Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs

You got that dog in you? You might think you’re the grill master, but if your hot dogs aren’t wrapped in bacon, you’re missing out. I’m a hot dog loyalist, and I believe the first hot dog of the summer is a sacred meal, so you can believe me when I say: when that hot dog is wrapped in bacon? Now that’s a transcendent experience.

The bacon-wrapped hot dog originated as street food in the 1980s in Sonora, Mexico. Brought to the U.S. by way of Arizona, it has become a street vendor staple throughout the country. The “Sonoran hot dog” is usually piled high with additional toppings like pinto beans, salsa or pico de gallo, crema, and more, so please feel free to do the same, or do as I did here and keep things (relatively) simple. Let’s get into it.

How To Make Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs

INGREDIENTS

• Hot Dogs: Any brand of hot dogs will work for this recipe. I used Nathan’s, but feel free to use your favorite (or check out our list of the best hot dog brands for inspo)! Depending on what brand you use, your hot dog might be a little shorter or longer, so adjust your bacon accordingly.
• Bacon: Make sure to use thinly sliced bacon for this recipe. Thick-cut bacon is delicious, but it will take forever to cook in the oven and will overcook your hot dogs.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

There are many methods to wrap a hot dog in bacon, but in my research, I actually found that the most effective way to completely cook the bacon while not overcooking the hot dog was to use your oven. Although 30 minutes seems like a long time to cook a hot dog, I promise you the result will be a perfectly smoky dog with crispy golden brown bacon.

Start by preheating your oven to 400° and lining a baking sheet with foil. Lay one strip of bacon on a flat work surface. Place a hot dog on one end of the bacon strip and wrap diagonally, until the hot dog is completely covered with bacon.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy. Serve in a hot dog bun with any desired toppings.

The full list of ingredients and instructions can be found in the comments below.

Recipe Tips

• Enjoy them ASAP: It’s best to eat these right away—soggy bacon is no good!
• When is my bacon done? If your bacon looks mostly cooked after 30 minutes but has a couple of less crispy spots, pull it out anyway and it will continue cooking outside of the oven!

Hot Dog Topping Ideas

I love a simple squeeze of mustard and ketchup on these bacon-wrapped dogs, but feel free to add your favorite hot dog toppings! We've got plenty of ideas, but these are some of my favorites:

• Big Mac Hot Dogs
• BLT Dogs
• Chicago-Style Hot Dogs

Hot Dog Variations

Pretty much every hot dog recipe can be improved with the addition of bacon, but I’ve included a few more options below to spark your creativity:

• Zucchini Bun Hot Dogs
• Hot Dog Tacos (Tacos De Soto)
• Croissant Hot Dogs
• Hot Dog Cubans

Storage

These are best eaten day of, but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Pop them into your oven again or your air fryer to reheat/crisp them.