If you’re like us, you spend all year dreaming about summer, and all the picnics, BBQs, cookouts, and more you’ll throw as soon as the weather warms up. Being outdoors is great, but what we’re really fantasizing about is the FOOD. Classics like hamburgers and hot dogs are a must at every summer celebration, but making anything over and over can start to get boring. Keep yours feeling fresh all summer long by switching up their toppings. Check out our top burger topping ideas, then click through here for our fave hot dog toppings—everything from complete recipes to our fave condiments that we know deserve a spot on your buns.
No matter how you’re cooking your dogs (on the grill, in your microwave, in your air fryer…), ketchup and mustard always deliver, but it doesn’t stop there. If you want to keep things simple, try pairing your dogs with different condiments, like our zucchini relish, our cowboy candy, our tomato chutney, or our spicy mayo. Want to go a little further? Have some fun with more involved toppings, like the pinto beans on our Sonoran hot dogs, the pineapple salsa on our Hawaiian hot dogs, the sausage, peppers & onions on our grilled beer brats, or the mozzarella and pepperoni on our pizza hot dogs. You can also get creative with the buns, like we did in our garlic bread hot dogs, our everything bagel dogs, or our hot dog Cubans. The best part is mixing and matching 'til you find the perfect combo, so have fun with it!
For even more fun (and flavor inspo!), we’ve also included some corn dog recipes here. The beloved food on a stick is actually super-easy to make at home AND to jazz up with some pretty wild flavor combinations. Whether you go corn dog or just stick to a regular dog in a bun, take ideas from our waffle corn dogs, our Korean corn dogs, or our Flamin’ Hot Cheeto corn dogs. They’re proof the sky really is the limit when it comes to the perfect hot dogs.
Want more summertime grill inspiration? Check out our top grilled fruits, our best grilled veggies, and our favorite weeknight dinners on the grill too.
Ketchup & Mustard
You can't beat a classic, and when it comes to hot dogs, ketchup and mustard are TOPS. Whether you're grilling, microwaving, or air frying your dogs (like we did here), these condiments will always deliver.
Get the Air Fryer Hot Dogs recipe.
Beef Chili
Chili dogs, anyone? This beef chili is a CLASSIC, but if you want alternatives, try topping your hot dogs with Sloppy Joes, vegetarian chili, Crockpot white chicken chili... get creative!
Get the Beef Chili recipe.
Big Mac
We're here to tell you—Mac sauce isn't just for burgers anymore! It's just as good drizzled atop hot dogs (alongside all the other classic Big Mac ingredients, ofc).
Get the Big Mac Hot Dogs recipe.
Zucchini Relish
Ever heard of zucchini relish? It's our new FAVORITE condiment, and we're here to say it's great on way more than just hot dogs. It's sweet and tangy flavor is good in basically anything. (Trust us, you'll never want a chicken salad sandwich without it.)
Get the Zucchini Relish recipe.
Bacon, Lettuce, & Tomato
Turns out, everyone's favorite diner sandwich—the BLT—is also perfect as a hot dog. Hot tip: To ensure the bacon stays wrapped while the dogs cook, secure ends with toothpicks. (Just remember to remove them before serving!)
Get the BLT Dogs recipe.
Pinto Beans
Our take on this Mexican-inspired hot dog is based off of versions made in Arizona where it's a standard—warm pinto beans, fresh jalapeño salsa, onion, tomato, mustard, and mayo. The split-top bun is essential to the look, but the hot dogs can be prepared on regular buns; you can simply split the tops yourself and load 'em up!
Get the Sonoran Hot Dog recipe.
Coleslaw
When it comes to summer BBQs, potlucks, and picnics, coleslaw is a classic, staple side dish to rely on. Everyone needs a go-to recipe, and we happen to think that ours is the one you should reach for.
Get the Coleslaw recipe.
Cowboy Candy (Candied Jalapeños)
Cowboy Candy (aka candied jalapeños) are spicy, tangy, salty, and sweet—the perfect condiment for a hot dog. The combination of fiery heat from the jalapeño and the nearly caramelized coating from the sugar is truly incredible.
Sport Peppers (& More)
Chicago is as picky about hot dogs as New York is about pan pizza. The specific toppings (sport peppers, poppy seed hot dog buns, etc.) are as important as the order in which they get layered. It's been "dragged through the garden," as the locals say, and you're going to love it (even if you have to sub some toppings, no judgment here!).
Get the Chicago-Style Hot Dogs recipe.
Pickles
Pickles of all kinds are a grill master's shortcut to better hot dogs. The best part? Not only can you pickle almost every fruit and vegetable, but it's a very simple process that uses ingredients you almost definitely have in your house right now.
Get the Homemade Pickles recipe.
Pineapple Salsa
Half the fun of eating a hot dog is loading it up with all kinds of toppings, and this time we took a tropical approach. The pineapple salsa combats the spice from sriracha, creating a perfect balance of flavor and texture, especially atop a sweet Hawaiian roll bun.
Get the Hawaiian Hot Dogs recipe.
Tomato Chutney
It goes without saying that dishes that hail from the vast and diverse country of India are quite delicious, and that goes double for tomato chutney, a spiced condiment enriched with peanuts and flavored with fresh ginger, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, and cayenne. Often served with dosa or uthappam, tomato chutney is also great served with grilled cheese sandwiches or on top of hot dogs or cheeseburgers.
Get the Tomato Chutney recipe.
Garlic Bread + Marinara
Feeling fancy? These hot dogs are for you. Rather than top them with garlic, we're enveloping them in a toasty, crunchy baguette that becomes the perfect, garlic-bread-inspired bun. Dip them or drizzle them in marinara for the full Italian restaurant experience.
Get the Garlic Bread Hot Dogs recipe.
Mango Salsa
This salsa has the perfect balance of flavors. Serve it over your hot dogs to give them an incredible salty, sweet, and spicy twist.
Get the Mango Salsa recipe.
French Fries (& More!)
With toppings like fries, puffed rice, and crushed ramen, and with a finishing sprinkling of sugar, South Korean corn dogs have become one of the most popular street foods in the world. Whether you're making corn dogs or just regular hot dogs, they're sure to be a topping inspiration.
Get the Korean Corn Dogs recipe.
Homemade Ketchup
Sweet, savory, tart ketchup is the perfect condiment for everything from French fries to burgers to hot dogs. Sure, you could buy a bottle of the stuff, but why not try your hand at homemade ketchup? If you want a version without high-fructose corn syrup, this recipe delivers.
Get the Homemade Ketchup recipe.
Peppers & Onions
These beer brats are inspired by the Italian-American classic combination of sausage, peppers, and onions. Though usually made on the stove, we love this grilled version for easy cleanup and a simple process. Don't have the right skillet? Make your dogs in a foil pack, à la our sausage & peppers foil packs.
Get the Grilled Beer Brats recipe.
Fermented Hot Sauce
If you love hot sauce, consider this your sign to start making your own! That slightly funky, vinegary taste you get from sauces like Tabasco and sriracha actually comes from a fermentation process that is crazy easy to do at home.
Get the Fermented Hot Sauce recipe.
Remoulade
Now synonymous with Cajun and Creole food, remoulade is a cold sauce with French origins that can be used to add flavor to anything, from fried foods to your favorite sandwich. Always creamy, tangy, and spicy with a hint of sweetness, this sauce is guaranteed to become a fast favorite for your burgers and dogs too.
Get the Remoulade recipe.
Cheese
Can't choose between a hot dog and a grilled cheese sandwich? Why not both? 😈 Much like a classic cheeseburger, a slice of melty cheese alongside a hot dog is perfection.
Get the Grilled Cheese Dogs recipe.
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