Few things are as American as a hot dog on the Fourth of July. While a plain frank has plenty of appeal, there are endless ways to spice one up. A hot dog bar with all the toppings — and maybe a selection of different meat types — will be a hit at your seasonal cookout.
Are you ready to fire up the grill? You have some prep work to do first. Here are seven hot dog recipes with fun toppings for your next summer barbecue.
A Brief History of the Hot Dog
Did you know hot dogs are one of the oldest known types of processed food, dating back to the 9th century BCE? However, the Germans popularized the now iconic barbecue treat, with the towns of Frankfurt and Vienna — Wien as in wiener — vying for the title of who popularized them first. When immigrants came to the new world, they brought this delicious stuffed meat treat with them.
In 1893, the hot dog became the haute cuisine at baseball parks everywhere. It’s said that a cartoonist and columnist for the New York Journal coined the term “hot dog” after drawing an adorable set of dachshunds on a bun. Uncertain how to spell the tricky species name, he simply went with “hot dog.”
Today, hot dogs are a staple of summer barbecues. You’ll find varieties lining store shelves, including poultry and even vegan versions.
3 DIY Hot Dog Recipes
If you want to go full gourmet at your next summer barbecue, why not whip up some homemade hot dog recipes to wow your guests? You can customize the experience, catering to various dietary restrictions and delighting everyone at the table.
1. Best Homemade Vegan Hot Dogs
- 1 package of extra-firm tofu
- ⅓ cup water
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons vegetarian Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Soup base
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
- 1 tablespoon tamari
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- ¾ teaspoon celery salt
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- 1 ½ cups plus 2 tablespoons vital wheat gluten
- Several drops red food coloring
Drain tofu and add to a blender with the rest of the ingredients except wheat gluten. Process until smooth. Add gluten and blend until combined.
Knead the dough into a loaf. Tear off 12 to 16 pieces of tin foil about six inches wide. Roll each hot dog in the tin foil Tootsie Roll-style, twisting the ends. From there, you can steam, broil or grill your vegan dogs, topping however you like. These taste particularly great with a fusion twist — top it with Asian slaw and drizzle sriracha instead of ketchup.
Your cholesterol-conscious guests will also appreciate a plant-based version. One review of 49 studies showed people who switch to such a meal plan lower their cholesterol by 15% to thirty percent.
2. Turkey Hot Dog
- 2 pounds lean ground turkey
- 3 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon onion powder
- ¾ teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon coriander powder
- ⅛ cup nonfat dry milk
- ⅔ cup turkey broth
- 18 to 20 sheep casings
Keep the meat temperature below 44° Fahrenheit. Add the ground turkey, ⅓ of the liquid and spices except dry milk to a food processor. Blend until meat is well chopped, then add the dry milk. Mix to a creamy consistency and put into casings, keeping chilled until cooking.
3. Homemade Beef Hot Dogs
- 5 pounds of ground beef
- ½ cup distilled ice water
- 2.4 ounces binder flour
- 3.2 ounces Blue Ribbon weiner seasoning or your favorite spice blend
- Pack of sheep casings
Mix the binder flour, seasonings and water in a separate bowl. Keeping the meat chilled, hand-mix the ground beef with the mixture until it becomes a sticky paste. Stuff the casings, take care not to overstuff them and keep refrigerated until ready.
The Best Hot Dog Toppings for Your BBQ Buffet and 4 Killer Combos
A homemade hot dog is a cut above your typical store-bought frank. Plus, you can feel good that they’re free from the preservatives that made the WHO add processed meat to its carcinogen list. However, you still have some work to do if you really want to wow your guests.
Now’s the time to assemble the toppings for your hot dog buffet. Allowing your guests to top their dogs is generally best. However, here are some fun mixtures you might love. But first, begin with the ultimate list of toppings to keep on hand:
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Barbecue sauce
- Mayonnaise
- Sriracha
- Nacho cheese sauce
- Vegan cheese sauce
- Cole Slaw
- Potato salad
- Macaroni salad
- Bacon
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- Red and green pepper
- Chili peppers and jalapeños
- Onions
- Relish
- Kimchi
- Sauerkraut
- Guacamole
- Baked beans
- Chili
For some fun combos, try the following:
- BLT: Add bacon, lettuce and tomato to your dog like the classic
- Hobo Soup: Barbecue sauce, baked beans, and red and green peppers
- Asian Fusion: Asian slaw and sriracha, or kimchi and sriracha
- Cruelty-free comfort: Potato salad, vegan cheese, relish or baked beans, vegan cheese, and relish
Hot Dogs and Fun Toppings for Your Next Summer BBQ
Hot dogs are an American classic. Try these fun hot dog recipes — complete with a hot dog toppings bar — to wow your guests. You’ll get out the grill more often once you taste one of the combinations above.
