<PAGE>   1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

                                   (MARK ONE)

            [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                     THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                  FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JULY 30, 1999

                                       OR

            [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

          FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ______________________________

                          COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-2396

                           BRIDGFORD FOODS CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

               CALIFORNIA                              95-1778176
    (State or other jurisdiction of                   (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)                identification number)

                     1308 N. PATT STREET, ANAHEIM, CA 92801
                (Address of principal executive offices-Zip code)

                                  714-526-5533
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months ( or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

                                Yes [ X ] No [ ]

As of September 10, 1999 the registrant had 11,369,812 shares of common stock
outstanding.

                   Number of pages in this Form 10-Q   8

(end of cover page)                                            Page 1 of 8 pages

<PAGE>   2

                           BRIDGFORD FOODS CORPORATION
                           FORM 10-Q QUARTERLY REPORT

                                      INDEX

Part I.  Financial Information

  Item 1.  Financial Statements

          a. Consolidated Balance Sheets

          b. Consolidated Statements of Income

          b. Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity

          c. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

          d. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
             and Results of Operations

  Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Part II.   Other Information



Items 1-5 have been omitted because they are not applicable with respect to the
current reporting period.

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
         the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
         by the the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                       BRIDGFORD FOODS CORPORATION
                                               (Registrant)

                                       By: /s/     Robert E. Schulze
                                           -------------------------------------
September 10, 1999                         R. E. Schulze, President,
                                           Principal Financial Officer


                                                               Page 2 of 8 pages

<PAGE>   3

Item 1. a.

                           BRIDGFORD FOODS CORPORATION
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      JULY 30       OCTOBER 30
                                                       1999            1998
                                                    -----------     -----------
                                                    (UNAUDITED)      (AUDITED)
<S>                                                 <C>             <C>
                     ASSETS

Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                        $26,831,952     $22,272,141
   Accounts receivable, less allowance
     for doubtful accounts of $625,400
     and $582,787                                    10,308,826      12,072,818
   Inventories (Note 2)                              14,452,674      14,066,898
   Prepaid expenses and other                         1,523,568       2,147,081
                                                    -----------     -----------
        Total current assets                         53,117,020      50,558,938

Property, plant and equipment, less
  accumulated depreciation of $30,322,577
  and $27,894,827                                    17,346,059      16,197,108

Other tangible non-current assets                    10,076,465       9,036,895
                                                    -----------     -----------
                                                    $80,539,544     $75,792,941
                                                    ===========     ===========

      LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
   Accounts payable                                 $ 3,617,633     $ 5,343,725
   Accrued payroll and other expenses                 7,073,400       6,373,886
   Income taxes payable                                 481,125       1,590,125
                                                    -----------     -----------
        Total current liabilities                    11,172,158      13,307,736
                                                    -----------     -----------
Non-current liabilities                              13,244,707      11,642,957
                                                    -----------     -----------

Shareholders' equity:
   Preferred stock, without par value
     Authorized - 1,000,000 shares
     Issued and outstanding - none
   Common stock, $1.00 par value
     Authorized - 20,000,000 shares
     Issued and outstanding - 11,369,812 shares      11,426,695      11,426,695
   Capital in excess of par value                    26,347,123      26,347,123
   Retained earnings                                 18,348,861      13,068,430
                                                    -----------     -----------
                                                     56,122,679      50,842,248
                                                    -----------     -----------
                                                    $80,539,544     $75,792,941
                                                    ===========     ===========
</TABLE>


                                                               Page 3 of 8 pages

<PAGE>   4

Item 1. b.

                           BRIDGFORD FOODS CORPORATION
                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                   (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    13 WEEKS ENDED               39 WEEKS ENDED
                             ---------------------------   --------------------------
                               JULY 30         JULY 31        JULY 30       JULY 31
                                 1999           1998           1999          1998
                             ------------    -----------   ------------   -----------
<S>                          <C>             <C>           <C>            <C>
Net sales                    $ 32,356,312    $31,782,572   $102,054,843   $99,601,109
                             ------------    -----------   ------------   -----------
Cost of products sold,
  excluding depreciation       18,911,321     18,844,676     58,851,023    59,568,873
Selling, general and
  administrative expenses       9,261,316      8,841,001     28,952,941    27,841,085
Depreciation                      809,250        789,750      2,427,750     2,369,250
                             ------------    -----------   ------------   -----------
                               28,981,887     28,475,427     90,231,713    89,779,208
                             ------------    -----------   ------------   -----------

Income before taxes             3,374,425      3,307,145     11,823,130     9,821,901

Income tax provision            1,282,000      1,256,000      4,493,000     3,732,000
                             ------------    -----------   ------------   -----------

Net income                   $  2,092,425    $ 2,051,145   $  7,330,130   $ 6,089,901
                             ============    ===========   ============   ===========

Basic and diluted earnings
  per share (Note 3)         $       0.18    $      0.18   $       0.64   $      0.54
                             ============    ===========   ============   ===========

Cash dividends paid
  per share (Note 3)         $       0.06    $     0.055   $       0.18   $     0.164
                             ============    ===========   ============   ===========
</TABLE>


                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
                                  (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      Common stock           Capital
                             ---------------------------    in excess      Retained
                                Shares          Amount        of par       earnings
                             ------------    -----------   ------------   -----------
<S>                          <C>             <C>           <C>            <C>
October 31, 1997               10,336,415    $10,393,298   $ 13,946,359   $20,266,125
  Net income                                                                6,089,901
  Cash dividends (Note 3)
  ($.164 per share)                                                        (1,863,778)
                             ------------    -----------   ------------   -----------
July 31, 1998                  10,336,415    $10,393,298   $ 13,946,359   $24,492,248
                             ============    ===========   ============   ===========

October 30, 1998               11,369,812    $11,426,695   $ 26,347,123   $13,068,430
  Net income                                                                7,330,130
  Cash dividends
  ($.18 per share)                                                         (2,049,699)
                             ------------    -----------   ------------   -----------
July 30,1999                   11,369,812    $11,426,695   $ 26,347,123   $18,348,861
                             ============    ===========   ============   ===========
</TABLE>


                                                               Page 4 of 8 pages

<PAGE>   5

Item 1.c.

                           BRIDGFORD FOODS CORPORATION
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              39 WEEKS ENDED
                                                       ----------------------------
                                                          JULY 30         JULY 31
                                                           1999            1998
                                                       ------------    ------------
<S>                                                    <C>             <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income                                           $  7,330,130    $  6,089,901

  Income charges not affecting cash:
    Depreciation                                          2,427,750       2,369,250
    Provision for losses on accounts receivable             107,738          93,113

Effect on cash of changes in assets and liabilities:
    Accounts receivable                                   1,656,254       2,369,237
    Inventories                                            (385,776)      1,570,871
    Prepaid expenses and other                              623,513         480,517
    Other non-current assets                             (1,039,570)       (389,976)
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses                (1,026,578)     (1,116,799)
    Income taxes payable                                 (1,109,000)        328,983
    Non-current liabilities                               1,601,750         611,778
                                                       ------------    ------------
       Net cash provided by operating activities         10,186,211      12,406,875
                                                       ------------    ------------
Cash used in investing activities:
     Additions to property, plant and equipment          (3,576,701)       (968,022)
                                                       ------------    ------------
Cash used for financing activities:
     Cash dividends paid                                 (2,049,699)     (1,863,778)
                                                       ------------    ------------
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                 4,559,811       9,575,075

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period         22,272,141      12,377,932
                                                       ------------    ------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period             $ 26,831,952    $ 21,953,007
                                                       ============    ============
Cash paid for income taxes                             $  6,397,000    $  3,813,000
                                                       ============    ============
</TABLE>


                                                               Page 5 of 8 pages

<PAGE>   6

Item 1.d.

                           BRIDGFORD FOODS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1 - General Comments

         The consolidated financial statements of the Company for the
thirty-nine weeks ended July 30, 1999 have been prepared in conformity with the
accounting principles described in the 1998 Annual Report to Shareholders and
include all adjustments considered necessary by management for a fair statement
of the interim period. Such adjustments consist only of normal recurring items.
This report should be read in conjunction with the Company's 1998 Annual Report
to Shareholders. In November 1998 the Company sold land and recognized a pre-tax
gain of $615,432. This gain is netted against selling, general and
administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

Note 2 - Inventories

         Inventories are comprised as follows at the respective periods:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                               JULY 30     OCTOBER 30
                                1999          1998
                            -----------   -----------
<S>                         <C>           <C>
        Meat, ingredients
          and supplies      $ 5,141,541   $ 3,694,898
        Work in progress      1,697,883     1,353,000
        Finished goods        7,613,250     9,019,000
                            -----------   -----------
                            $14,452,674   $14,066,898
                            ===========   ===========
</TABLE>

Note 3 - Common Stock and Per Share Data

         The weighted average shares used for computing basic earnings per share
in the accompanying statements of income were 11,369,812 for all periods
presented. Per share computations in fiscal year 1998 were recalculated to give
effect to a 10% stock dividend declared November 16, 1998.


                                                               Page 6 of 8 pages

<PAGE>   7

                SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this Form 10-Q under Item 2., "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and elsewhere in this
Form 10-Q constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward
looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other
factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of
Bridgford Foods Corporation to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking
statements. Such factors include, among others, the following: general economic
and business conditions; the impact of competitive products and pricing; success
of operating initiatives; development and operating costs; advertising and
promotional efforts; adverse publicity; acceptance of new product offerings;
consumer trial and frequency; changes in business strategy or development plans;
availability, terms and deployment of capital; availability of qualified
personnel; commodity, labor, and employee benefit costs; changes in, or failure
to comply with, government regulations; weather conditions; construction
schedules; and other factors referenced in this Form 10-Q.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
        OF OPERATIONS

The Company's operating results are heavily dependent upon the prices paid for
raw materials. The marketing of the company's value-added products does not lend
itself to instantaneous changes in selling prices. Changes in selling prices are
relatively infrequent and do not compare with the volatility of commodity
markets. Costs for pork commodity products declined significantly in the early
part of the first quarter of fiscal 1999. Commodity costs, in general, increased
during the second and third quarters of the 1999 fiscal year and the Company
anticipates such costs will continue to increase in the fourth quarter.

The Company has and will continue to make certain investments in its software
systems and applications to ensure year 2000 compliance. The financial impact on
the Company has not been and is not anticipated to be material to its financial
position or results of operations in any given year. Detail disclosure regarding
the Company's year 2000 plan and a discussion of risk factors is contained under
Item 1., "Business" in Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 30, 1998.

Sales in the third thirteen-week period ended July 30, 1999 increased by
$574,000 (1.8%) to $32,356,000 compared to the same period last year. Sales for
the third thirteen-week period decreased $783,000 (2.4%) compared to the
previous period ended April 30, 1999. The sales increase compared to the third
quarter of 1998 primarily relates to higher unit sales volume and changes in
product mix. The sales decrease from the prior fiscal quarter primarily relates
to lower unit sales volume and seasonal factors. Sales for the first thirty-nine
weeks of 1999 increased $2,454,000 (2.5%) to $102,055,000 compared to the same
period last year. The increase in sales primarily relates to higher unit sales
volume.

Cost of products sold increased by $67,000 (.4%) in the third quarter of the
1999 fiscal year to $18,911,000 compared to the same period in 1998. Compared to
the prior quarter, cost of products sold increased $162,000 (.9%) despite lower
sales volume as a result of changes in product mix and increasing pork commodity
costs. Cost of products sold for the first thirty-nine weeks of 1999 decreased
$718,000 (1.2%) to $58,851,000. The decrease in cost of products sold did not
correspond to the sales increase in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 1999
primarily as a result of lower pork commodity costs compared to the same period
in the prior year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $420,000 (4.8%) to
$9,261,000 in the third quarter of 1999 compared to the same period last year.
The increase corresponds to the increase in sales volume. The increase in
selling, general and administrative expenses outpaced the sales increase in the
comparative periods primarily as a result of higher salaries and added
personnel. Compared to the prior quarter, selling, general and administrative
expenses decreased $98,000 (1.1%). Selling, general and administrative expenses
increased $1,112,000 (4.0%) in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 1999. The
Company netted a $615,000 gain on the sale of land against selling, general and
administrative expenses in the first thirteen-week period of fiscal 1999. After
giving effect to this adjustment, selling, general and administrative expenses
increased $1,727,000 (6.2%) in the thirty-nine week period. The increase in
selling, general and administrative expenses outpaced the sales increase in the
first thirty-nine weeks primarily as a result of higher salaries and added
personnel to support increased distribution of the Company's products.


                                                               Page 7 of 8 pages

<PAGE>   8

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS

(Continued)


Depreciation expense increased by $20,000 (2.5%) in the third thirteen weeks of
the 1999 fiscal year compared to the same period in 1998. Depreciation expense
increased by $59,000 (2.5%) in the first thirty-nine weeks of the 1999 fiscal
year compared to the same period in 1998.

The effective income tax rate was 38.0% in the third quarter of fiscal 1999,
consistent with the prior fiscal year and the prior quarter.

Cash and cash equivalents increased $4,560,000 (20.5%) to $26,832,000 during the
first thirty-nine weeks of the 1999 fiscal year. The principal items favorably
affecting the $10,186,000 net cash provided by operating activities were net
income of $7,330,000, depreciation of $2,428,000 and accounts receivable
reductions of $1,656,000.

Cash used in investing activities for the first thirty-nine weeks of 1999 and
1998 consisted of $3,577,000 and $968,000, respectively, in additions to
property, plant and equipment. This amount reflects the Company's continued
modernization of manufacturing facilities and investment in transportation
equipment.

Cash used for financing activities consists of cash dividends in the amount of
$2,050,000 and $1,864,000 in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal years 1999
and 1998, respectively.

The Company remained free of interest bearing debt during the first thirty-nine
weeks of 1999. The Company's revolving line of credit with Bank of America
expires April 30, 2001 and provides for borrowings up to $2,000,000. The Company
has not borrowed under the line for more than twelve consecutive years.

The impact of inflation on the Company's financial position and results of
operations has not been significant. Management is of the opinion that the
Company's strong financial position and its capital resources are sufficient to
provide for its operating needs and capital expenditures.

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Company does not have significant overall currency exposure at July 30,
1999 and October 30, 1998. The Company's financial instruments consist of cash
and cash equivalents and life insurance policies at July 30, 1999 and October
30, 1998 and the carrying value of the Company's financial instruments
approximated their fair market values based on current market prices and rates.
It is not the Company's policy to enter into derivative financial instruments.
The Company does not currently have any significant foreign currency exposure.

Item 6.

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a) Exhibits:

         27 - Financial Data Schedule for the 39 weeks ended July 30,1999
              submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission in electronic
              format (for SEC information only)

(b) Reports on Form 8-K:

No Report on Form 8-K has been filed during the quarter for which this report is
filed.


                                                               Page 8 of 8 pages
<PAGE>   9

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number                     Description
------                     -----------
<C>               <S>
  27              Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>