From the classics to the gourmet to the creative, hot dog toppings come in all varieties. If you're looking for inspiration - you've come to the right place. This post is full of creative hot dog ideas!
Toppings for hot dogs
Many are of the opinion that the best hot dog toppings are the classics. Mustard, relish, and onion to name a few. The one thing you're supposedly not supposed to put on a hot dog? KETCHUP! The National Hot Dog and Sausage council (yes that's a real thing; I cannot make this stuff up) came out saying that adults should not put ketchup on their hot dogs!
Truth be told, I do it anyway and always have. Ketchup fan for life over here. But if you are anti-ketchup on your dog, know that the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council has your back.
Let's have a look at my favorite hot dog ideas:
Mustard Dog
Ingredients:
- Hot Dog + Bun
- French's Yellow Mustard
Good dog, good bun, and some yellow mustard: the classics are classic for a reason
Kimchi Dog
Ingredients:
- Hot Dog + Bun
- Trader Joe's Spicy Kimchi ( or whatever your favorite brand is! )
- Sliced Green Onions
Spicy, tangy, and crunchy. Throw some chilled kimchi on top of your warm hot dog, add a sprinkling of sliced green onions for an extra layer of flavor and crunch.
Hot Dog Parmesan
Ingredients:
- Hot Dog + Bun
- Rao's Marinara
- Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
Generously top the cooked hot dog and toasted bun with marinara sauce. The bun will soak up the sauce, so you really want to cram as much of it on there as will fit. Then layer three slices of mozzarella cheese on top, and broil until bubbly. You can also Air Fry it at 400 F for 3 minutes instead of broiling.
Buffalo Dog
Ingredients:
- Hot Dog + Bun
- Blue Cheese Dressing
- Sliced Celery
- Frank's Red Hot Sauce
This hot dog is spicy and cool, with a great fresh crunch. Start with a warm dog and toasted bun. Drizzle about a tablespoon of blue cheese dressing on top, followed with two teaspoons of Frank's Red Hot Sauce. Top with sliced celery and serve.
Southern Dog
Ingredients:
- Hot Dog + Bun
- Pimento Cheese
- Hot Pickled Okra
Start with a cooked dog and untoasted bun. Spread pimento cheese on top of the dog, all the way to the edges of the bun. Broil until cheese is melted OR Air Fry at 400 F for 2 - 3 minutes. Top with sliced hot pickled okra.
Chili Cheese Dog
Ingredients:
- hot dog + bun
- Chili ( traditional bean-less hot dog chili is great, but I also use Trader Joe's Turkey Chili with Beans or my own homemade Healthy Turkey Chili when trying to not eat beef on beef on beef )
- American Cheese
Another classic! Top a cooked hot dog and toasted bun with the chili. Cut the American Cheese in half so that you can place each half over the top of the chili, along the length of the dog. Broil until the cheese is melted OR Air Fry at 400 F for 2 minutes.
Please share your thoughts on this recipe!