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Crowd-Pleasing Hot Dogs

Crowd-Pleasing Hot Dogs

Updated August 24, 2009

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Credit: Kate Sears

Serve up a twist on a classic game day dish with these delicious dogs and tasty toppings.

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Confetti Corn Dog Hot Dog Topper

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Confetti Corn Dog Hot Dog Topper Recipe

Turn the average frank into a feast by loading up on fresh condiments like this Tex-Mex topper.

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Pickled Pink Dog Hot Dog Topper

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Pickled Pink Dog Hot Dog Topper Recipe

Turn the average frank into a feast by loading up on fresh condiments like this fresh herbs and goat cheese-topped dog.

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Cookout Cruncher Dog Hot Dog Topper

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Cookout Cruncher Dog Hot Dog Topper Recipe

Turn the average frank into a feast by loading up on fresh condiments like this 4-ingredient crunchy slaw and bean topper.

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The Hawaiian Dog Hot Dog Topper

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

The Hawaiian Dog Hot Dog Topper Recipe

Turn the average frank into a feast by loading up on fresh condiments like this pineapple, red onion, bell pepper relish.

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Chicago Char Dog with Fresh Cucumber Relish

Credit: Tru Studio

Chicago Char Dog with Fresh Cucumber Relish Recipe

Classic Chicago dogs are served in poppy seed buns. If you can't find them, lightly brush buns with egg white and sprinkle with poppy seeds; toast in the oven at 350° for 2 to 3 minutes.

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Sweet Heat Hot Dogs

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Allison R. Banks

Sweet Heat Hot Dogs Recipe

Take hot dog toppings beyond traditional sauerkraut and mustard by dressing with sweet-hot pickles, shredded red cabbage and a creamy topping made of mayo, whole grain mustard, and hot chili sauce.

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Dixie Caviar Dogs

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Dixie Caviar Dogs Recipe

Build a better hot dog with this dressed up dog fetauring reduced fat beef hot dogs topped with black-eyed peas, fresh corn kernels, bell pepper and pickled jalapeño pepper slices.

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The Backyard Farmer Hot Dog

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Food Styling: Robyn Valarik

The Backyard Farmer Hot Dog Recipe

Homegrown grilled vegetables top these hot dogs, along with a creamy aioli made with a backyard chicken egg and garden herbs.

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The Surfer Hot Dog

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Food Styling: Robyn Valarik

The Surfer Hot Dog Recipe

A day of catching waves requires plenty of protein for sustenance, and with both meat and shrimp, this dog delivers. Slivered nori adds a little more ocean flavor.

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Mexican Hot Dog

Credit: Tru Studio

Mexican Hot Dog Recipe

This isn’t your average hot dog. Adding avocado, red cabbage, and green onion slices adds the crunchiness, creaminess, and zing you didn’t know your frank was missing. Best of all, these Mexican hot dogs feel special, but only take 20 minutes to come together, making them perfect for a hectic weeknight dinner.

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Thai-Style Dogs

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Thai-Style Dogs Recipe

Toss cabbage, cucumber, and grated carrot in a sweet-hot vinaigrette then top turkey hot dogs with the veggie mixutre, a spicy Asian aioli, and chopped peanuts for a Thai-twist on this American favorite.

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Chicago Hot Dog

Credit: Oxmoor House

Chicago Hot Dog Recipe

This classic hot dog is a classic for a reason. Try one out at your next cookout for a great Summer spread.

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Banh Mi Hot Dog

Credit: Tru Studio

Banh Mi Hot Dog Recipe

Try a vietnamese-inspired hot dog topped with carrots, red onion, vinegar, and jalapeño slices.

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The Tech Billionaire Hot Dog

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Food Styling: Robyn Valarik

The Tech Billionaire Hot Dog Recipe

This is the kind of hot dog that a tech giant might crave, right after cashing in on the IPO: a luxury combo of Kobe beef dogs, creamy cheese, and buttery brioche buns.

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The Artisan Hot Dog

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Food Styling: Robyn Valarik

The Artisan Hot Dog Recipe

Everything about this dog is conscientiously crafted by independent producers, from the nitrate-free dogs to the naturally cultured small-batch kraut and the artisan gouda cheese.

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Muffuletta Dogs

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Muffuletta Dogs Recipe

Fresh cauliflower, grated carrot, chopped provolone cheese, red bell peppers, olives, and parsley tossed in an olive oil vinaigrette create the tasty and tangy topping for these New Orleans-style hot dogs.

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Cowboy Hot Dogs

Credit: Erin Kunkel

Cowboy Hot Dogs Recipe

This combo of bison hot dogs, bacon, barbecue sauce, and caramelized onions is hearty enough to fuel a day out on the range.

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Greek-Style Dogs

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Greek-Style Dogs Recipe

Enhance the Greek flavor of these dogs by using sun-dried tomato chicken sausage in place of traditional hot dogs. Top with a simple cucumber sauce, romaine lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red onion, and Greek dressing.

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Layered BBQ Salads With Grilled Hot Dogs

Layered BBQ Salads With Grilled Hot Dogs Recipe

For an appetizer that's as cute as it is delicious, layer your favorite game-day ingredients, including baked beans, coleslaw, and hot dogs, in individual glasses. Garnish with picked okra, for a southern touch, or a sliced pepper, for bold Midwestern flavor.

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Hot Dog in the Hole

Hot Dog in the Hole Recipe

Nothing beats easy fare on the day of the big game. Bake chopped up hot dogs into a three-ingredient homemade bun then top with cheese dip. It's the perfect casserole to satisfy your halftime cravings.

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Hot Doggy Quesadillas

Hot Doggy Quesadillas Recipe

Party main dishes don't have to break the bank; this hot-dog-stuffed quesadilla comes in at about $2.50 per serving. Serve with sour cream and salsa, for dipping.

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Turkey Franks with Molasses Baked Beans

Turkey Franks with Molasses Baked Beans Recipe

Upgrade your dog to a hearty main meal by wrapping turkey dogs in refrigerated breadstick dough, then basting with a lightly beaten egg, to give the bread a golden color and flaky texture. Serve with "homemade" baked beans; your guests will never know that you simply doctored canned beans by adding bacon, onion, brown sugar, and a hint of Worcestershire.

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Asian Slaw Dogs

Asian Slaw Dogs Recipe

Skip the traditional mustard-and-ketchup toppings and instead top your dogs with Asian-inspired flavors including broccoli slaw, fresh ginger, and hoisin sauce. Theme your buffet towards flavors of the East for a fun twist during your turn to host the tailgating event.

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Quick Skillet Baked Beans and Franks

Quick Skillet Baked Beans and Franks Recipe

Make third-down eating easy with this one-dish dinner featuring the quarterbacks of football feasts: hot dogs and baked beans. Dress up the dish with yellow mustard, sweet onion, and cider vinegar.

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Wienie Rollups

Wienie Rollups Recipe

Got kids coming for the big event? Serve rollups, cheesy versions of the classic pig-in-a-blanket recipe. They're easy for little hands to hold and easy for big hands to grab by the handful while passing the buffet.

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Grilled Bratwurst

Grilled Bratwurst Recipe

The bratwurst, king of the hot dogs, is simmered in beer and seasonings then piled high with fresh veggies and a special mustard sauce, made with cider vinegar, beef bouillon cubes, and a little sugar.

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Cheese-Stuffed Barbecue Dogs

Credit: Kate Sears

Cheese-Stuffed Barbecue Dogs Recipe

Barbecue and hot dogs come together to form a fabulous flavor combination.

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Baby Ballpark Dogs

Credit: Lisa Romerein; Styling: Valerie Aikman-Smith

Baby Ballpark Dogs Recipe

Serve party-friendly (and super cute!) dogs that will satisfy your guests without filling them up. After all, they'll need room on their plates for the cheese dip, chips, salsa, and delicious game-day sides.

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Cheesy Pigs in Blankets

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Cindy Barr

Cheesy Pigs in Blankets Recipe

Serve with steamed broccoli and apple wedges.

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Healthy Chili-Cheese Dogs

Credit: Kate Sears; Styling: Gerri Williams

Healthy Chili-Cheese Dogs Recipe

Your kids will flip for these Healthy Chili-Cheese Dogs! Uncured hot dogs cost a few dollars more than regular ones, but they're worth it. They are lower in fat and sodium and free of nitrites.

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So-Cal Baja Hot Dog

Credit: Oxmoor House

So-Cal Baja Hot Dog Recipe

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Philly Hot Dog

Credit: Oxmoor House

Philly Hot Dog Recipe

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Asian-Inspired Dogs

Credit: Kate Sears

Asian-Inspired Dogs Recipe

Combine hot dogs and Asian flavors to create a unique cookout experience.

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Crowd-Pleasing Hot Dogs

1 of 33

Confetti Corn Dog Hot Dog Topper

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Pickled Pink Dog Hot Dog Topper

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Cookout Cruncher Dog Hot Dog Topper

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The Hawaiian Dog Hot Dog Topper

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Chicago Char Dog with Fresh Cucumber Relish

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Sweet Heat Hot Dogs

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Dixie Caviar Dogs

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The Backyard Farmer Hot Dog

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The Surfer Hot Dog

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Mexican Hot Dog

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Thai-Style Dogs

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Chicago Hot Dog

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Banh Mi Hot Dog

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The Tech Billionaire Hot Dog

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The Artisan Hot Dog

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Muffuletta Dogs

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Cowboy Hot Dogs

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Greek-Style Dogs

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Layered BBQ Salads With Grilled Hot Dogs

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Hot Dog in the Hole

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Hot Doggy Quesadillas

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Turkey Franks with Molasses Baked Beans

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Asian Slaw Dogs

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Quick Skillet Baked Beans and Franks

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Wienie Rollups

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Grilled Bratwurst

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