Spice Up Your Summer With These All-American Hot Dog Recipes

Ketchup, mustard, relish, and kraut are great, but the humble hot dog can do more than just deliver the same old flavors time and again. Treat your family and friends to some incredible gourmet hot dogs this summer and kick your cookout into high gear. You can use any kind of hot dog you want for these recipes, whether it's Kosher beef, low-fat turkey, or even a veggie dog.

Sonoran Hot Dog

This Mexican hot dog may have originated south of the border, but according to Sunset Magazine, it's found firm footing in the USA, especially in places like Arizona and California. Sonoran hot dogs bring some extra fun to the party by introducing bacon into the mix. Simply wrap your dogs with a strip of bacon before grilling, then stuff into a hearty bun and top with anything from avocado and salsa to mayo and pickled jalapenos.

No-Fork Dinner Dog

When you think about it, hot dogs are essentially like little boats that you can load up with a lot more than simple sauces. Why not do some experimenting and make your side dishes part of the main event? You can top your dogs with mac and cheese, or even stuff the bun with onion rings, fries, or potato chips before putting on your final toppings of choice. If you want to keep things on the lighter side, try putting some baked beans on your bun for extra protein, or toss a salad in ranch dressing and layer that on your bun for some extra creamy crunch.

Spiced-Up Slaw Dog

Coleslaw is another side dish that's great on a hog dog, but you can go even further with the flavor to make your dogs one-of-a-kind. Asian-inspired coleslaw, which uses flavors like rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame seeds, ginger, and green onion, is a wonderfully cool complement to the standard grilled dog. If you like a spicy kick to your food, squeeze some sriracha on top of the slaw, or mix a bit of wasabi paste in with your other slaw dressing ingredients to turn up the heat.

These topping ideas are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to hot dog creativity. You can even take a tour of America without leaving your house by serving up regional out-of-the-box hometown hot dog favorites. Experiment with the flavors and textures that you like to see what works best!