the cheese and bologna. Then, grill each side of the sandwich in a skillet for about three to four minutes over medium heat until the bread is golden brown, the bologna is warmed through, and the cheese is melted.
11. Toss it in an omelet
Crispy bologna is an excellent ingredient for a hearty breakfast omelet. If you're a fan of bacon, ham, or sausage in your omelets, you can easily swap out these breakfast favorites for diced bologna, which is both tasty and budget-friendly. It also gives you a chance to try bologna in a way that doesn't involve a sandwich.
Although there are varying opinions on how to cook the perfect omelet, it's a good idea to dice and cook your bologna first and have it ready to go before you start your omelet. Simply throw the diced bologna in a skillet and fry it up until golden brown and slightly crispy. Put your cooked bologna aside with the rest of your omelet ingredients, like mushrooms, onions, peppers, or cheese. Then, you can start to cook your omelet.
Other tips to make the best omelet include using fresh eggs, not skimping on the butter, choosing the right pan, and seasoning your eggs with salt and pepper. Just keep in mind that bologna is naturally salty, so you may want to go easy on additional salt when making this savory omelet.
12. Make bologna salad
If you like egg salad, tuna salad, or chicken salad sandwiches, this is a clever and delicious way to switch it up. Bologna salad follows many of the same steps you use to make these other dishes, including dicing up the protein and combining the ingredients with an emulsifier, such as salad dressing. The end result is a creamy and flavorful mix that definitely makes for a satisfying snack or sandwich filling.
Because bologna is already seasoned with salt and spices, it lends a good amount of flavor to the salad mixture without having to add a ton yourself. However, you can mix in fresh herbs, cheese, vegetables, and even other proteins, like hard-boiled eggs. You'll also need some pickle relish for acidity and flavor and mayonnaise to act as a binder. Based on your preferences, you can also add diced celery and onions, peppers, and classic yellow mustard.
Once you have your bologna salad prepared just the way you like it, you can layer it on some bread for a sandwich, scoop it up with crackers as an appetizer, or simply enjoy it on its own.