What Meat Goes with Rye Bread? (9 Kinds of Meat)

If you’ve been wondering what meat goes with rye bread, I’ve got 9 delicious options for you.

From classics like turkey and ham to more unique options like bologna and salami, there’s something on this list for everyone.

So go ahead and give one (or all) of these a try!

What Meat Goes with Rye Bread?

Some of the best meats to pair with rye bread are ham, pastrami, corned beef, and turkey. These all work well because they have a strong flavor that can stand up to the rye bread.

But there are of course other types of meat.

Here are 9 kinds of meat that go with rye bread:

Bacon

Bacon is an American favorite for a reason – it’s delicious!

Pair it with some rye bread, and you’ve got a perfect match.

There are a few things to keep in mind when making this pairing:

• The bacon should be cooked to your preference. I like mine nice and crispy, but you may want yours softer.
• The rye bread should be toasted so that it can stand up to the bacon. You don’t want it to get soggy.
• I like to add a little something sweet to balance out the saltiness of the bacon, so I would suggest adding a slice of ripe tomato or a drizzle of honey on top.

Brisket

Brisket is typically smoked, but can also be grilled, baked, or braised.

It’s a tough cut of meat, so it benefits from long cooking times to help tenderize it.

I like to serve brisket with rye bread because the hearty, dense bread can stand up to the rich flavor of the meat.

To make this dish even better, you could:

• Smoke the brisket for extra flavor.
• Braise the brisket in a flavorful liquid like beer or beef broth.
• Rub the brisket with a spice blend before cooking.
• Slice the brisket thinly against the grain for easier eating.

Turkey

Turkey is a pretty safe bet when it comes to finding a type of meat that goes well with rye bread.

It’s not too heavy, so it won’t overwhelm the flavor of the bread, but it’s also packed with flavor and has a nice texture that pairs well with the dense rye bread.

There are a few different ways you could go about this:

• Make a classic turkey sandwich with some mayo, mustard, and lettuce.
• Top your rye bread with some thinly sliced turkey, avocado, and tomato for a healthy and filling option.
• Turn your sandwich into a wrap by spreading some cream cheese on your rye bread and adding in some deli turkey slices, cucumber, and red onion.

Ham

Ham is a very popular type of meat, and for good reason – it pairs well with so many different flavors and ingredients.

Rye bread is no exception.

Whether you’re making a sandwich or just enjoying some rye toast, adding a slice of ham is a great way to add some extra flavor and protein.

Here are a few ways you can enjoy ham and rye bread together:

• Make a sandwich with ham, Swiss cheese, and Dijon mustard.
• Top your rye toast with a slice of ham and a sprinkle of shredded cheese.
• Add some chopped ham to your favorite egg recipe (scrambled eggs, omelette, etc.).
• Make mini pizzas by topping rye bread rounds with ham and your favorite pizza toppings.

Chopped Liver

Chopped liver can be found in many delis, but it is also easy to make at home.

It is typically made with chicken livers, but you could also use beef or lamb livers if you prefer.

The liver is cooked until it is very tender, then chopped by hand or in a food processor.

Once chopped, the liver is mixed with sautéed onions and often hard-boiled eggs, then seasoned to taste.

This dish is traditionally served on rye bread, but you could also serve it on crackers, bagels, or pita bread.

Here are a few ideas for how you could dress up your chopped liver:

• Top with crispy onions or fried shallots.
• Serve with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt.
• Garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or chives.
• Spread on toast and top with a fried egg for breakfast.

Ground Beef

Ground beef needs no introduction – it’s one of my family’s favorite ingredients.

I love it because it’s so versatile – you can use it in everything from tacos to spaghetti to shepherd’s pie.

Rye bread is the perfect partner for ground beef.

It’s hearty and flavorful, and can stand up to even the most robust of flavors.

A few ways to serve ground beef and rye bread together:

• Make mini burgers or sliders and serve on rye bread with your favorite toppings.
• Use rye bread as the base for a delicious meatloaf.
• Top a thick slice of rye bread with grilled or sautéed ground beef, caramelized onions, and melted cheese for a gourmet twist on a classic sandwich.

Pastrami

Pastrami reminds me of roast beef and sausage all rolled into one.

It’s perfect for a sandwich, but can also be enjoyed on its own or as part of a charcuterie board.

If you’re serving pastrami on rye bread, I suggest adding:

• Mustard (I like Dijon or whole grain mustard)
• Pickles (sliced cucumber or dill pickles work well)
• Cheese (Swiss or Havarti are my favorites)
• Arugula or another type of lettuce for some crunch

Corned Beef

I’m sure you’ve tried corned beef and cabbage before, but have you ever had it with rye bread?

See Also: 10 Salads that Go with Corned Beef and Cabbage

The two go together like peanut butter and jelly – the salty corned beef is the perfect complement to the slightly sweet, dense rye bread.

There are a few different ways you can enjoy this classic combination:

• Slather some mustard on a piece of rye bread and top with thinly sliced corned beef.
• Make a quick corned beef sandwich by piling the meat on rye bread with some pickles and Swiss cheese.
• Use small pieces of rye bread as dippers for a flavorful Guinness Irish stew.
• For something a little different, try using rye bread in place of regular breadcrumbs in a recipe like this Corned Beef Hash with Fried Eggs.

Bologna Sausage

Bologna sausage is a type of mortadella, a pork sausage originating in Italy.

It’s made with finely ground pork and beef, and often has cubes of pork fat added to it.

Bologna sausage is traditionally served on rye bread, with mustard and pickles.

Here are a few other ways to enjoy bologna:

• Slice it thin and layer it on crackers with cheese for an easy appetizer.
• Wrap it around a piece of celery or carrot for a healthy snack.
• Make mini bologna sandwiches by slicing the sausage and bread super thin.
• Add diced bologna to your next batch of egg salad or potato salad for extra flavor.