Fried Bologna Sandwich

The first time my son asked me for a fried bologna sandwich for lunch, I was a bit shocked-he had never eaten bologna before until he tried it at a local sandwich shop. Now, from time to time, this classic sandwich makes an appearance inside his lunchbox. In this post, I’ll share how to upgrade your sandwich and pack it for later.

If you regularly purchase bologna to make sandwiches for school, then you’ve probably tried all sorts of ways to shake things up from time to time.

Growing up in Europe, I occasionally ate mortadella sandwiches, so the first time I tried bologna in the US was a bit nostalgic. Years later, when my son asked me to make him a fried bologna sandwich-something he tried for the first time at a local New Orleans sandwich shop-I wasn’t too sure about it… until I tried it.

Gone are the days of finding soggy sandwiches inside a lunch bag; this sandwich packs great with the tips I’ll share down below. But first, let’s talk about what goes in it and how to make bologna taste better.

Is Fried Bologna Good?

If your memories of bologna resemble something slimy and bland, I’m here to tell you that the simple step of pan frying the bologna will transform it into a deliciously crisp meat whose flavor will be the main event of your lunch

Ingredients

You’ll find the details of the recipe at the bottom of this post; but before you slap a couple of slices of bologna between two slices of bread, let me share the ingredients that make a fried bologna sandwich great:

• Bologna: the star ingredient of the sandwich and one whose quality can vary greatly. Higher quality bologna without nitrates, msg, and lower sodium exists, usually behind the deli counter. Ultimately, buy the one you deem appropriate.
• Cheese: traditionally, yellow sliced American cheese is paired with this deli meat because its mild flavor lets the fried bologna shine. But I also love a good bologna and Swiss to mix things up.
• Mustard: upgrade the classic yellow mustard with Creole mustard or grey poupon.
• Mayonnaise: use your favorite.
• Tomato: a slice or two, totally optional.
• Lettuce: leaves or shredded green or iceberg lettuce for added crunch.
• Bread: no matter the sandwich bread you choose, I highly recommend toasting it to hold this sandwich together and give it extra crunch. You’re going to love it.

How to Make a Fried Bologna Sandwich

Interestingly enough, there’s no need to deep fry your deli meat, all you need is a pan! I’ve learned some tips in each step that make this sandwich better:

1. Toast the bread
   I lightly toast the sandwich bread and have it ready to go on a plate so I can quickly assemble the sandwich when the bologna is ready.
2. Dress the sandwich
   Now is the time to spread your mayo and mustard, place the lettuce and tomatoes (if using), and add the deli cheese.
3. Pan-fry the bologna
   Before you pan-fry the bologna, you’ll need to slice the bologna slices across the edges to prevent it from curling. Since bologna meat contains fat, there’s no need to add oil to the pan. You can use a little spray but make sure you heat the pan first. You’ll simply pan-fry both sides of the bologna slices for about a minute each over medium-high heat.
4. Assemble the sandwich
   Remove the fried bologna slices from the pan and transfer them to the prepared sandwich. Close it up and enjoy!

First time grilling a bologna sandwich or packing it for lunch? Watch this video for more tips and tricks!

Packing a Fried Bologna Sandwich Inside a Lunch Box

You can make this sandwich in the morning and pack it inside a lunch box to be enjoyed later for lunch. Here are some tips:

Use a sturdy lunch box
The best way to keep sandwiches from getting squished or flattened in the lunch bag is to pack them in a hard, sandwich-sized container.

Pack the tomatoes right
Sliced tomatoes are great in sandwiches but if you’re making a sandwich for later, make sure you layer the sandwich ingredients correctly and put the cheese between the tomato and the bread.

Add more nutrition
This sandwich pairs well with fruits and veggies; which I recommend packing in a separate compartment of the lunch box. Some fruits pack great for lunch, like berries, sliced apples, apple chips, banana chips, or a fruit salad.

More Sandwiches for School Lunches

Need other simple school lunch ideas that are nostalgic like this sandwich? Try a bologna and cheese sandwich, the Elvis Sandwich, or one of these healthy homemade lunchable ideas.