The classic Bloody Mary is a brunch-time favorite that happens to be really easy to make. This spicy cocktail is delicious any time of day! We make ours on the stovetop so it’s easily made for a crowd!
What’s in this Bloody Mary Recipe?
We’re using V8 vegetable juice, Worcestershire sauce, vodka, and all the other classic Bloody Mary ingredients to make this cocktail, but we’ve got one element that might surprise you: the stove! Yes, making Bloody Marys on the stove is the easiest way to make it, and I think it’s the best method around!
- Vegetable Juice: I like to use low-sodium vegetable or tomato juice because this recipe already has a lot of added salt. V8 makes a great low sodium 100% vegetable juice, and they also make their own bloody mary mix as well!
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a touch of umami flavor and extra saltiness.
- Tabasco Sauce: Gives these bloody marys a kick! Use more or less as desired.
- Celery Salt: Adds a nice vegetal saltiness.
- Seasoning Salt: Adds a nice depth of flavor and more saltiness. I like Lawry’s, but any brand will work. For lower-sodium bloody marys, look for a salt-free seasoning blend instead. Look for something that includes sugar, paprika, turmeric, and onion!
- Beef Bouillon Cubes: Add a great depth of flavor without diluting the vegetable juice. You could also use an equivalent amount of bouillon paste. Again, you can opt for a lower-sodium version.
- Vodka: Use a good-quality vodka you know you like the taste of. I love Tito’s because it’s a little bit sweet which balances out all of the savoriness of these bloody marys.
- Garnishes: You could garnish these bad boys with so many different things. I chose celery, lemon, olives, and pickles. I think making them look nice is part of the fun of this drink!
I got this recipe from my friend Chris at work. This was Chris’s grandma’s secret recipe for the perfect Bloody Mary. One sip, and you’ll agree. We are all very, very lucky to be in on the secret!
Variations on Bloody Marys
A classic bloody mary is made with vodka, but you can swap out the alcohol for something that’s more up your alley. I’ve seen a bloody mary with tequila, a bloody mary with gin, a bloody mary with whiskey, and even a bloody mary with rum!
Make a batch and try a different shot of alcohol in each glass to see what you like best. You could also try making a bloody mary with beer for a low-ABV drink.
For a clamato bloody mary, swap some or all of the V8 for clamato juice. For a spicy bloody mary, swap the V8 for V8 Spicy Hot 100% Vegetable Juice or add more tabasco. You could also add a few jalapeño slices for garnish or add some cayenne pepper to the salt rim.
For a bacon bloody mary, garnish with a slice of sweet and spicy bacon. And for a kimchi bloody mary, add a heaping scoop of kimchi to your bloody mary before serving.
Trademark note: In the spirit of transparency, I want to note that some of these ingredients are trademarked products. V8 and Tabasco are proprietary brands that I want to acknowledge and give credit to.
A bloody mary typically contains vodka, but I’ve seen it made with all kinds of alcohols, so feel free to experiment!
Bloody Mary, also known as Queen Mary I (or Mary Tudor), was the first ever queen to rule over England in her own right. She earned the nickname “Bloody Mary” because of how many Protestant heretics she burned at the stake during her reign. This drink is said to be named for her mostly due to its bright red color.
The flavor might catch you off guard if you don’t know what to expect. It’s spicy, salty, and overall a savory flavor. It reminds me of vegetable soup and salsa, all rolled into one. For some, it’s an acquired taste; I’ve had a couple of Bloody Marys in my life and, to be honest, I didn’t always love them.
I think this stovetop version changed that for me because the flavors really blend well by being cooked together. It’s definitely a unique cocktail, but I think that’s what so many people love about it.
A bloody mary has about 120 calories. This may vary depending on the brands and types of ingredients you choose to use in yours.
Yes and no. Bloody marys are high in potassium, vitamins A and C, and calcium; however, they are also notoriously high in sodium. Enjoy bloody marys in moderation.
This particular recipe contains 11 grams of carbohydrates, not including any garnishes. Garnishes will increase the final carb count.
To make this recipe non-alcoholic, simply omit the vodka. You could add a bit more V8 to make up for the loss of volume if desired.
How to Store a Bloody Mary Cocktail
Store leftover bloody marys in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Enjoy chilled or at room temperature.
What to Serve with a V8 Bloody Mary
You can’t go wrong with this classic cocktail. Serve it up at brunch alongside quiche lorraine, breakfast casserole, or eggs benedict. It’s also great in the evenings for cocktail hour. You can set up a bloody mary bar with tons of appetizers, like reuben egg rolls, pizza pinwheels, ham roll ups, jalapeño poppers, or pigs in a blanket!
Grab your toothpicks and garnish these bloody marys with some delicious one-bite snacks, like bacon wrapped shrimp, blistered sweet peppers, blue cheese stuffed olives, or herb marinated mozzarella; or add a mini meal, like antipasto skewers or mini chicken and waffles. The possibilities are unlimited!
Bloody Mary Recipe
Ingredients
- 24 ounces V8 Low Sodium 100% Vegetable Juice or V8 Bloody Mary Mix
- 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons tabasco sauce
- 2 teaspoons celery salt
- ½ teaspoon seasoning salt I used Lawry's
- 3 beef bouillon cubes
- ½ cup vodka to taste (Titos recommended)
Instructions
- Mix all of the ingredients except for the vodka together in a pot and heat on the stovetop over medium-low heat24 ounces V8 Low Sodium 100% Vegetable Juice, 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons tabasco sauce, 2 teaspoons celery salt, ½ teaspoon seasoning salt, 3 beef bouillon cubes
- Cook until the bouillon cubes have fully dissolved, stirring occasionally
- Set aside to cool.
- Add a shot of vodka to each glass, and pour V8 mixture over the vodka.½ cup vodka
- Stir. Garnish as desired.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
Nutrition Information
Can you make these a few hours ahead of time and then chill the mixture until you are ready to use it?
Yes you could. If you make it same day and then stir well it should work great. Hope you love it!
Your directions of a “tall” can of V-8 is not very accurate. Please define ounces, I love a Bloody Mary and yours sounds very good! Thank you!
Your food photos are gorgeous! I really need to get a good camera and stop using my iPhone. And, I need way better lighting in my kitchen! I was watching Last Vegas last night and there was a conversation about Bloody Marys. I’ve never actually tried them! I think I’ll give this a try!
#SITSBlogging
THANK YOU! I just recently got a better camera and quit using the iphone and I’m still learning, but its really made a difference. your site is awesome! I just popped over there and checked it out. what a cute blog name! love it :)
These look delicious! How many ounces is the can of v8?
The 46 ounce cans are what I used. Thanks for stopping by!