They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. We’re not experts on canine behavior, but we do know that hot dogs can be made way more exciting with inventive toppings (not to mention new cooking techniques, namely spiral cutting them before grilling). These hot dog recipe ideas will make you sit up and beg for more.
Mustard may be eternal, but try something new this summer. Even if you think ketchup on a hot dog is a crime, we bet there’s at least one option below you’ll love.
Inspired by the iconic Vietnamese sandwich, these spiral-cut dogs are dressed with pickled carrots, daikon, and cucumber, plus Sriracha and cilantro. Get our Banh Mi Hot Dogs recipe.
Sweet fruit is a classic partner to certain savory cuts of meat (think pork chops and apples), so why not hot dogs? A spicy-sweet cherry relish makes a pleasantly piquant topper, and goes great with grainy mustard too. Get our Spiral-Cut Hot Dogs with Spicy Cherry Relish recipe.
Movie-inspired snacks are too good to be reserved for the Oscars, so try topping a hot dog with gooey nacho cheese sauce and sliced jalapeños any time of the year. Crushed tortilla chips lend crunch. Get our Nacho Hot Dogs recipe.
Bacon makes everything better. So does cheese. Combine them both on a hot dog and you’ll be in flavor heaven. This is the real dream team (and the one we’re rooting for). Get our Spiral-Cut Bacon Cheese Hot Dog recipe.
Slather a grilled hot dog in BBQ sauce and top it with crushed Fritos. Take your pick from the plethora of regional barbecue sauce styles to make it your own. And consider using chili cheese Fritos for extra oomph.
Top your dogs with grilled onions and jalapeños, mayonnaise, and cotija cheese. (Jack cheese is good too if you like a little more melty stretch.)
For those who aren’t averse to Easy Cheese (yep, the kind in a spray can), dress your hot dog with a few squirts, along with a heaping of chili and a handful of potato sticks for crunch.
Some all-time faves combine in this flavor-packed version. Wrap the hot dog in bacon and serve it with avocado, sour cream, and salsa.
Some like it hot — and for those folks may we suggest: hot mustard, hot peppers, and a drizzle of Sriracha. That’s quite a mouthful. And not completely dissimilar to a classic Chicago dog.
Does fried egg make everything yummier? We think it does — and yes, that includes hot dogs.
Community member kcijones001‘s twist on a chili dog was to swap in baked beans and add sauerkraut and spicy mustard. We’ve definitely eaten baked beans with hot dogs plenty of times, so may as well pile them on the bun!
Put Japanese mayonnaise, seaweed, and daikon radish on a hot dog. If this sounds amazing (it is), try taking inspiration from some of the topping combos at Japadog too.
