A Hot Dog Bar is a fun way to serve hot dogs for BBQs and other summer parties. Everyone can top their own dog however they want – everyone loves choose your own adventure. Use this fun idea for your next gathering!
If you want to make your next BBQ fun, you should plan and assemble a hot dog bar for your guests. This takes boring hot dogs to a whole new level, with lots of hot dog topping ideas for your friends and family.
I was inspired to create this after making an appetizer board and a salad bar board. It’s a lot like a charcuterie board except made with hot dogs and lots of toppings and everyone can create their own with their favorite toppings. You can get creative with the topping ideas too!
How to make a Hot Dog Bar
- Choose what kind of hot dogs you want. We love using all-beef hot dogs or turkey dogs, but they also make pork hot dogs and chicken hot dogs too. You could even use polish sausage or bratwurst, or Italian sausage.
- Cook your sausages however you like, but we love to grill them over medium heat. The grill makes them taste so much better than just boiling them.
- Towards the end of the cooking time, when there’s about a minute or so left, I like to warm the hot dog buns on the grill to toast them lightly.
- Use a large sheet pan (or two) or a large cutting board for your bar.
- Don’t forget the hamburger buns!
Topping Ideas
Obviously, you’ll want to have the basics: ketchup, mustard, and sweet pickle relish. But you can also use so many other toppings! Just place them in separate bowls or little jars and everyone can sprinkle whatever they want on top.
- Chili for chili dogs
- Shredded cheese – picks a few favorites like cheddar, Monterey Jack, Colby-Jack, pepper jack, feta, or Gruyere
- Caramelized onions like I use in hummus
- Diced yellow onion or red onion, scallions or chives
- Cooked and crumbled bacon
- Sliced or diced tomatoes
- Sliced avocados, guacamole, salsa, and/or cilantro
- Pickled jalapeno peppers
- Grilled mushrooms or Grilled peppers
- Get wild with dill pickle spears or pineapple or apple shreds
- Barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, or any other sauces.
- Coleslaw, green cabbage, or even grilled corn salad. Slaw is a favorite!
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Storing Leftover Hot Dog Toppings Bar Items
- Store leftover hot dogs in the fridge – along with all the toppings in airtight containers or covered with plastic wrap. Most will last a few days.
Hot Dog Bar Recipe
Ingredients
- Hot Dogs – Allow at least 2 per person
- Hot Dog Buns – Allow at least 2 per person
Toppings we used:
- 1 15 ounce can of chili with no beans cooked
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 medium yellow onions caramelized
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 8 strips of bacon cooked and diced
- 2 roma tomatoes sliced
- 2 avocados sliced
- 1 cup pickled jalapeno peppers
Condiments we used:
- Ketchup
- Yellow mustard
- Deli mustard
- Pickle relish
- Barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Heat barbecue to medium heat. Cook hot dogs turning them occasionally. A standard sized hot dog should take about 5-7 minutes to cook. Larger hot dogs will take additional time. Open buns and heat for about one minute at the end of cooking the hot dogs.
- Add toppings to small serving bowls and place on a serving platter or board. Place condiments in serving bowls or leave in bottles (we used both).
- Place hot dogs in the buns and place on the serving platter. Serve hot with your favorite chips, salads and other side dishes.
Recipe Notes
- • Remember that this should be fun. Use toppings you like. Nothing is off limits. If you like ranch dressing, use it, mushrooms, use it. Whatever you can think of, use it!! In our board we did the following:
- Chili cheese dog with diced onions
- Caramelized onion and yellow mustard dog
- A Bacon, tomato, avocado and ketchup dog
- A pickled jalapeno, diced onion, bacon bits and Barbecue sauce dog
- A chili, cheese, diced onion, pickled jalapeno dog
Recipe Nutrition
Just right for July 4th or any summer weekend.