Best Ways to Cook Hot Dogs | Yummly

Best Ways to Cook Hot Dogs

Topped, wrapped, chopped, and topped some more, these 23 dogs go way beyond the bun

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I live in a hot dog family. Growing up, my favorite, favorite dinner was Spaghetti with Hot Dog Sauce — our version was nothing but sauteed sliced wieners mixed with a jar of marinara. It came from a place of relative poverty, since the hot dogs were cheaper than ground beef, but I didn’t realize that until I was much older. My Italian-American husband is horrified when I mention my childhood comfort food, though his hot-dog-loving side acknowledges the appeal of sliced-and-browned franks.

Speaking of sliced-and-browned, my son wrote his first recipe when he was eight — his hand-written instructions call it “Musterd Dogs.” I can’t share the secret ingredient, but the basic technique involves chopping up hot dogs, pan-frying them until they’re crispy little nubs, then dousing them in a sauce made with spicy brown mustard. He’s 14 now, but Musterd Dogs still make him happy. He ate a batch for lunch today, in fact.

For nine consecutive years our Father’s Day tradition has involved a jaunt to Connecticut for some of my husband’s favorites dogs. They’re well worth the drive up from NYC. (Seriously, Connecticut’s hot dogs are so good, there’s a documentary about them.) During COVID, when our favorite spot turned out to be closed due to the pandemic, my husband practically cried.

So yeah, I know a thing or two about hot dogs. But until relatively recently my frankfurter perspective was pretty limited. I’d enjoyed all the usual suspects on a dog — mustard, ketchup, relish, sauerkraut, baked beans, and, when in Chicago, their fully-loaded dog — yet that’s as far as my choices went. Over the last few years, though, the world seems to have undergone an explosion of hot dog innovation. I’m awed by the creative dishes people make with these humble, inexpensive links. For instance, the following recipes for how to cook hot dogs.

Jump ahead to:

5 all-American classic hot dogs >>

7 newfangled pups >>

3 corn dog variations >>

3 pigs in different blankets >>

5 international dogs >>

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5 all-American classic hot dogs

Before we branch out, we need to talk about some iconic frankfurters.

New York Hot Dogs

My son’s first hot dog was a “dirty water dog” from a city street cart. He wasn’t too big on toppings (still isn’t, in fact), but if he wanted to go all-in as a New Yorker he’d have tried one with everything: sauerkraut, brown mustard, and a sweet-and-tangy onion sauce.

Chicago Hot Dogs

Until I was an adult, I had no idea anyone ate hot dogs any way other than the perfect New York version. Chicago’s dog is famous in its own right, and it’s nothing like my hometown frank. It features poppy seed buns, first of all, and also yellow mustard, pickle relish, sliced tomatoes, chopped onion, dill pickle spears, sport (pickled) peppers, and celery salt.

Detroit-Style Coney Dogs

This is the uber-chili dog, topped with a meaty chili (no beans), chopped white onion, and mustard. Making the chili from scratch is key here.

New Jersey Italian Hot Dog

When we’re not heading north from New York to grab some Connecticut hot dogs, we’re crossing the Hudson River for New Jersey-style franks. These come in a hero roll (or even better, a special pizza bread roll) and get topped with fried onions, peppers, and potatoes.

Corn Dogs 

With some summertime fairs canceled these days, it's been a little more challenging to get my corn dog fix. Good thing they’re relatively easy to make at home! I don’t do a lot of deep-frying, but for a perfect corn dog I’ll make an exception.


7 newfangled pups

These are definitely still traditional hot dogs in hot dog buns, but the hot dog toppings, the buns, and even the cooking methods get playful.

Campfire Hot Dogs Three Ways

Yummly Original

Why limit yourself to one kind of hot dog when you can set out a topping bar and try them plain, with pepperoni pizza toppings, or with bacon, lettuce, and tomato? Bonus: This campfire recipe includes directions for cooking hot dogs on a camp stove. But you could also cook them on a gas grill or charcoal grill. Or bring the dogs inside: Just preheat a frying pan over medium-high heat on the stovetop and brown the hot dogs, or broil them until they sizzle.

Sonoran Hot Dogs with Bacon, Pico de Gallo, and Avocado

The Mexican state of Sonora claims the creation of the hot dogs that bear the name, but they're a big deal in the Southwestern U.S., and should be all over. What's not to love with bacon-wrapped hot dogs topped with beans, avocado, pickled jalapeño, and fresh salsa?

Grilled Hot Dogs with Sweet-Hot Relish

Give basic grilled hot dogs a gourmet boost with grilled baguettes instead of buns and a mayo-mustard-pickle-pepper relish.

This sounds like the ultimate kids’ food, but take a look: Don’t you want to take a big ol’ bite of that crunchy, buttery bun, and to feel the gooey cheese stretch out as you pull it back? It’s a shockingly simple way to make an irresistible dog.

Keto Chili Cheese Dogs 

Living a low-carb keto lifestyle doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a bunned hot dog like everyone else. This recipe for keto hot dogs has you wrap your dogs in Fat Head dough (if you’re doing keto, you know what I mean) and bake them, then top with chili and cheddar cheese. 

Buffalo Chicken Hot Dog 

Chicken as a hot dog topping? Sure. Shredded chicken doused in buffalo sauce? Yeah, baby. Naturally, ranch dressing and blue cheese crumbles are also involved. If you’re a wing lover, this is definitely your new favorite wiener.

Air Fryer Hot Dogs

You're craving a crispy hot dog, but don't want to mess with heating up the grill or cleaning up spatters from the stove. Air fryer hot dogs to the rescue! Serve 'em up plain or with any favorite topping.


3 corn dog variations

Yes, a deep-fried, cornbread-coated frank on a stick is a beautiful thing. But there’s more than one way to corn a dog.

Waffle Corn Dogs

If you’ve got a waffle iron and some cornbread mix, you’re minutes away from a crispy corn dog. The batter also includes some sour cream, shredded cheddar, and chopped chives, for just a little bit more flavor.

Corn Dog Muffin Bites 

When my son has a bunch of friends over, this is my go-to option. It couldn’t be simpler: You put cornbread batter into mini-muffin cups, submerge a thick slice of hot dog into each, and bake. In 20 minutes, they’re on the table.

Gluten-Free Mini Corn Dogs

These are more than just gluten-free — they’re completely grain-free. And the batter recipe offers two versions, one made with almond flour and the other with chickpea flour (in case you’re nut-free, too). The almond flour ones are crunchier, but even a slightly soft corn dog is better than no corn dog at all.


3 pigs in different blankets

Who doesn’t love a cocktail frank rolled up in dough? (Sometimes, my son “cooks” dinner for the family by baking a box of frozen Hebrew National franks in a blanket.) But they don’t have to be exactly what you expect.

Apricot Sriracha Pigs in a Blanket

Using just five ingredients (and one of them is optional), you can make a sweet, salty, and spicy update. I love the combination of apricot preserves and sriracha — it goes inside the blankets and also makes a great dipping sauce. Starting with crescent rolls in a tube gets you eating your mini hot dogs in just half an hour.

Pigs in a Blanket 

The twist with these nibbles comes in the blanket itself. Instead of crescent dough or puff pastry, this clever recipe pours pancake batter into pig-shaped silicone molds. Of course, without the molds you lose some of the charm, but I could see this working with any shape mold you have. The recipe suggests dipping in the usual hot dog condiments, but I think maple syrup is perfect.

Jalapeño Popper Pigs in a Blanket

What do you get when you tuck a cocktail weenie inside a jalapeño popper, then wrap the whole thing in puff pastry? A flaky-spicy-salty-cheesy burst of indulgence, that’s what. This hits all my husband’s favorite flavor notes — he can devour them by the dozen.


5 international dogs

While hot dogs seem like a quintessential American food, they didn’t originate here — and countries all over the world have put their own mark on them. 

Korean Hot Dogs

Here’s an intriguing approach: A combo cheese stick/hot dog inspired by Korean street food. Rather than cornbread batter, these get dipped in a mixture that’s very similar to pancake batter. Then they’re dipped in panko before hitting the hot oil — and when they come out, they get a dusting of sugar and a drizzle of condiments. I can definitely dig the crunchy-salty-sweet combo. 

Mexican Dreamboat Hot Dogs 

Chef Pati Jinich created these Mexican hot dogs as an homage to the ones she devoured as a girl. She wraps the franks in bacon first, which is awesome in itself. But the spectacle happens on the bun: melted cheddar cheese lines it, and the bacon dog gets topped with a cooked salsa featuring pickled jalapeños, ketchup, and mustard. 

Colombian Hot Dogs (Perro Caliente Colombiano)

It may look like a somewhat standard hot dog in a bun, but it holds surprises. Those abundant toppings include mustard and ketchup, of course, but also crushed potato chips, coleslaw, and a homemade pineapple sauce for a touch of sweetness.  

Brazilian Hot Dog (Cachorro Quente)

When it comes to toppings, nothing beats a Brazilian hot dog. In this recipe the plumped-up pups are blanketed with a seasoned ground beef mixture and shredded mozzarella cheese, and then things get really interesting. Options include steamed corn, steamed peas, pico de gallo, grated Parmesan cheese, shoestring potatoes, shredded lettuce, chopped parsley, chopped olives, grated carrots, and even mashed potatoes.

Filipino-style Spaghetti 

Our last option ditches the bun entirely. Think of this as a semi-traditional Bolognese sauce, made sweet and savory with the Filipino addition of sliced hot dogs and banana ketchup (yup, it’s made from bananas). If you don’t have banana ketchup, the author recommends using the regular kind and adding some extra sugar. The jarred sauce my mom used for our Spaghetti with Hot Dog Sauce was pretty darn sweet. I can totally see this recipe becoming my replacement for it.


More perfect hot dogs

Did we miss your favorite dog or favorite cooking method? Let’s keep exploring, because the best hot dogs are all about what you're in the mood for. If you're thinking of grilling for a cookout, how about Hawaiian-style grilled hot dogs with pineapple, or bbq bacon-wrapped hot dogs with gouda cheese? For an easy method, try oven-roasting on a rack set on a baking sheet: Oven-Baked Sonoran Dogs are wrapped in bacon and topped with pinto beans, onion, and lime mayo. To get grill marks and a nice char without turning on the grill, you can pop cowboy dogs right under the broiler. And keep those tongs handy, because on Yummly we have thousands more hot dog recipes to choose from.


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