13 Hot Dog Recipes for Summer

Chorizo and Kimchi Hot Dogs — Photo: Victor Protasio

Sure we love a good hot dog topped with some ketchup and mustard, but why stop there? How about one topped with chili or wrapped in bacon? Did we mention we've also got the perfect recipe for at-home Buttery Brioche Hot Dog Buns? From classic toppings to fun flavor combinations, these recipes will take your hot dog game to the next level. So fire up the grill and get ready to enjoy the perfect hot dog.

01 of 13

Chicago-Style Hot Dogs

A Chicago style hot dog on crumbled white paper — Food & Wine / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Julian Hensaring / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless

There are few hot dogs quite as iconic and over-the-top as Chicago's all-beef franks blanketed in a colorful assortment of mandatory toppings: yellow mustard, finely chopped white onions, neon green sweet relish, sliced tomatoes, dill pickle spears, sport peppers, and celery salt. F&W's Chandra Ram shares the recipe.

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02 of 13

Sonoran Hot Dog

This Mexican-born American classic consists of hot dogs wrapped in bacon, then topped with charred onions, pickled peppers, salsa, beans, mayonnaise, and mustard for an overflowing cookout winner.

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03 of 13

Grilled Italian Sausage with Apple Mustard and Giardiniera

Grilled Sausages with Apple Mustard — Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Tyler Florence sears Italian sausage to top with sweet apple mustard and giardiniera, a bright mix of pickled vegetables. The spicy, tangy, and sweet take on hot dogs is sure to be a hit at any cookout.

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04 of 13

Chorizo and Kimchi Dogs

At chef Claudette Zepeda-Wilkins’ regional Mexican restaurant in San Diego, this dish is served as an homage to the Sonoran hot dog. Easy hacks like crumbled chorizo make this restaurant favorite easy to pull off for backyard entertaining.

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05 of 13

Ultimate Loaded Chili-Topped Hot Dogs

Like any “loaded” situation, this hot dog is all about constructing your plate. Split-top buns allow you to hollow out the sides a bit, fitting extra toppings into each bite. A touch of sweetness in the chili balances out the salt from Corn Nuts and the hot dog, while the sharp bite of pickled jalapeños creates balance. Radishes and sour cream offer a welcome hit of freshness. The chili can easily be made ahead of time for quick assembly the day of.

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06 of 13

Beer Brats

Bratwurst with toppings in a pretzel roll. — Food & Wine / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Rishon Hanners / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle.

Update your typical hot dog routine with beer-braised sausages, caramelized sweet onions, and tangy mustard in soft and chewy pretzel buns,

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07 of 13

Hot Dogs with Grilled Pickle Relish

In place of sweet store-bought relish, former F&W culinary director at large Justin Chapple grills dill pickles, then combines them with onion, vinegar, mustard seeds, and parsley for a smoky, well-balanced relish with delightful pops of mustard seed.

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08 of 13

Kogi Dogs

These smoky Kogi dogs, piled high with cabbage, kimchi, and cheddar are so good they made it on our 40 best recipes list. A drizzle of sriracha finishes them off — pair them with a refreshing Mexican lager beer, if you're feeling it.

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09 of 13

BLT Hot Dogs with Caraway Remoulade

These “BLT” hot dogs can turn any weeknight dinner from ordinary to extraordinary. Topped with crispy bacon, fresh tomatoes, and crunchy lettuce, the creamy caraway-pickle mayonnaise really pulls it all together.

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10 of 13

Brat Reubens

Silence the debate over if a hot dog is a sandwich with sausage, pastrami, Swiss, sweet pickle relish, and traditional hot dog toppings on hoagie rolls.

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11 of 13

Crosshatch Hot Dogs on Grilled Croissants

A dish at a Manhattan Chinatown restaurant inspired these sweet-savory glazed hot dogs. They're cut in a crosshatch pattern, which makes the franks cook even faster, and served in a grilled mustard-brushed croissant.

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12 of 13

Hot Dog Melts

Wolfgang Puck grew up in Vienna, and the food there is one of his touchstones. These sausages, called Wiener Würstchen, are a favorite from the chef's childhood. He splits the dogs, fills them with cheese, and wraps them in bacon. Once they've been roasted, he serves them on a bun with a spicy horseradish mustard.

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13 of 13

Buttery Brioche Hot Dog Buns

You don’t have to be an accomplished baker to make these simple homemade hot dog buns — your mixer does all the work! The dough is super easy to work with and yields incredibly tender yet sturdy buns that will hold up to all your favorite toppings, no matter how much you want to pile on. If you want to jazz these buns up a bit, sprinkle them with poppy seeds before baking.

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