Pimento Cheese Sandwiches with Fried Bologna
A nostalgic, Southern-inspired masterpiece that embraces the unpretentious joy of comfort food. Pan-frying the bologna introduces an incredibly deep, savory Maillard crust that cuts through the rich, creamy pimento cheese, while the ingenious addition of potato chips provides an utterly satisfying, audibly crunchy texture.
Makes: about 2 cups | Total Time: 30 minutes till it’s ready
Ingredients
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add the bologna and cook, turning once or twice until the slices are golden-brown and have crispy burnt edges, about 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a platter.
- Lay the toasted bread slices on your work surface. Spread pimento cheese on each slice. Layer with bologna, pickles, and chips. Close the sandwiches and smoosh down to crunch those chips. Cut in half and dig in!
To prevent your bologna slices from puffing up in the middle while they fry, cut a small "X" right in the center of each slice before dropping it into the hot butter. This allows the heat to escape and ensures the entire slice gets perfectly, evenly crisped.
The full recipe lives in the Vault
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Join the Estate RegistryThe Heart of the Table
This sandwich is proof that true culinary joy often lies in the most unassuming places. It is a wildly satisfying homage to childhood lunches, elevated just enough to feel completely at home on a heavy ceramic plate during a relaxed weekend. It is messy, it is loud when you bite into it, and it is absolutely perfect.
Neighborly Grace
- THE PRESENTATION: Lean into the playful nature of this dish by serving it alongside the actual bag of potato chips. The aggressive "smoosh" to crush the chips inside the sandwich should ideally be done right at the table to ensure maximum crispness the moment your guests take a bite.
- THE POUR: A freezing cold, classic domestic beer straight from the bottle, or a massively oversized glass of heavily sweetened iced tea loaded with fresh lemon wedges.
- THE VIBE: Wonderfully unpretentious, incredibly nostalgic, and undeniably fun. This is a meal meant to be eaten with your hands while laughing loudly.