21 Hot Dog Recipes That Will Have You Barbecuing All Summer Long (2024)

FAQs

How to cook hot dogs like a street vendor? ›

You start by inserting a skewer all the way down the length of the frank. Then holding a paring knife at an angle and twirling the hot dog as you go, you cut a spiral down the hot dog, cutting all the way down to the skewer.

Boiling the heck out of a hot dog before grilling is just wrong, but giving it a little moisture bath isn't a bad idea for several reasons. “We always suggest simmering hot dogs in water for roughly 3 to 5 minutes before grilling," said Elias Cairo, owner and meat master salumist of Olympia Provisions.

Your best bet is to cook it over indirect heat, away from the grill's hottest spot. And don't forget to poke a few holes in the dog with a fork or tip of a sharp knife. As the fat in the hot dog cooks, it emits steam. Without any means for escape, the steam will find a way: that's the tell-tale broken casing.

Keep in mind that all hot dogs need to be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 140°F. Each cooking method has their advantages. Stove top methods can be made all year round, and the skillet method offers a little pan-searing texture. Grilling gets it done fast and offers the most flavor.

On the streets of L.A., this bacon-wrapped dog piled with grilled peppers and onions is a cheap on-the-go meal. Chef Bricia Lopez makes this at-home version with top-quality ingredients.

The hot dogs are boiled just like they are on the street cart, but you can also grill them or cook them on a skillet. We included a recipe for a flavorful onion sauce, the secret ingredient to making a truly authentic New York hot dog.

Boiling hot dogs for a long time before grilling is a bad move, but "bathing" them in flavorful liquid might actually make your hot dogs tastier. "Keep an aluminum pan filled with a mixture of hot beer, onions, and seasonings on indirect heat and place your hot dogs in before grilling," Busha told Insider.

Because outside elements, grill type, and size determine how long it takes to grill the perfect frank, there's no magic number. That's why you should use a time range of 5 to 7 minutes for standard beef franks, 7 to 10 minutes for jumbo franks, and 15 minutes for quarter-pound franks.

Do you close the grill when cooking hot dogs? ›

Arrange the hot dogs directly on the grill grates. Close the lid and grill for 15 minutes, turning every 5 minutes. Place the buns on the grill for the last 3 minutes of cook time warm them.

Slicing hot dogs helps them cook more evenly

It takes too long to get the interior heated properly, and the exterior skin ends up drying out after it's left to sit. Making shallow slices onto two opposite sides of the hot dogs before putting them on the grill exposes the center of the dog to more heat.

Boiling hot dogs for a long time before grilling is a bad move, but "bathing" them in flavorful liquid might actually make your hot dogs tastier. "Keep an aluminum pan filled with a mixture of hot beer, onions, and seasonings on indirect heat and place your hot dogs in before grilling," Busha told Insider.

Because outside elements, grill type, and size determine how long it takes to grill the perfect frank, there's no magic number. That's why you should use a time range of 5 to 7 minutes for standard beef franks, 7 to 10 minutes for jumbo franks, and 15 minutes for quarter-pound franks.

You can use any grill with the lid open all the time, like say, grilling a ton of burgers and hot dogs for a large crowd. But you will have to adjust for the fact that a lot of the heat that would get held in with a closed lid, is going to escape with the lid open. So lid closed - use less heat and less fuel.

Seasoning our hot dogs truly took a summer grilling classic and elevated it to the next level. Even before taking a bite, the franks had a more appetizing aroma than ever from the steakhouse seasoning and Italian dressing.