How to Fry Bologna

Hot, Crispy, Perfectly Flavorful, fried bologna is a wonderful (and sometimes preferred) meat that can be used as a breakfast side, sandwich meat, delightful snack or even as the main course at dinner. Let me show you how to fry bologna perfectly, every single time! 

Why This Recipe Works

• Get that crisp edge you want.
• Have your bologna lay flat in the pan while it cooks. 
• Uses a less expensive meat but gives you all the flavor you want! 

Here’s How It’s Done.

STEP 1. 

Remove the red casing from the outside of the bologna.

STEP 2. 

Heat up some butter in the pan. 

STEP 3. 

Cut the bologna in four places around the rim and then a small cut in the center. Fry for 1-2 minutes over medium heat on one side, flip and repeat on the other side. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Do You Keep Fried Bologna Flat When Cooking? 

OH! The dreaded bologna curl! 

If you don’t know what to do, you’ll be battling that slice of bologna until it rolls off your plate.

Trust me, you won’t win. You have to know the trick! 

Here’s the trick:

1. Cut a ½ inch cut into the edge of the bologna in at least 3-4 places around the periphery. (So, if the bologna were a clock, make a cut at 12, 3, 6 and 9).
2. THEN…. Don’t forget this cut, or you’ll have a bubble in the middle. 
3. Cut a slice right in the center to let hot air escape. 
4. BOOM! Flat bologna! 

Can You Fry Bologna Without Oil? 

Yes, I fry mine in butter instead of oil. You could also use a cooking spray. 

If you have a non stick pan, you should be able to cook your bologna without anything added to the pan at all. 

Otherwise, your bologna will likely stick to the pan. 

Can I Fry Bologna In My Air Fryer? 

Yes, of course you can! Give it a little spray with some spray and fry away! 

1. Cut the bologna slice into four pie shaped pieces and
2. set them between the bars on the rack.
3. Give them a little blast of cooking spray.
4. Set machine for 400 degrees for 5 minutes. 

Can I Microwave Bologna? 

Yes, you CAN microwave bologna,BUT you will not be able to achieve the crispy browning marks that are typical with fried bologna. 

To cook your bologna in the microwave:

1. set the bologna on a microwave safe plate,
2. cut the edges and middle as indicated below.
3. Microwave on high for 20 secs.
4. Remove and flip to other side, repeat until bologna is heated through. 

Do I Have To Cook Bologna? 

Nope! Bologna is already cooked all the way through, you can eat it straight out of the package. I think that is how I ate most of my school lunches for all of my childhood! 

What Does Bologna Taste Like?

It has a taste all it’s own, but if pressed, I would say that bologna tastes most like hot dog meat. 

How Can I Use Bologna? 

You can use bologna in…

• Sandwiches
• Fry up with onions and potatoes
• Substitute in casseroles
• As a breakfast meat.
• Many other uses

Is Fried Bologna a Southern Thing

Actually, I’m not sure if its a southern thing or not. I’ve eaten fried bologna my whole entire life (a very long time), but I live in the south and was raised by southern parents. 

I did spend all of my youth in the North and I don’t remember if my Ohio friends at fried bologna or not. 

Is It OK to Eat Bologna Raw? 

Yes, it isn’t raw, its already cooked. Eat all you want! 

That’s the main sandwich meat of my childhood and I never ever ate it cooked. 

Tips and Tricks

• The main tip and trick is to make the right cuts so that your bologna doesn’t curl and the one in the center so that you don’t get a big bubble. That’s it. 
• You’ll also want to have your pan HOT when you put the bologna in. I cook mine in butter and when the butter starts to brown is the right time to put the bologna in. Getting that splash of color is important to adding some flavor to the bologna. 
• Finally, buy a good bologna. I’ve found that the cheap versions have zero flavor at all. So, go for a name brand. 
• At our house, the thick sliced bologna reigns. Personally, I like buying it in the chub and then slicing off the thickness that I want. But you know, be the king or queen of your own kitchen. 
• What's in bologna? Here you go...

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How to Fry Bologna

Hot, Crispy, Perfectly Flavorful, fried bologna is a wonderful (and sometimes preferred) meat that can be used as a breakfast side, sandwich meat, delightful snack or even as the main course at dinner. Let me show you how to fry bologna perfectly, every single time!

5 from 7 votes

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Course: sandwich

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fried bologna

Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 4 minutes minutes

Total Time: 6 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 188kcal

Author: Wendi Spraker

Ingredients

• 1 Tbs Butter
• 1 slice Bologna thick preferred
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• In a 9” frying pan (prefer cast iron, but any heavy bottom frying pan will do), melt butter over medium heat.
• Peel the red ring from the outside of the bologna.
• Cut a ½-1” slice into the edge of the Bologna at the 12’oclock, 3’oclock, 6o’clock and 9 o’clock position and a small ¼ -½ inch cut in the center of the bologna.
• Lay the bologna into the frying pan when the butter begins to brown. Cook on one side for 2 minutes. Flip and repeat.
• Remove from frying pan and serve hot. Add salt and pepper to taste

Notes

• The main tip and trick is to make the right cuts so that your bologna doesn’t curl and the one in the center so that you don’t get a big bubble. That’s it.
• You’ll also want to have your pan HOT when you put the bologna in. I cook mine in butter and when the butter starts to brown is the right time to put the bologna in.
• Getting that splash of color is important to adding some flavor to the bologna.
• Finally, buy a good bologna. I’ve found that the cheap versions have zero flavor at all. So, go for a name brand.
• At our house, the thick sliced bologna reigns. Personally, I like buying it in the chub and then slicing off the thickness that I want. But you know, be the king or queen of your own kitchen.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

How to Fry Bologna

Amount Per Serving

Calories 188 Calories from Fat 162

% Daily Value*

Fat 18g28%

Saturated Fat 10g50%

Cholesterol 47mg16%

Sodium 370mg15%

Potassium 88mg3%

Carbohydrates 2g1%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 355IU7%

Calcium 24mg2%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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A VERSE TO SHARE

Such a wonderful thing to remember... the weakest is the greatest. 

Luke 9:48

Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.