Gourmet Hot Dogs

It is officially hot dog season! It is warming up and this means that it is time to fire up the grill. It is so much fun to throw a Gourmet Hot Dog party where you grill up all-beef hot dogs and have a hot dog toppings bar where your guests can customize their favorite hot dog.

Tips for making the best hot dogs:
Choose a high-quality hot dog. This is the star ingredient so you want to go with the best tasting and highest-quality hot dog. Here are some of the most popular, highest-rated hot dog brands — Nathan’s Angus Beef Hot Dogs, Costco Beef Hot Dogs, Trader Joe’s Organic Hot Dogs, Hebrew National All-Beef Dogs, and Applegate Farms Hot Dogs.

Grill the Hot Dogs! This is where you really bring out the flavor of the hot dog. The grilling gives the exterior the perfect amount of grilled, charred, smoky flavor. It helps to seal the juices in the dog so you get a super juicy hot dog.

Choose the right type of Hot Dog Bun. If at all possible, skip the 99-cent generic brand and go for the bun that will hold up to the hot dog and toppings. My go-to hot dog bun is from Trader Joe’s as they cut out the top of the hot dog bun so there are no hot dogs slipping out of their buns! Warm or steam the hot dog buns so they are nice and warm, which will make them soft.

Bring on the Hot Dog Toppings! This is where you can really elevate a classic hot dog and make it even more gourmet. Find inspiration below with a list of hot dog toppings ideas.

CHICAGO HOT DOG INGREDIENTS:
Yellow Mustard
Chopped White Onions
Sweet Pickle Relish
Tomato Slices
Pickled Sport Peppers
Dill Pickle Spear
Dash of Celery Salt
All-Beef Hot Dog
Poppyseed Bun
If you can’t find sport peppers at your local grocery store, you can use pepperoncinis, pickled jalapenos, or Mezzetta hot chili peppers.

TEXAS CHILI CHEESE HOT DOG INGREDIENTS:
Homemade Chili
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Diced White Onion
All-Beef Hot Dog
Soft Hot Dog Bun
The key to making the best chili dog is to make a killer homemade chili. I love to make a beef and bean chili because it is hearty and the perfect accompaniment to a hot dog. I like to use medium cheddar cheese to give it a touch of sharpness and flavor. The white onion gives it some crunch and freshness.

MEMPHIS COWBOY BBQ BACON HOT DOG INGREDIENTS:
Crispy Bacon
BBQ Sauce
Diced White Onion
All-Beef Hot Dog
Soft Hot Dog Bun

ALL-AMERICAN HOT DOG INGREDIENTS:
Mustard
Sweet Pickle Relish
Diced White Onions
Ketchup
All-Beef Hot Dog
Steamed Hot Dog Bun
This is your classic ballpark hot dog. It is up to much debate whether or not you add ketchup to this classic hot dog. Some hot dog purists believe you only need mustard and some hot dog fanatics can’t imagine eating a hot dog without ketchup. Where are you on this debate?

PHILLY HOT DOG:
American Cheese Slices
Sauteed Peppers
Sauteed Onions
All-Beef Hot Dog
Soft Hot Dog Bun

CUBAN HOT DOG:
Ham
Swiss Cheese
Yellow Mustard
Pickles
All-Beef Hot Dog
Soft Hot Dog Bun

ARIZONA HOT DOG:
Pickled Jalapenos
Pepper Jack Cheese
Pico de Gallo
Caramelized Onions (optional)
All-Beef Hot Dog
Soft Hot Dog Bun

GERMAN HOT DOG:
Sauerkraut
Pickle Relish
White Onion
Ground Mustard
All-Beef Hot Dog or Polish Sausage
Soft Hot Dog Bun

Gourmet Hot Dog Toppings Ideas:
Mustard
Ketchup
Sweet Pickle Relish
Chopped Onions
Caramelized Onions
Sauteed Peppers
Pickle Spear
Pickled Jalapenos
Pickled Peppers
Crispy Bacon
BBQ Sauce
Beef Chili
Sauerkraut
Chopped Tomatoes or Wedges