Pickled bologna is a flavorful way to enjoy the classic taste of bologna with a twist and impress your friends and family with this delicious and tangy treat. Serve it up for a snack or add it to a charcuterie board or meat platter!
Pickled bologna is a unique snack that has gained popularity over the years. The pickling process not only preserves the bologna but also enhances its taste, giving it a distinctive zest that you might just find addictive.
This was inspired by my smoked bologna recipe and pairs well with this collection of finger food party platter ideas.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Great Flavor! If you haven't tried pickled bologna before you'll be pleasantly surprised by its wonderfully tangy, savory flavor.
- Easy Recipe. This budget-friendly pickled bologna recipe is easy to follow and requires just minutes of preparation time. No pickling experience is required.
- Versatile Recipe. Pickled bologna can be enjoyed on its own or as an addition to sandwiches, crackers, cheese platters, and more. It's the perfect choice for potlucks, parties, and other gatherings.
Ingredients
It only takes a handful of ingredients to make this simple recipe and I'm pretty sure you can find them all at your local grocery store.
- Ring Bologna: This recipe uses ring bologna which is a Pennsylvania Dutch specialty. It's similar to sausage so if you don't have it on hand, you can also use other types of sausage, such as kielbasa or even hot dogs.
- Vinegar: White vinegar provides acidity and tanginess that is integral to pickling. You can experiment with apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar to achieve slightly different flavors in your pickled bologna.
- Pickled Peppers: You can use any type! I used sweet cherry peppers.
- Onion: Chopped onions impart a sharp flavor, complementing the other spices.
- Hot Sauce: For a bit of heat! You can use any brand or our homemade hot pepper sauce.
- Coarse Sea Salt: Salt is an essential ingredient in the pickling process to help preserve the bologna and enhance the overall flavor.
- Sugar: It's totally optional but adding sugar to the pickling liquid balances the tartness of the vinegar. You can adjust the quantity to suit your taste preferences.
All the ingredients are listed here but the exact amounts can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.
Substitutions and Variations
When making pickled bologna, you may find yourself in a situation where certain ingredients are not available or you'd like to try something different. Here are some substitutions and variations to consider:
- Want More Spice: Add a bit of chili pepper flakes, diced jalapeno pepper, our jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the vinegar mixture for a bit of heat.
- Sweeteners: You can use honey, maple syrup, or even brown sugar for a different taste profile. Keep in mind that the substitution ratio might not be exactly one-to-one, so add the sweetener gradually and taste test to adjust accordingly.
- Add More Flavor: Add other herbs and ingredients to your pickling liquid like thyme, oregano, mustard seeds (tangy and slightly bitter taste), peeled and crushed garlic cloves (strong, pungent flavor), black or white peppercorns (mild, aromatic heat), whole cloves (warm, slightly sweet flavor) and bay leaves (earthy and slightly bitter taste) to the pickling liquid.
- Use Other Meats: You can experiment with different types of beef, pork, and chicken sausages.
How to Make Pickled Bologna
Making this recipe is super easy. You'll just boil the pickling ingredients and pour them over the bologna. That's all there is to it!
- Add the sliced bologna to a jar.
- Place the onions and peppers in a saucepan.
- Add the remaining ingredients including the water. Bring to a boil.
- Transfer them to a container to cool.
- Pour the pickling juice into the jar.
- Seal the jar and let it sit in the fridge for three days.
⭐️ Hint: Allow your bologna to pickle for at least 3 days before tasting and for best results allow it to pickle for a week. Shake the jar regularly!
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy our strawberry jam with jalapenos or our pickled habanero peppers.
Storage
Refrigerator: Store in a jar with a tight-fitting lid for a month or longer. Just keep an eye out for discoloration and a nose open for an off smell. Otherwise, enjoy!
What to Serve with Pickled Bologna
- Enjoy it added to one of our Best Tortilla Wrap Recipes!
- Add it to sliders like our turkey and cheese sliders or air fryer ham and cheese sliders.
- Serve it up with other cured meats on a charcuterie board with various cheeses and crackers.
- It makes a great addition to sandwiches. Add it to our Fried Pork Chop Sandwiches, Best Steak Sandwich, or Grilled Cheese Recipes.
- Chop some up and add it to this Creole Smoked Potato Salad, Grandma's Coleslaw, or Jalapeno Coleslaw.
- Serve it up with a crusty loaf of bread or one of our fall bread recipes.
- Enjoy it with a grainy Mustard or your favorite mustard for more tang.
Tips
- Choose a high-quality bologna. Preferably a thick, ring-shaped one to ensure a better flavor when pickled.
- Slice the bologna into even half-inch thick pieces or larger.
- Select a large jar with a tight-fitting lid to allow proper pickling and easy shaking of the mixture.
- Bring the brine mixture to a boil and then simmer to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Allow the brine to cool before adding it to the jar and ensuring that everything is completely submerged.
- Shake the jar daily inside your fridge to evenly distribute the brine and assist with proper pickling.
- Allow the bologna to pickle for at least 3 days before tasting it. For best results, let it pickle for a week.
FAQ
Do you have questions about pickled bologna? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about it.
To make an old-fashioned pickled bologna, you will need white vinegar, water, sugar, peppercorns, allspice berries, cloves, bay leaves, and garlic cloves. Start by slicing the bologna into half-inch thick rounds. In a large pot, combine the ingredients and bring the mixture to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to low and pour over the bologna in the jar.
Pickled bologna is a type of preserved meat made by soaking bologna slices in a vinegar-based solution, combined with spices and seasonings. This process gives the bologna a tangy and savory flavor and helps extend its shelf life.
Pickled bologna, like any other processed meat product, should be consumed in moderation due to its sodium and preservative content. However, when enjoyed occasionally and as part of a well-balanced diet, it can be an addictive tasty treat.
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More Easy Condiment Recipes
If you like pickles here they are all in one place in our Perfect Pickles - All Kinds of Hot and Sweet Pickles Recipes. Do you like condiments? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Easy Pickled Bologna
Ingredients
- 1 lb ring bologna sliced
- 2 cups vinegar
- 2 tablespoon pickled peppers finely chopped (I used sweet cherry peppers)
- ½ cup onion chopped
- ½ cup water
- 1-2 teaspoon hot sauce depending on your preference
- 2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
Options
- 1-3 teaspoons Sugar to taste, if desired
Instructions
- Place sliced bologna in a large sealable jar.
- Put remaining ingredients in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir often and bring to a low boil for 5 minutes.
- Pour cooled mixture over bologna slices. Seal the jar and allow to pickle inside your fridge for 3 days, shaking a couple times each day.
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Notes
- Choose a high-quality bologna. Preferably a thick, ring-shaped one to ensure a better flavor when pickled.
- Slice the bologna into even half-inch thick pieces or larger.
- Select a large jar with a tight-fitting lid to allow proper pickling and easy shaking of the mixture.
- Bring the brine mixture to a boil and then simmer to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Allow the brine to cool before adding it to the jar and ensuring that everything is completely submerged.
- Shake the jar daily inside your fridge to evenly distribute the brine and assist with proper pickling.
- Allow the bologna to pickle for at least 3 days before tasting it. For best results, let it pickle for a week.
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