Life
15 Hot Dog Toppings That Will Take Your Barbecue To the Next Level
With summer grilling season well underway, it won't be long until we're tired of hot dogs dressed only in ketchup and mustard. To avoid BBQ fatigue, we hunted down the top toppings for the summer favorite — and man did these bloggers deliver. With everything from bacon to kimchi, these creatively loaded up dogs give a whole new meaning to grilling out. Move over hot dogs, these haute dogs have us going back for seconds.
Bacon Wrapped
Win your dinner guests over with bacon-wrapped dogs from A Cozy Kitchen. And for extra crunch, top ‘em with roasted peppers and onions.
Image: A Cozy Kitchen
Pineapple-Mango Salsa
We love BruCrew Life’s tropical take on a hot dog. Load yours up with this salsa mixed with pineapple, mango, cilantro, and spicy jalapeños.
Image: Inside BruCrew Life
Nacho Dog
The best foods come together as one in this version from A Spicy Perspective. Load your bun with nacho fixings, like crushed tortilla chips, salsa, guac, and sour cream.
Image: A Spicy Perspective
Detroit-Style Coney Dog
Simply Scratch is bringing us a classic with this Detroit-style dog topped with beef chuck chili and sharp white onions.
Image: Simply Scratch
Jalapeno Popper Style
Deconstruct your favorite finger food into a hot dog topping with this recipe from Cooking for Keeps. Blend cream cheese, garlic, and jalapeño for a spreadable condiment, then load your dog with bacon and leftover peppers.
Image: Cooking for Keeps
Kimchi Dog
For this hot dog from A Steamy Kitchen, you’ll make a fresh kimchi relish (that’s a Korean fermented cabbage dish) to load on top of your dog.
Image: A Steamy Kitchen
Loaded Cheddar Blue Cheese Chicken Buffalo Dogs
Skip the beef and pork next time and try making your very own buffalo chicken dogs a la Halfbaked Harvest’s recipe. Top with crunchy carrots and lettuce, a smoky avocado ranch dressing, and blue cheese crumbles.
Image: Halfbaked Harvest
Southern Comfort
Follow A Spicy Perspective’s lead and load your dog with the South’s best, from baked beans and coleslaw to crunchy pickled okra.
Image: A Spicy Perspective
Banh Mi Dogs
This recipe from Big Girls, Small Kitchen is the ultimate Vietnamese-American crossover. Load your pork dog up with banh mi “slaw”: carrots, scallions, and red chile pepper tossed in red wine vinegar, sugar, Sriracha, and a bit of mayo.
Image: Big Girls, Small Kitchen
Pizza Dog
Find the ultimate comfort food in Taste and Tell’s pizza dog, topped with marinara, gooey mozzarella, and pepperoni. Make it supreme by adding on peppers, broccoli, and olives.
Image: Taste and Tell
Mexican-Style Hot Dogs
We’re screaming “Ole!” for this hot dog from Branny Boils Over. It’s loaded with an creamy, spicy avocado relish and some queso fresco.
Image: Branny Boils Over
Bacon Teriyaki
Damn Delicious just caused double trouble: Not only is this hot dog wrapped in applewood smoked bacon, it’s then topped with a pineapple salsa for the ultimate sweet-meets-smoky bite.
Image: Damn Delicious
Thai-Style Dog
All the delicious Thai flavors you love, from fresh veggies to spicy peanut sauce, pair perfectly on a fresh-grilled hot dog. Get the recipe from Taste and Tell.
Image: Taste and Tell
Andoulle Brats and Avocado Crema
Climbing Grier Mountain skips the regular dog in favor of a chicken andouille brat, then adds crunch from napa cabbage, spice from hatch chilies, and creaminess from a homemade avocado crema. Yum!
Image: Climbing Grier Mountain