The Ultimate Loaded Bloody Mary

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
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The Queen of Brunch Cocktails! This recipe for the Ultimate Loaded Bloody Mary is a choose-your-own-adventure beginning with spicy homemade Bloody Mary mix and vodka, then loaded with trimmings and a sticky BBQ pork rib! It’s the perfect interactive cocktail for your next party or gathering, and just as good enjoyed over brunch!

The Only Bloody Mary Recipe You’ll Ever Need

When it comes to the Court of Cocktails, there is only one true Queen: The Loaded Bloody Mary! This is my favorite homemade version of the classic “breakfast in a glass” that sees flavorful tomato juice spiced and mixed with vodka, then garnished with just about any ingredient under the sun. 

This recipe in particular is the only one you’ll ever need: fresh and savory tomato cocktail charged with a good dose of hot sauce and vodka, seasoned with horseradish and cajun spice, and loaded up with trimmings of celery, olives, pickled okra and the crown jewel: a sticky pork rib!  

If you haven’t yet experienced a fully loaded Bloody Mary, you’ll soon see why this is a favorite brunch cocktail for so many. Get ready to dive into a glass – or pitcher – of these at your next weekend brunch or get-together! They make an excellent “build-your-own” cocktail for parties, as they’re endlessly customizable for a refreshing drink and snack all in one glass.

Bloody Mary Recipe being poured into a glass rimmed with cajun seasoning.

What is a Bloody Mary?

A classic Bloody Mary recipe starts with a combination of tomato juice or cocktail, Worcestershire sauce, vodka, and spices. From there the options for both ingredients and garnishing are endless! 

The Bloody Mary is famous for being both a beloved breakfast/brunch cocktail and “meal in a glass”, thanks to its vitamin-rich tomato base and all the fresh fixings that can be added: celery, olives, and a lemon wedge are most common, but the list goes on forever!

Bloody Mary Bars have grown in popularity also, where a glass of prepared tomato mix can be topped from a buffet stocked with garnishes and trimmings. See my suggestions for setting up your own self-serve cocktail spread later on in this post!

Garnished Bloody Mary glasses alongside the ingredients: pork ribs, okra, etc.

Recipe Ingredients

Depending on who you ask, the Bloody Mary is a textbook case of a combination that sounds a little crazy, but somehow just works. Tomato juice in an alcoholic cocktail? With hot sauce? The audacity! 

And yet, the perfect Bloody Mary mix has three qualities: a little salt, a little sweet, and a little or a lot of heat (by preference, of course!). Everyone has their own ratios and preferences as to what makes the perfect mix, but one thing we can all agree on is that fresh is best! 

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for a dynamite Bloody Mary mix made from scratch:

  • Tomato Juice: I use regular tomato juice in my recipe and spice it to my liking. Alternatively, you can use a tomato cocktail like V8 or Clamato for something with a bit of extra flavor.
  • Horseradish: This recipe uses creamy horseradish. Regular prepared horseradish also works, creating a sort of “pulp” in the tomato juice that adds a layer of texture.
  • Fresh Lemon Juice: A splash of acidity that enhances the flavors.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: A key ingredient for its unbeatable umami taste. Almost more important than the vodka (I said what I said!)
  • Hot Sauce: A common choice is Tabasco or a cayenne hot sauce, however your sauce’s flavor and heat level are subject to personal taste! A chili sauce like Sriracha gives a sweeter heat for a nice contrast in flavor.
  • Vodka: You don’t have to raid the top shelf liquor for a Bloody Mary; classic vodkas like Smirnoff, Ketel One, or Titos are all suitable. You can also get creative with other types of alcohol that will bring different flavor profiles to your mix. See my Tips for Success section for suggestions!
  • Cajun Seasoning: An ode to my Southern roots. I add a dash to season the mix and also use it to rim the glasses.
  • Salt & Pepper: For extra seasoning.
  • Optional: One garlic clove, finely minced for even more flavor!

For the Garnish

  • Olives
  • Pickled Okra
  • Celery
  • Sticky Pork Rib (I really can’t resist a Southern twist!)
A closeup of Curly’s Baby Back Ribs, the garnish of choice for this recipe, alongside a bowl of olives and a glass of tomato mix.

How to Make a Bloody Mary

First, I always recommend starting with a plain tomato juice and seasoning it yourself to your personal tastes. Spicy or mild, it’s up to you! The key to a good Bloody Mary mix though is the fresher, the better. 

Make the Bloody Mary Mix: Since this recipe will serve a group, begin by filling a large pitcher with your tomato juice or tomato cocktail of choice. Next, get mixing! I season this homemade Bloody Mary mix with a combination of fresh lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, hot sauce, garlic, cajun seasoning, black pepper and salt. Pop the mix in the refrigerator for about an hour, until chilled. 

Rim the Glasses: Dip the rim of a glass in a dish of water or lemon juice and then coat the rim with Cajun seasoning. 

Prepare your Cocktail: Fill a glass with ice and add a couple ounces of the vodka of your choosing. Next, fill the remainder of the glass with the prepared Bloody Mary mix. 

Garnish: Fix up your cocktail with olives, pickled okra, a crispy celery stalk and a sweet pork rib, or your favorite trimmings. Add an extra kick of hot sauce if desired!

A fully loaded Bloody Mary mix with olive, okra, and pork rib garnishes on top.

Tips for Success

Add Pickle Juice to the Bloody Mary Mix. Trust me, a splash of the juice or brine from the pickled garnish of choice – pickles, jalapenos, cocktail onions, olives, etc. – will add just one more boost of flavor to your tomato cocktail!

Don’t Be Modest With Worcestershire Sauce. Even if you think you may have added too much, you likely haven’t. Give an extra dash anyway.

Try Different Alcohol Variations. Technically vodka is what makes a classic Bloody Mary, but don’t let technicalities hold you back! Mix yours with any of the following for something a little different: 

  • Tequila for a South-of-the-border twist
  • Gin for an aromatic option
  • Bourbon for a hint of sweetness
Glasses of Bloody Mary mix topped with custom garnishes like pickled okra, olives, pork ribs and celery stalks.

Creating a Bloody Mary Bar

Move over, punch bowl – if you are having a party or serving a lot of people, a Bloody Mary Bar is the latest trend that I’m totally on board for. The concept of a DIY cocktail and toppings arrangement gives everyone the chance to make their own personal Ultimate Loaded Bloody Mary, complete with all the fixings!

To set up your own Bloody Mary Bar, prepare the homemade Bloody Mary mix ahead and refrigerate it until needed. Set out the glasses, ice, vodka and, once ready, the chilled mix.

Lastly, stock your bar with an assortment of toppings and garnishes that guests can use to “load” their cocktails. I like to have appetizer skewers available that can be loaded with more than one ingredient! Below are some of my favorite garnishes.

Garnish Ideas

  • Celery Stalks
  • Olives (Plain or Pimento/Blue Cheese Stuffed)
  • Spicy Pickled Green Beans
  • Pickles (Dill, Spicy, or Butter Pickles)
  • Carrots, Radishes, Snap Peas
  • Pickled Okra, Pickled Asparagus, Pickled Jalapeños
  • Cocktail Onions
  • Lemon or Lime Wedges
  • Battered Onion Rings
  • Cocktail Shrimp
  • Cheese Cubes
  • Pork Ribs
  • Crispy Bacon Strips

Can I Make this in Advance?

Prepare your seasoned mix in advance and store it airtight for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. You can even freeze Bloody Mary mix for a few months! Simply thaw it in the fridge and then top it up with ice and vodka.

Be sure to give the mix a shake before serving, to blend in all the seasoning that may have settled at the bottom.

More Cocktail Recipes to Try

Looking for more easy cocktails? Try these deliciously boozy recipes:

A fully loaded Bloody Mary mix garnished with olives, okra, and a pork rib.
4.9 from 9 votes
Print Pin Recipe
Yield: 6 Bloody Marys

Bloody Mary Recipe

The ultimate brunch cocktail! This Loaded Bloody Mary is made with a spicy homemade Bloody Mary mix, piled with garnishes and a sticky BBQ pork rib.
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 cups tomato juice
  • 2 tablespoons creamy horseradish
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce
  • 1 garlic clove, minced extra fine (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 12 oz vodka

Garnish:

  • Curly’s Pork Ribs
  • Olives
  • Pickled Okra
  • Celery
  • Cajun Seasoning, for rim of glass

Instructions 

  • In a large pitcher, whisk together tomato juice, horseradish, lemon juice, worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, garlic, cajun seasoning, salt and pepper.
  • Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour. (Store for up to 5 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.)
  • To serve: Place cajun seasoning on a small plate. Dip the rim of glass in a shallow amount of water (or run a lemon slice around the rim) and then quickly dip into the seasoning.
  • Fill glass with ice and add 2 oz of vodka and then fill with the Bloody Mary mix. Garnish with a Curly’s Pork Rib, olives, pickled okra and celery!

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 214kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 6mg, Sodium: 579mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 8g

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Post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

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10 Responses
    1. Wes Anderson

      You my dear has come up with an amazing Mexican casserole dish that I love and now the amazing Bloody Mary mix. Thank you very much for your creative talents. Very much appreciated!

Welcome!

Jessica
I'm a trial & error, self taught, sugar addict who thankfully learned how to survive in the kitchen! I am also a wife, mama of 3.