23 Bologna Recipes That Go Beyond Sandwiches

When you think of bologna, you probably imagine a fried bologna sandwich or a simple lunch of cold bologna, bread, and cheese. 

Believe it or not, I’ve come up with a list of 23 bologna recipes, and only a few of them are familiar sandwich recipes. 

This list includes bologna salads, bologna cakes (it’s not what you think!), smoked bologna, bologna stromboli, and even vegan bologna! 

Basically, if you’re looking for a way to enjoy more bologna, this list has you covered.

Keep reading to discover 23 bologna recipes you’ll want to try.

1. Fried Bologna Sandwich

Let’s go ahead and get the obvious recipe out of the way – the good, old-fashioned fried bologna sandwich. 

Depending on your preferences, you only need a few key ingredients. For example, this recipe features just bread, bologna, mustard, and cheese.

Of course, you can add to it. But that’s the basic and delicious recipe I grew up with. 

2. Easy Bologna Cake Recipe

Some of you might have seen this attached to a “Happy Birthday” meme.

But the bologna cake is as authentic a recipe as a grilled cheese sandwich or chicken fingers. 

Despite its farcical-looking appearance, it’s actually quite tasty.

You’ll add grated onion and Worcestershire sauce to the cream cheese to give it a bit of umami flavor. Then, once it’s layered, serve it cold with crackers.

3. Old-Fashioned Bologna Salad

You’ve had egg salad, chicken salad, and tuna salad; now it’s time to try bologna salad.

Made with fewer than 10 ingredients, this salad spread is cool, tangy, and very yummy. 

Serve it on crackers or between two slices of bread. It tastes great and takes only 20 minutes to make.  

4. Monkey Meat

Monkey meat is a streamlined version of bologna salad that uses only three ingredients: bologna, mayo, and baby dill pickles. 

Simply dice the solids in a food processor and mix them with the mayo. It shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes, tops. 

5. Memphis Smoked Bologna Sandwich

Break out the grill and wood chips to make this authentic Memphis smoked bologna sandwich.

All you’ll need are six thick slices of bologna, BBQ sauce, coleslaw, and buns. 

Whether you’re a grill master or novice, you should be able to pull these hearty sandwiches together in no time. 

6. Fried Bologna Sliders with Pickle Dijonnaise

If you’re looking for a fun appetizer that has no redeeming health benefits but tastes insanely scrumptious, these sliders are the way to go. 

They’re 100% self-indulgent; they’re salty, cheesy, buttery, and delightfully greasy. They certainly aren’t something you’ll want to eat all the time. 

But for enjoying now and then on a special occasion?

These are too good, and because you’ll only get to eat them once in a while, you won’t have to feel guilty about eating three, four, or more.

7. Ukrainian Potato Salad (Olivye)

With tender chunks of potatoes, carrots, and onions, as well as eggs, peas, bologna, pickles, and more, Ukrainian potato salad is a phenomenal side dish that’ll pair well with any barbecue.

If you’re looking for something creamy and delicious for your summer meals, you can’t beat it. 

8. Ring Bologna and Sweet Corn Fried Rice

This tasty, rice-based dish has plenty of protein and veggies.

It’s garlicky and zesty, and it has a colorful, appealing appearance that makes it look as good as it tastes. 

Plus, it’s one more quick, easy, and filling dinner recipe to add to your repertoire. 

9. Bavarian Wurst Salad with Cheese

This faux-pasta meal is a stretch for me, but I know some people who love it.

I think it’s just the novelty of eating stringy bologna myself, but they insist that it tastes incredible. 

I suppose if you like bologna, cheese, and pickles, it’ll probably be alright. I’ll let you guys try it first and report back to me.

10. Smoked Bologna

This four-ingredient bologna is sweet, smoky, and just a tiny bit tangy.

You’ll make it on your smoker, so it takes some time, but it’s worth it for the sheer depth of flavor. 

Every bite is a savory, succulent delight, and whether you eat it on a bun with condiments or straight off your plate with nothing added to it, you’re sure to love it. 

11. Ground Bologna Spread with Pickles & Onions

This bologna spread is much like the monkey meat listed above, but you’ll also add onions to it.

Doing so gives it an earthier flavor that makes it even tastier. 

12. Antipasto Pasta Salad

This colorful dish features tender pasta, salty meats, cheesy cheeses, and plenty of your favorite fresh veggies. 

The sweet and tangy dressing is what brings it all together.

If you’re looking for a flavor-packed lunch or an exciting side dish for a summer cookout, give this pasta salad a try.

13. Southern Bologna Burgers

Here’s another tasty sandwich that features a thick, hearty slice of bologna on a bun. What makes this one different is the pimento cheese topping. 

You’ll make it from Colby and cheddar cheeses, mayo, pimento peppers, salt, and pepper, and it’s unbelievably good.

It also makes the ideal topping for a hot bologna sandwich. 

(It tastes terrific by itself, as well.) 

14. Burnt End Bologna Bites

These crispy, sweet, and smoky cubes of bologna bites are for anyone who loves the burnt ends of brisket or fried bologna so overcooked that it’s nearly solid black. 

They have a lovely golden-brown color and the crispest edges you can imagine. They’re also tender, saucy, and make scrumptious, decadent appetizers. 

15. Breakfast Sandwich Recipe with Buttermilk Biscuits

Thick, fluffy buttermilk biscuits… a perfectly fried egg… gooey cheese and crispy bologna… What more could you ask for in a morning sandwich? 

It takes less than an hour to make eight of these, so give them a try the next time you’re in the mood to fix a warm, filling family breakfast. 

16. Gourmet Fried Bologna Sandwich Recipe

Personally, thin bologna is my favorite because you’ll get the blackest, crunchiest edges, which is something that I love. 

As a result, this thin bologna gourmet sandwich is my favorite sandwich option on the list.

Of course, the sharp white cheddar and garlic butter don’t hurt, either.

Let’s just be honest and say that everything about this yummy sandwich is perfect and leave it at that. 

17. Bologna Stew

Bologna stew may sound odd, but it’s a terrific and budget-friendly meal.

Be sure to buy a big piece so you can chop it up. I like 1-2 inch chunks, but smaller works, too.

Searing the meat is vital here since it brings so much texture and flavor.

It’s an unbelievably easy recipe to make, and I highly suggest you give it a try. 

18. French Poodles

French poodles are teeny tiny corn dogs – like miniature corn dog bites – with bologna at their centers. 

They have the same slightly sweet, crunchy crust as corn dogs, but they come in a conveniently tiny package that gives you just one or two bites per treat. 

If you’re looking for a fun party appetizer, you’ll love French poodles. 

19. Fried Bologna Sandwich With & Onion

This rich, sloppy sandwich may look like heartburn waiting to happen, but it’s really good.

It’s also quick and easy to make if you’re looking for a convenient lunch option. 

You can whip it up with only five ingredients: garlic bologna, onions, ciabatta or rye bread, olive oil, and ketchup. Add salt and pepper to suit your tastes. 

It’s not the neatest, easiest sandwich to eat, but after you take that first bite, you won’t mind the mess. 

20. Fried Bologna and Egg Sandwich

This tasty sandwich is like a bacon, egg, and cheese toaster from Hardee’s, only with fried bologna instead of bacon and a lot more garlic. 

The substitution alters the flavor but doesn’t make it any less delicious.

It’s still cheesy, salty, and has a bit of crunch, and the garlic only adds to its yumminess. 

21. Vegan Baloney (Bologna)

I’m not going to lie to you: Vegan bologna doesn’t taste like bologna. It just doesn’t. However, it does taste remarkably good, particularly if you fry it. 

If you’re a colossal bologna fan, it probably won’t suit your tastes for the real thing.

However, if you like meat but enjoy lots of herbs and spices, you might prefer this one. 

It features paprika, garlic, soy sauce, onion powder, nutmeg, and mustard powder!

It has such a rich, layered flavor and truly is amazing. It just isn’t quite bologna.

22. Bologna Stromboli

You’ll only need seven ingredients to make this cheesy, slightly tangy stromboli, and you may have all of them in your kitchen already. 

With nothing more than a can of refrigerated pizza dough, some bologna, cheese, mayo, mustard, sweet pickle relish, and an egg, you can whip this up in no time. 

It’s a new, flavorful take on an old favorite. 

23. Ham Salad Recipe with Bologna Option

Let’s finish this up with one final recipe for bologna salad. 

If you like your bologna salad a bit chunkier and less smooth and creamy, try this recipe instead.

It still features bologna, celery, eggs, and more, but it’s thicker and denser. 

It also has a lighter, fresher taste, thanks to the addition of basil leaves.