Fried Bologna and Cheese Sandwich

By
Andrea Lynn
Andrea Lynn
Food writer, recipe developer, and personal chef who has authored four cookbooks. She focuses on Southern cuisine, soul food, and spices.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 09/24/21
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 5 mins
Total: 10 mins
Serving: 1 serving

A bologna sandwich is a ho-hum but ubiquitous lunch option, but there are ways to make it a bit more interesting. In the South, for example, cooks give this sandwich a bit of a twist by frying the bologna first. They simply place the bologna slices onto a lightly buttered griddle or nonstick pan and fry them up until they are browned. The thicker the cut of bologna, the better, so ask for the bologna from the deli counter instead of buying it prepackaged.

Fried Bologna and Cheese Sandwich

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon canola oil

  • 1 to 2 slices thick-cut bologna

  • 1 slice American cheese

  • 1 teaspoon mayonnaise

  • 2 slices white bread

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Fried Bologna and Cheese Sandwich ingredients

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  2. Heat canola oil in a nonstick sauté pan over medium-high heat.

    Oil in a pan

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  3. Place bologna in pan and cook until brown, about 1 to 2 minutes on each side.

    Bologna in a pan

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  4. Top with a slice of American cheese and remove pan from heat.

    Bologna with American cheese on top, in a pan

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  5. Spread mayonnaise on insides of both slices of bread and place fried bologna and melted cheese on 1 piece. Top with other piece of bread and serve. 

    Fried Bologna and Cheese Sandwich

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Tips

  • A fried bologna sandwich makes a powerful statement, so any side dishes served along with are definitely not the main attraction. But what they can do is balance out the heaviness—and the guilt—of this sandwich.
  • Good choices are cream or vinegar slaw, homegrown tomatoes (if they are not on the sandwich), pasta salad filled with veggies, or potato salad.
  • Less healthy but tasty options are french fries or potato chips—kettle cooked sea salt and vinegar, sea salt, and pepper, and plain varieties are the best choices.
  • For a more upscale version of this humble sandwich, use artisan or French bread or a brioche bun instead of white bread. You can also grill the completed sandwich in a bit of butter for a crispy exterior and an even more decadent lunch.

Recipe Variations

  • Although delicious as is, you can include different ingredients or condiments to change this sandwich up a bit. Slip in a slice or two of tomato to add a bit of color and nutrition to the sandwich. Or top with chili for a hearty lunch that's heavy on meat and flavor. This sandwich is also delicious with a layer of coleslaw nestled in the middle.
  • To add some bite, consider swapping out the mayo for mustard. You can go for the usual yellow mustard variety, which is the most mellow, but if you want more heat, spread on a bit of spicy brown mustard, which amps up the firepower and is robust enough to match the strong flavor of fried bologna. Dijon mustard packs a lot of punch but in a more sophisticated way, and whole-grain mustard has the zing of Dijon along with a significant texture to make it a satisfying choice on a fried bologna sandwich. 
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
552 Calories
38g Fat
36g Carbs
17g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 552
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 38g 48%
Saturated Fat 10g 49%
Cholesterol 51mg 17%
Sodium 1133mg 49%
Total Carbohydrate 36g 13%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 17g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 409mg 31%
Iron 3mg 17%
Potassium 312mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)