8 Clever Hot Dog Recipes To Spice Up Your Backyard Barbecue

As American as apple pie, hot dogs are on the menu at every Fourth of July cookout, budget-friendly backyard barbecue, or lake house lunch. It's an easily exhausted dish when made with the same old traditional toppings, but don't give up on the cookout classic just yet.

We're here to give the simple hot dog some inventive upgrades that'll make it the dark horse darling of your grill grates this summer. From an irresistible everything-bagel hot dog to a Carolina-style pulled pork and spicy slaw rendition, there's a dressed-up dog here that we know you'll relish.

The recipes below were developed by HelloFresh's Principal Chef & Head of Recipe Development Claudia Sidoti and Recipe Developer Lindsay Eisenman.

Caribbean Jerk Hot Dogs

Step 1: Create a Pineapple Salsa

• Grill pineapple and red onion slices until well-charred.
• Roughly chop and combine with finely chopped jalapeno, cilantro, lime zest, and a splash of rum
• Finish with salt and a pinch of brown sugar.

Step 2: Rub, Grill, and Serve

• Rub hot dogs all over with oil and jerk seasoning.
• Grill until cooked through.
• Place on buttery toasted buns and top with the salsa.

Quick Corn Relish Dogs

Step 1: Make Corn Relish

• Combine ½ cup each white wine vinegar, sugar, and water in a medium pot along with a couple sprigs of fresh thyme.
• Bring to a boil and then cool slightly.
• In a separate bowl, mix 1 cup each corn kernels, diced bell pepper, chopped tomatillos, 2 sliced scallions, and ½ minced jalapeno, and then season with salt and pepper.
• Pour the liquid mixture over the vegetables and let sit for 30 minutes (or overnight) in an airtight container.

Step 2: Grill and Serve With Relish

Top grilled hot dogs with the corn relish and mustard.

Poutine Dogs

• Top grilled hot dogs with crispy French fries (using frozen here is just fine), roughly chopped cheese curds, and your favorite gravy.
• If you like, pile on more toppings like crispy bacon, chopped onions, and jalapenos. Best served on a soft potato hot dog bun.

The New York City Classic

Step 1: Create Classic Onion Mixture

• Cook a large sliced onion over medium-high heat until softened and translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Stir in 1 Tbsp each yellow mustard and ketchup, and then ¼ cup water.
• Season with 1 tsp each sugar and chili powder, and then simmer until soft and tender, about 5 to 8 minutes.
• Season the onion mixture with salt, pepper, and a dash of hot sauce.

Step 2: Grill and Top With Onion Mixture

Top grilled (or boiled) hot dogs with the onions along with sauerkraut and spicy brown mustard.

Bacon-Wrapped Everything Bagel Dog

Step 1: Thaw Cream Cheese

Bring 8 ounces of cream cheese to room temperature.

Step 2: Prepare Capers

• Heat a thin layer of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
• Once the oil is hot enough that a caper sizzles immediately when added to the pan, add ⅓ cup capers and cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy, 1 to 3 minutes.
• Carefully transfer capers to a paper towel-lined plate.

Step 3: Fry Hot Dogs With Bacon

• Wrap each hot dog with 1 to 2 slices of bacon, using toothpicks to secure if necessary.
• Fry in a pan or on a covered grill over medium heat, rotating until bacon is crispy, 5 to 10 minutes.

Step 4: Prepare the Bun

Spread a layer of cream cheese on the inside of each bun.

Step 5: Add Hot Dog to Bun

Fill with bacon-wrapped hot dogs, and then top with fried capers, everything bagel seasoning, and chopped scallions. Drizzle with hot sauce for an extra kick.

Carolina BBQ Pulled Pork and Slaw Dog

Step 1: Make the Slaw

To make Carolina-style vinegar-based slaw, start with a large mixing bowl and combine a half-head of thinly shredded cabbage, 1 shredded carrot, 1 thinly sliced green bell pepper, ½ cup apple cider vinegar, ½ tsp mustard powder, ½ tsp ground celery seeds, ¼ cup granulated sugar, and ⅓ cup vegetable oil, and then season generously with salt and pepper.

Step 2: Prepare Pulled Pork

Toss cooked pulled pork in your favorite store-bought Carolina-style BBQ sauce.

Step 3: Grill Hot Dogs and Add Toppings

Grill hot dogs and serve in a bun topped with pulled pork and slaw.

Bibimbap Dog

Step 1: Cook Hot Dogs

Fry hot dogs on a stove or cook them on a grill.

Step 2: Prepare Eggs

To fry eggs, heat 1 Tbsp oil or butter in a pan over medium heat. Once hot, crack 1 to 2 eggs at a time into the pan and cover, cooking until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny, about 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt.

Step 3: Add Egg to Hot Dog and Bun

Place 1 egg in each bun and top with a hot dog and kimchi. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Reuben-Style Hot Dog

Step 1: Prepare the Sauerkraut

Heat sauerkraut in a saucepan over medium heat until warm.

Step 2: Prepare the Hot Dogs and Buns

Cook hot dogs on the stove or grill. Open buns and slightly toast the insides on the grill or pan.

Step 3: Add Cheese

Remove buns from heat and fill with hot dogs and Swiss cheese.

Step 4: Melt Cheese in Buns

Return the filled buns to the pan or grill over medium heat and cover until the cheese is melted.

Step 5: Serve Hot Dogs With Toppings

Remove from the heat, top with sauerkraut, and drizzle with Thousand Island dressing.