Bloody Mary Garnish Ideas

The classic tomato juice cocktail just isn’t complete without one, two or 12 Bloody Mary garnishes. Whether they’re traditional or trendy, use these ideas to deck out your favorite brunch drink with everything from celery to cheeseburgers!

a classic Bloody Mary surrounded by garnishes

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The Ultimate Guide to Bloody Mary Garnishes

Bloody Marys are the quintessential brunch cocktail. These ruby red beauties made with savory tomato juice are a classic. Game day, brunch and hangovers just aren’t the same without them.

And the best part? The garnishes! Whether you make your tomato cocktails with store-bought or homemade Bloody Mary mix, or even if you shake them up one at a time in a cocktail shaker, a decked-out bloody is a sight to behold.

As someone who can be a little extra sometimes, the Bloody Mary is the perfect blank canvas for getting a little (or a lot) creative! My favorite part about Bloody Mary garnishes is how creative people get with them. While the traditional garnish of celery and olives is perfect just as it is, it’s so fun to see them bedazzled with a mini cheeseburger or an entire corndog!

From the classic garnishes to the most unique ones, these Bloody Mary garnish ideas are here to help you step up your game. The only question left is “how wild can you get?!”

a closeup of a garnish on a Bloody Mary made with homemade Bloody Mary mix

Types of Bloody Marys

Known for its place on brunch menus and nicknamed “the unofficial hangover cure,” the classic Bloody Mary is a savory cocktail that is traditionally made with vodka and tomato juice, though it is quite versatile. Its many variations go by many names.

Though the main ingredient is tomato juice, when clamato juice is used, it earns the name of the Bloody Caesar.

When you switch up the vodka for something else, however, the name changes. Tequila gives the name Bloody Maria, bourbon adds the Bloody Derby moniker, rum gets the name Cubanita and gin requires the name Red Snapper.

But wait… there’s more! Make it with beer and it’s called a Michelada. And if you make one without booze or with a zero-proof spirit, you get a Virgin Mary. Go figure!

However you mix it up, the Bloody Mary is usually jazzed up with more flavors like horseradish, lemon juice, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce. I always add an extra dash of hot sauce to mine!

a carafe of homemade Bloody Mary mix with a kitchen towel and a plate of Bloody Mary rim salt

How to set up a Bloody Mary Bar

If you are setting up a Bloody Mary bar for a party, it’s a good idea to set up an area where guests can build their perfect Bloody Mary. Here’s what to do:

  1. Add bottles of booze, an ice bucket, a pitcher of Bloody Mary mix, an array of hot sauces and a bunch of garnishes for guests to choose from.
  2. Stock up on cocktail skewers to create gorgeous garnishes that can rest atop the drink.
  3. Set out an array of fresh veggies, pickled veggies, meats and cheese cubes so that there is a variety to choose from.

And I’m talking more than just the classic celery stalks! The more creative, the better. Think deviled eggs and mini cheeseburgers!

an infographic of Bloody Mary garnish ideas

Bloody Mary garnish ideas

Bloody Marys are famous for their edible garnishes. A celery stick and dill pickles are the classic garnishes for the original Bloody Mary, though some restaurants and bars get really crazy, going as far as adding onion rings and mini cheeseburgers.

However, it’s your Bloody Mary so you can adorn yours with as much fresh produce, pickled veggies, herbs, meats, cheeses and rim salts as you desire. You do you!

You could pick up a Bloody Mary bar kit or hit up the grocery store to see what you can find! Below is the ultimate list of the best Bloody Mary garnishes out there. I recommend picking a few from each category when building your bloody bar!

1. Fresh veggies

Raid the produce section of the grocery store to find these fresh veggies for Bloody Mary toppings:

  • celery ribs
  • cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes
  • cherry peppers
  • hot peppers like jalapeños
  • shishito peppers
  • cucumber slices
  • green beans
  • mushrooms
  • artichoke hearts
  • carrot sticks
  • bell peppers, fresh or roasted
  • pepperoncini peppers
  • baby corn

2. Fresh fruit

Fruit might sound funny, but there are many fruits that work well on bloodies!

  • Lemon wedges are a common garnish.
  • Likewise, so are limes, especially for a Bloody Maria, made with tequila. (And you would use fresh lime juice instead of fresh lemon juice when making a homemade mix, too.)
  • And don’t forget that tomatoes are technically a fruit!

3. Fresh herbs

You can also add sprigs of fresh herbs to dress up your own Bloody Mary bar. Even better if you grow them in your own herb garden!

The smell of fresh herbs will bring their fragrance to the nose with every sip, melding with the flavors of the cocktail. Try adding one of these:

  • rosemary sprigs
  • fresh basil
  • parsley
  • fresh dill
  • cilantro
  • tarragon
  • fennel
a skewer of olives on a white background

4. Pickled veggies

Pick up a few jars of pickled vegetables, like pickles and olives, to add some more vinegar flavor to your bloodies. Some people even add extra olive brine or pickle juice to create their best Bloody Mary recipe. It’s all about what you love!

I love these Bloody Mary olives, but you can have a lot of fun dressing up the classic drink with any of these pickled veggies:

Planning ahead? Make some quick mixed pickles with a bunch of different veggies to garnish your drinks with!

5. Meaty garnishes

One way to liven up your Bloody Mary cocktails is to add some meaty garnishes! Some people go really crazy here and even add a little bacon cheeseburger.

Whether you use just one of these ideas or make your Bloody into a meaty monstrosity is up to you! Try one of these proteins as a garnish on your vodka drink:

cheese cubes, peppers, asparagus and other Bloody Mary garnishes

6. Cheeses

Try adding sticks, slices, chunks or cubes of cheese as a Bloody Mary topping! Try a few of these types of cheeses you can find at any grocery store:

  • cheddar cheese
  • pepper jack cheese
  • colby cheese
  • gouda cheese
  • blue cheese
  • small mozzarella balls (called perline)
  • brie cheese

You could also give fried cheese curds, quesadilla wedges, mozzarella sticks or fried mac and cheese bites a try! Or how about some mini grilled cheese sandwiches?

7. Rim salts

If you want to add a little something to the rim, your Bloody Mary will look so fancy and professional! Follow the instructions for rimming a margarita with salt to get a similar effect with your Bloody Mary.

Try one of these salt rims:

Bloody Mary rim salt on a black plate, ready to rim cocktails

7. Creative garnish ideas

Take your perfect Bloody Mary recipe up another notch with one of these ideas! Trust me, this is the good stuff your friends will be talking about for years to come:

8. Breakfast & brunch garnishes

Just for fun, here are a few Bloody Mary toppings that would work well for brunch Bloody Marys.

  • mini waffles or waffle sticks
  • chicken nuggets (for chicken & waffles)
  • silver dollar pancakes
  • sausage links
  • bacon
  • biscuits
  • hard-boiled eggs
  • hashbrowns
  • mini bagels with cream cheese
  • poached eggs
  • mini avocado toasts
  • smoked salmon
  • Everything Bagel seasoning on the rim
top view of a Bloody Mary with garnishes, a plate of rim salt and a pitcher of

9. Bloody Maria garnishes

If you’re making a Bloody Maria with tequila or even a spicy Bloody Mary, try one of these ideas:

  • sliced jalapeño peppers
  • jalapeño poppers
  • spicy pickles
  • shishito peppers
  • spicy bacon
  • pepper jack cheese cubes
  • spicy shrimp
  • taquitos
  • empanadas
  • mini tacos
  • tortilla chips (whole or crushed for the rim)

10. Italian Bloody Mary garnishes

If you’re looking to make an Italian-style Bloody Mary, you can have a ton of fun with edible garnishes. Think pasta night and cheese boards for inspiration:

11. New Orleans Bloody Mary garnishes

For a New Orleans Bloody Mary, try some of these Louisiana-inspired garnishes.

12. Game day Bloody Mary

Whether it’s a tailgate or an at-home watch party, Bloody Marys make the best companions for mid-day games. Grab some football-themed garnishes (or other sports, if you like!) and kick things off right.

I’d love to hear what fun garnishes you put on your Bloody Mary bar. Let me know what crazy combinations you try!

FAQ

What are good garnishes for a Bloody Mary?

Traditionally the Bloody Mary is garnished with a celery stick and a lemon wedge. Other common garnishes can include cherry tomatoes, bacon, olives, pickles and cubes of cheese. However, the limit does not exist when it comes to these savory cocktails. They can be garnished with everything from mini hamburgers and meatballs to deviled eggs and a variety of pickled veggies.

How do you elevate Bloody Mary mix?

Bloody Mary mix is a great start to the classic cocktail, but it can fall flat. You can update it by mixing in other spirits beyond vodka and stirring in more flavors like pickle juice or hot sauce. Finally, garnishes can really take them over the top and feel more professional.

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