Food Cooking Tips & Techniques Recipe Upgrades 10 Hot Dog Recipes to Spice Up Your Backyard Barbecue Make the simple hot dog the star of your next summer get-together. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 09, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Caribbean Jerk Quick Corn Relish Poutine New York City Classic Everything Bagel Pulled Pork & Slaw Bibimbap Reuben-Style Seattle BLT FAQs Close Photo: Getty Images Hot dog toppings typically pare down to about a half-dozen standards, but we grilled experts for hot dog recipes that will surprise and delight guests around the grates this summer. As American as apple pie, hot dogs are on the menu at every cookout, budget-friendly backyard barbecue, and lake house lunch. However, serving them with the same old toppings can seem anything but celebratory. These simple hot dog upgrades make it the dark horse darling of the grill this summer. From an everything-bagel hot dog to a Carolina-style pulled pork and slaw rendition, there's a dressed-up dog we know you'll relish. Claudia Sidoti is the principal chef and head of recipe development at HelloFresh. Lindsay Eisenman is a recipe developer at HelloFresh. Caribbean Jerk Hot Dogs Grab a store-bought jerk seasoning, a pineapple, and (of course) rum to add an island influence to a plain dog. Step 1: Create a Pineapple Salsa Grill pineapple and red onion slices until well-charred. Roughly chop and combine with finely chopped jalapeno, cilantro, lime zest, and a splash of rum. Finish with salt and a pinch of brown sugar. Step 2: Rub, Grill, and Serve Rub hot dogs all over with oil and jerk seasoning.Grill until cooked through.Place on buttery toasted buns and top with pineapple salsa. Quick Corn Relish Dogs Allow plenty of time (at least 30 minutes) for flavors in this homemade relish to mingle. Step 1: Make Corn Relish Combine ½ cup each white wine vinegar, sugar, and water in a medium pot along with a couple sprigs of fresh thyme.Bring to a boil and then cool slightly.In a separate bowl, mix 1 cup each corn kernels, diced bell pepper, chopped tomatillos, 2 sliced scallions, and ½ minced jalapeno, and then season with salt and pepper.Pour the liquid mixture over the vegetables and let sit for 30 minutes (or overnight) in an airtight container. Step 2: Grill and Serve With Relish Top grilled hot dogs with the corn relish and mustard. Poutine Dogs This Canadian import is best served on a soft potato bun. Step 1: Grill and Top With Poutine Top grilled hot dogs with crispy French fries (using frozen here is just fine), roughly chopped cheese curds, and your favorite gravy. Step 2: Pile on Options If you like, pile on more toppings like crispy bacon, chopped onions, and jalapenos. The New York City Classic Onions, mustard, and sauerkraut are must-have toppings for any hot dog calling itself a New Yorker. The rest are merely suggestions. Step 1: Create Classic Onion Mixture Cook a large sliced onion over medium-high heat until softened and translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in 1 Tbsp each yellow mustard and ketchup, and then ¼ cup water. Season with 1 tsp each sugar and chili powder, and then simmer until soft and tender, about 5 to 8 minutes. Season the onion mixture with salt, pepper, and a dash of hot sauce. Step 2: Grill and Top With Onion Mixture Top grilled (or boiled) hot dogs with the onions along with sauerkraut and spicy brown mustard. Bacon-Wrapped Everything Bagel Dog Everything seasoning seems to be showing up on everything these days! Step 1: Thaw Cream Cheese Bring 8 ounces of cream cheese to room temperature. Step 2: Prepare Capers Heat a thin layer of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot enough that a caper sizzles immediately when added to the pan, add ⅓ cup capers and cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy, 1 to 3 minutes. Carefully transfer capers to a paper towel-lined plate. Step 3: Fry Hot Dogs With Bacon Wrap each hot dog with 1 to 2 slices of bacon, using toothpicks to secure if necessary. Fry in a pan or on a covered grill over medium heat, rotating until bacon is crispy, 5 to 10 minutes. Step 4: Prepare the Bun Spread a layer of cream cheese on the inside of each bun. Step 5: Add Hot Dog to Bun Fill with bacon-wrapped hot dogs, and then top with fried capers, everything bagel seasoning, and chopped scallions. Drizzle with hot sauce for an extra kick. Carolina BBQ Pulled Pork and Slaw Dog Apply the vinegary tang of Carolina-style BBQ and slaw as a hot dog topping! Step 1: Make the Slaw To make Carolina-style vinegar-based slaw, start with a large mixing bowl and combine the following: ½ head thinly shredded cabbage1 shredded carrot1 thinly sliced green bell pepper½ cup apple cider vinegar½ tsp mustard powder½ tsp ground celery seeds¼ cup granulated sugar⅓ cup vegetable oil Season generously with salt and pepper. Step 2: Prepare Pulled Pork Buy or cook your own pulled pork, and toss in your favorite store-bought Carolina-style BBQ sauce. Step 3: Grill Hot Dogs and Add Toppings Grill hot dogs and serve in a bun topped with pulled pork and slaw. Bibimbap Dog Bibimbap is a Korean dish of rice and vegetables topped with a fried egg but, for this recipe, skip the rice. Step 1: Cook Hot Dogs Fry hot dogs on a stove or cook them on a grill. Step 2: Prepare Eggs To fry eggs: Heat 1 Tbsp oil or butter in a pan over medium heat.Once hot, crack 1 to 2 eggs at a time into the pan and cover, cooking until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny, about 2 to 3 minutes.Season with salt. Step 3: Set Egg and Hot Dog in Bun and Add Toppings Place a fried egg in each bun and top with a hot dog and kimchi. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Reuben-Style Hot Dog This Reuben has everything but the corned beef. Step 1: Prepare the Sauerkraut Heat sauerkraut in a saucepan over medium heat until warm. Step 2: Prepare Hot Dogs and Buns Cook hot dogs on the stove or grill. Open buns and slightly toast the insides on the grill or pan. Step 3: Add Cheese Remove buns from heat and fill with hot dogs and Swiss cheese. Step 4: Melt Cheese in Buns Return the filled buns to the pan or grill over medium heat, and cover until the cheese is melted. Step 5: Serve Hot Dogs With Toppings Remove from the heat, top with sauerkraut, and drizzle with Thousand Island dressing. Seattle Dog A Seattle-style hot dog is said to have been invented in 1988 by a vegetarian bagel cart guy who decided to expand his menu. A bagel-esque bun is no longer required, but cream cheese definitely is. Step 1: Soften Cream Cheese Set out cream cheese at room temperature to soften, about an hour, or unwrap it and microwave at 5-second intervals until soft. Step 2: Split and Sear Split open hotdogs lengthwise and sear them on a grill pan or skillet. Step 3: Sauté Onions Heat cooking oil in a sauté or grill pan on high. Sauté onions with salt, 2 to 3 minutes, until slightly softened and browned. Step 4: Schmear and Assemble Schmear a soft bun with cream cheese, and then top with a cooked dog and sautéed onions. BLT Dog Turn the classic sandwich into a hot dog topping and watch them disappear! Step 1: Chop and Mix the B, L, and T Chop cooked bacon, romaine, and tomatoes, combine, and then mix in some mayonnaise. Set aside at room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Step 2: Grill Hot Dogs and Assemble Grill hot dogs, nestle each cooked hot dog in a bun, and top with the BLT mixture. Frequently Asked Questions Which is better for cooking hot dogs: grilling or boiling? The best way to cook a hot dog depends entirely on your flavor and texture preferences:Grilling adds a smoky char, resulting in a juicy, flavorful hot dog.Boiling is generally the more convenient and quicker cooking method and renders a softer-textured hot dog. What are some other fun, easy hot dog toppings? To make a hot dog bar that's the talk of the backyard, set out one or more of these topping options:RemouladeTruffle aioliCowboy candy (candied jalapenos)Caramelized onionsSalsaBlue cheese crumblesColeslaw 30 Outdoor Entertaining Ideas That'll Save You Tons of Time Was this page helpful? 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