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    TaraTeaspoon » Summertime Favorites » Memphis Smoked Bologna Sandwich

    This page contains affiliate and sponsored links. See my full disclosure.

    Published: · Modified: Sep 29, 2020 by

    Memphis Smoked Bologna Sandwich

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    two memphis smoked bologna sandwiches pin image

    This Memphis Smoked Bologna Sandwich is a regional classic you don't want to miss out on. Top it with creamy coleslaw and you have yourself a Southern BBQ meal.


    Memphis Smoked Bologna Sandwich, you ask?  Well, this is not the bologna sandwich recipe you might remember as a child!

    Stacked Memphis Smoked Bologna Sandwiches with coleslaw on hamburger buns

    Employ some smoking wood chips, add my delicious Memphis BBQ Sauce, some coleslaw and you will be off to a great new taste sensation. Easy too!

    At your deli, ask that bologna be cut into thick pieces by hand rather than on a slicer, or get a large piece to cut yourself. If the deli clerk is confused, just show them one of these amazing pictures. They will be blown away and wonder why they haven't been making these sandwiches for years!

    That is, unless you live in Tennessee, Memphis for sure, Mississippi, even Oklahoma. In fact in Mississippi BBQ bologna is referred to as "Mississippi Prime Rib." I think that takes it a little too far, LOL. Bologna is bologna.

    Quick-click Table of Contents:

    Jump to:
    • How to smoke bologna:
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    How to smoke bologna:

    It all starts with the humble lunch meat, well and the city of Memphis. It's smoked whole, or cut into thick slices and smoked. I do the latter, slices, because I want a quicker preparation, and also I'm not really about to purchase an entire roll of bologna meat! A roll of bologna is called a chub, and is usually six or seven pounds. My recipe uses only about two pounds and serves six people!

    Memphis loves baby back ribs, pork shoulder smoked and chopped and these grilled bologna sandwiches served with coleslaw and spicy sauce.

    The Chicago Tribune has a great article on smoked bologna sandwiches and a recipe for smoking an entire chub; but see my recipe below and you have these super amazing sammies on your plate in less than an hour.

    I smoke slices over indirect heat so they absorb the flavor of the smoke. Try hickory wood chips for the most authentic flavor. You can rub the slices with a BBQ rub if you want an extra bang of taste.

    Make a Memphis Smoked Bologna Sandwich with coleslaw on hamburger bun

    My Terrific 10 Rub will do the trick. And I don't call for it, but you're welcome to throw the slices over direct heat for a minute at the end to get some charring.

    Memphis

    Memphis loves baby back ribs, pork shoulder smoked and chopped and these grilled bologna sandwiches served with coleslaw and spicy sauce. The city hosts one of the largest BBQ festivals in the country, Memphis in May, and you wouldn't want to miss it if you're planning a trip to Tennessee.

    Check out my recipe for a Memphis Smoked Bologna Sandwich and you can have this super amazing dinner on your plate in less than an hour.

    In my recipe I kept the spiced sauce mild, so feel free to add heat if you like. Make whatever coleslaw is your favorite (or buy it so save prep time). I used regular egg hamburger buns, but feel free to use soft white bread, Texas toast or other buns if you like.

    The most typical are sliced white bread and hamburger buns. The soft texture and sweetness of the bread adds the perfect combo to these Memphis Smoked Bologna Sandwiches.

    Don't have a smoker at home?

    No worries! Check out my tip in my Texas Beef Brisket post on how to cook and smoke with indirect heat using your regular gas or charcoal grill.

    📖 Recipe

    two memphis smoked bologna sandwich es

    Memphis Smoked Bologna Sandwich

    Tara Teaspoon
    This Memphis Smoked Bologna Sandwich is a regional classic you don't want to miss out on. Top it with creamy coleslaw and you have yourself a Southern BBQ meal.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine BBQ
    Servings 6
    Calories 651 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 cups wood chips soaked
    • 2 to 2½ lbs bologna, sliced thick 6 slices
    • ¾ cup Memphis BBQ Sauce
    • 1½ cups coleslaw
    • 6 soft buns or 12 slices bread

    Instructions
     

    • Heat grill to medium (300ºF) for indirect cooking with a drip pan under the grate and arrange smoker box or wood chips in grill. Arrange bologna slices over drip pan and cover grill. Cook, turning once 12 to 15 minutes, just to heat and get a smoky flavor
    • Brush with BBQ sauce and serve with coleslaw on buns. 

    Notes

    In my recipe I kept the spiced sauce mild, so feel free to add heat if you like. Make whatever coleslaw is your favorite (or buy it so save prep time). I used regular egg hamburger buns, but feel free to use soft white bread, Texas toast or other buns if you like.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 651kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 27gFat: 39gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 2036mgPotassium: 643mgFiber: 1gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 225IUVitamin C: 8.4mgCalcium: 222mgIron: 3.6mg
    Want to watch videos to show you how to cook?Check out our Youtube and try this recipe and more.

    Isn't summer the best! Be sure to use my Memphis BBQ Sauce on this terrific sandwich. How about a great dessert to complete the meal? Try my Clementine Almond Cookies!

    Try these finger-licking-good BBQ recipes

    • Homemade BBQ Meatball Subs In Under An Hour
    • North Carolina Pulled Pork Recipe
    • Kansas City Style Ribs Recipe To Make On Your Grill
    • Memphis BBQ Sauce
    • Terrific 10 Ingredient BBQ Rub From Your Pantry
    • BBQ Mop Sauce Recipe
    • Texas Beef Brisket with Spicy Sauce
    • Korean BBQ Chicken Skewers
    Tara in kitchen making salad

    About Tara Teaspoon

    I’ve been in the food publishing business for over 20 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television & advertising. Order my new cookbook & stick around for amazing things to eat.

    Find out more!

    Recipe Tara Teaspoon. Photograph Romulo Yanes. Food Stylist Victoria Granof. Prop Stylist Cindy Diprima. Originally published LHJ July 2011

    Filed Under: BBQ, Sandwiches, Summertime Favorites Tagged With: bbq, bbq sandwich, Bologna, coleslaw, memphis

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Casey the College Celiac says

      August 09, 2018 at 5:35 pm

      Talk about a sandwich that is totallly drool-worthy!

      Reply
    2. Lauren says

      August 09, 2018 at 6:40 pm

      That sandwich is beautiful! My husband is a huge fan of bologna and he just got a smoker for his birthday. Will definitely be trying this out.

      Reply
    3. Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

      August 09, 2018 at 6:57 pm

      This looks so yummy and flavorful! I'm going to have to try it!

      Reply
    4. Jennifer Maune says

      August 09, 2018 at 7:15 pm

      The special rub sounds amazing! And this looks pretty good for being "just" bologna!

      -Jennifer
      https://maunelegacy.com

      Reply
    5. Amy (Savory Moments) says

      August 09, 2018 at 8:23 pm

      This sandwich is completely new to me and it looks absolutely delicious!!

      Reply
    6. Luci says

      August 09, 2018 at 9:50 pm

      This sounds so tasty. Smoking bologna gives it a different flavor.

      Reply
    7. Jennifer says

      August 10, 2018 at 3:17 pm

      I have never heard of smoked bologna before, but have loved fried bologna for years! I will have to give this a try! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Tara says

        August 29, 2018 at 3:32 pm

        Throwback! I hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    8. Bianca says

      August 14, 2018 at 2:36 pm

      Now if my mom had put this in my lunchbox growing up, I may like bologna today.

      Reply
      • Tara says

        August 29, 2018 at 3:30 pm

        Haha exactly! This is delicious

        Reply
    9. Luda says

      August 14, 2018 at 4:06 pm

      Oh my goodness, this looks so delicious! I'll have to bookmark and try it for our next outdoor picnic 🙂

      Reply
    10. Berniedette | petiteandtoned.com says

      August 14, 2018 at 4:30 pm

      I'm taking a late lunch and you're absolutely making me hungry!!!!!!

      xoxo,

      Berniedette | PetiteAndToned.com

      Reply
    11. Dani says

      August 14, 2018 at 5:55 pm

      Wow what a gorgeous and mouth watering picture. Have to book mark this one. Prep time isn't bad at all either.

      Reply
    12. Indrani says

      August 15, 2018 at 3:52 am

      Ooooh... so tempting. The perspective of the pic has made it more tempting.
      Love the layers.

      Reply
    13. Mozelle Lacdan says

      August 15, 2018 at 1:51 pm

      This looks so delicious! Will definitely be trying this out soon!

      Reply
    14. Mary Bench says

      May 18, 2019 at 1:25 pm

      Bologna was a childhood staple. Now a step up! Yum

      Reply

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    I’ve been sharing my original ideas for years. What began as a passion, turned into a career as magazine Food Editor at Martha Stewart and then Entertaining Director at Ladies’ Home Journal. All in all, I’ve shared recipes, cooking tips, and DIY ideas with more than 24 MILLION people. Make that 24 million and one. Thanks for stopping by Tara Teaspoon!

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