50+ Hot Dog Recipes
This is your complete guide to the best hot dog recipes, toppings, and cooking methods. 50+ recipes to keep your menu fresh all year long and enjoy the best hot dogs of your life!
Your Complete Guide To The Humble Hot Dog
Hot dogs feel like a food I should grow out of. But that’s not happening – I think I love hot dogs more than ever! Mostly because I’ve discovered so many unique ways to top them.
Another reason to love hot dogs? They’re cheap.
You can find an 8-pack of hot dogs for less than $1.00 (Yes, even in 2022. Check ALDI.). They may not be the fanciest dogs but they are a good option if you’re on a strict budget or feeding a crowd. There are so many other kinds of hot dogs and sausages for sale, for any budget. Some of the better tasting dogs, in my opinion are Boars Head, Applegate Farms, and Nathan’s Famous.
There are also a million ways to eat hot dogs, from famous dogs (like the Chicago or the Coney) to new flavor combinations to homemade condiments and more.
Here are 50+ delicious ideas to get you started:
Hot Dog Recipes
Pizza hot dogs – Topped with cheese and pepperoni
French onion hot dogs – With caramelized onions, melted cheese, French fried onions, and sweet pickles on a brioche bun
Hawaiian hot dogs (Hot Dog Factory copycat recipe) – With bacon, cheese, pineapple, and BBQ sauce
Chicago-style hot dogs – The iconic Chicago dog, on a poppy seed bun topped with dill pickle spears, tomato, pickle relish, mustard, onion, and a pepperoncini pepper
New York-style hot dogs – The classic NYC-style hot dog is topped with sauerkraut, onion sauce, and brown mustard
Danish hot dogs – Topped with a curried remoulade sauce, pickled cucumbers, and fried onions
Sonoran hot dogs – Bacon-wrapped with lots of taco-inspired toppings
Mexican-style hot dogs – With fresh pinto bean sweet pepper salsa and avocado chipotle crema
LA-style danger dogs – Bacon-wrapped, with ketchup, mustard, mayo, pico de gallo, grilled onions, peppers, and jalapeno
Bahn mi hot dogs – Topped with cucumber, carrot, daikon radishes, mint and cilantro
Coney dogs – Hot dogs topped with chili, fresh onions, and mustard (A Michigan recipe!)
Kansas City hot dogs – A meaty dog topped with pulled pork, BBQ sauce, and slaw
Buffalo, bleu cheese, and bacon hot dogs – With homemade buffalo ketchup
Chili cheese dogs – With chili, cheese, sour cream, and corn chips
Japanese terimayo hot dogs – Inspired by Vancouver’s own Japadog hot dogs, with teriyaki onions, kewpie mayo, scallions, bonito flakes, and seaweed flakes
Brazilian-style hot dogs (cachorro quente) – Covered with a seasoned meat sauce, melted cheese, and lots of toppings
Cubano hot dogs – With melted Swiss cheese, ham, and other traditional Cubano toppings
Tropical hot dogs – Several options for an island-style hot dog like mango salsa and Maui onion slaw
Breakfast hot dogs – With hash browns, egg, tomato, and bacon
Stuffed hot dogs – These hot dogs are stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped in bacon
Reuben hot dogs – The flavors of a Reuben sandwich, in hot dog form
Pulled pork cheese dogs – BBQ-style hot dogs topped with IPA cheese sauce, pulled pork and coleslaw
Sloppy dogs – Hot dogs topped with sloppy joe meat and shredded cheese
Chili The Kid dogs – A Dog Haus copycat recipe, on a Hawaiian roll, topped with garlic chipotle aioli and fried onions
Seattle dogs – Topped with cream cheese, caramelized onions, and mustard
Completos (Chilean-style hot dogs) – With avocado, chopped tomatoes, mayonnaise, and other toppings
Mac and cheese dogs – Great for the kids, these dogs are topped with homemade macaroni and cheese
BLT dogs – These dogs are piled high with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise
Toppings Recipes
Sometimes all you need is a perfectly cooked hot dog with the right topping. Here are homemade hot dog topping recipes:
Onion relish – A fresh onion relish with mustard and mayonnaise
Hot dog onions – A cooked onion relish is salty, savory, and sweet
Sauerkraut hot dog topping – A spiced, sweetened sauerkraut
Pickle de gallo – A delicious spin on pico de gallo, made with dill pickles
Air fryer onions – With options for either caramelized or sauteed onions
Sweet and spicy corn relish – A popular topping for street-style dogs in Toronto
Dill pickle queso – Like traditional queso with jalapenos, but less spicy
Green tomato relish – A tangy relish made with vinegar and pickling spices
Hot dog chili – Bean free and sweet, specific for topping a hot dog
Coca-Cola chili – Made in the pressure cooker
Salsa criolla – An Argentinian condiment made with peppers, tomatoes, and onions
Chow chow relish – Made with green tomatoes, onions, celery, and spices
All-purpose dipping sauce – Good on everything, including hot dogs
Cooking Methods
What is the best way to cook a hot dog? First, know that there are so many ways to cook a hot dog: Boiling, microwaving, pan frying, roasting, grilling, roasted over a campfire, in a pressure cooker, in a slow cooker, etc.
It comes down to personal preference. Personally, I love grilled hot dogs but I typically fry them in a frying pan until nicely browned on all sides.
Let’s get back to the basics and learn several ways to cook a hot dog:
Braised brats – May also work for hot dogs
Octopus hot dogs – Cut to look like an octopus, popular idea in Japan
Instant pot dirty water hot dogs – The easiest way to get New York-style “dirty water dogs” at home
10 ways to cook hot dogs – Learn pretty much every way to cook a hot dog
With these 50+ hot dog recipes, toppings ideas, and cooking methods, you’ll be able to enjoy amazingly creative, tasty hot dogs all year round. Now you’re set to make the best hot dogs of your life!