Smoked Hot Dogs (Tasty Toppings!)

How to VIDEO - smoked hot dog

Why smoked hot dogs?

I LOVE hot dogs and try to eat at every hot dog stand, shop, restaurant, trailer, ballpark... You get the idea. Finding the best of the best and what makes them taste great has become somewhat of an obsession.

Smoking the dogs really gives them that extra smoke flavor that you don't get from boiled or pan fried dogs. I also like the 'snap' it gives the hot dog when first biting into them. Throw on some great toppings and you just can't beat smoked hot dogs.

Pair these dogs with some great tasting smoked burgers and you have the making of an epic backyard BBQ!

Below are some of the best toppings and combinations I have found over the years of eating probably thousands of hot dogs. My all time favorite? NY style. (More on that later)

Brief History

Even though hot dogs are one of my favorite foods, I regrettably have no clue about the origin of the hot dog. So after checking out History.com, this is what I found.

Hot dogs are thought to be originated during Roman era, but really gained traction 500 years ago in Germany. Hot dogs came to the United States with German immigrants in the 1860's.

They really became popular in the United States in 1915 with the creation of the Nathan's hot dog. Still sold today and are one of my favorite brands to cook.

Best dogs to buy

Want the best tasting hot dog? Go 100% beef high quality hot dogs. Skip over the less expensive pork/chicken mixture wieners and buy the good stuff, they will taste MUCH better.

Most people have their favorite brands, my two are Nathan's Famous & Hebrew National. There are endless brands, including local companies that make great tasting wieners. It really comes down to trying and testing all you can, finding the brand that excites your taste buds the most!

The Smoker / Grill

Cooking hot dogs can be done many different ways; smoking, grilling, pan frying, boiling, steaming, and even cooking under a heat lamp. Out of these many different cooking methods, grilling and smoking are by far the BEST option to choose.

So let's take a look at what you need to make the best tasting hot dogs you have ever tasted.

Smokers

I'm smoking these hot dogs on my pellet smoker, just like the Camp Chef 36 smoker or Traeger 780. Electric smokers like this are an easy and great way to impart fantastic smoke flavor on these wieners, and other meats for that matter, without having to babysit a firebox all day.

A traditional offset smoker, like this Oklahoma Joe's Smoker can also be used when smoking hot dogs.

Gas grill / charcoal grill

You can definitely use a gas grill or charcoal grill when making hot dogs. The cooking time will be a lot faster and the grill temp will be a lot higher. The grill is the most common way used when making dogs and will impart AMAZING flavor onto the hot dog.

When using a charcoal grill, the weber is a great choice. These grills have not changed much in decades! They work great and give a great flavor to the meat. When you think of a traditional backyard bbq, this is the grill that pops in your mind!

Instead of cooking at a low 250°F as you would with a smoker, pre-heat the grill to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Best wood chips / wood pellets

When it comes to hot dogs, you can choose any type of wood. My favorite wood chips to use are oak, pecan, hickory, or applewood. These woods impart a fantastic flavor on the wieners.

A competition or trophy blend of pellets can also be used. This is usually a mixture of several different types of hard wood which gives a nice smooth smoke flavor to the meat.

How to Smoke Hot Dogs

Hot dogs are already cooked and only need to be heated to be eaten. The way we heat them gives the dogs more flavor and really contributes to the texture of the finished hot dogs. One of my favorite ways to cook dogs is to use a smoker.

Smoked hot dogs have a nice smoke flavor as well as a nice snap when biting into it. This is not achieved when using most other cooking methods.

Heat

Pre-heat your smoker or pellet grill to 250°F. While the smoker is heating, use a sharp knife and cut a slit in the hot dogs lengthwise about ½ way through the meat. This opens up the meat allowing it to absorb more smoke flavor as well as cook faster.

Place the hot dogs on the grill grate and smoke for 45 minutes. There is no need to rotate the dogs during the cooking process. They will take on a darker color and the slit that you cut will expand wider.

Temperature

As previously mentioned, hot dogs are already fully cooked when you purchase them. This means that there is not a certain internal temperature that they need to reach for health & safety.

You do want a 'hot' hot dog however, so I recommend heating them to at least 160°F internal temp. Check this with an instant read thermometer. This should already be one of your trusted tools for grilling / smoking other meats.

When it comes to cooking meat to perfection, it's important to cook to temperature and not time. The only way to cook to internal temperature is using a meat thermometer.

What if I used my grill and not smoker

If using a grill, the cooking temperature will be around 400°F instead to 250°F. This will speed the cooking process to 5-10 minutes instead of 45 minutes.

Grilled hot dogs need to be rotated throughout the grilling process to prevent burning on the bottom.

Hot Dog Toppings

There are SO MANY different toppings that can go on a smoked or grilled hot dog. These are my top 3 favorite combinations of toppings when making hot dogs! Not big on condiments? Go with the regular classic dog with some mustard or ketchup.

Chicago Style Hot Dog

The Chicago dog has a lot of different ingredients, some might be a little harder to find. Most grocery stores do NOT carry poppy seed buns, so you might have to substitute a regular bun when making this type of smoked hot dog.

• 100% beef hot dog
• Poppy seed bun
• Pickle spear
• Tomato wedges
• White onions (diced)
• Pepperoncini (whole)
• Relish (sweet pickle)
• Mustard (yellow)

NY Style Hot Dog

This is my favorite type of smoked hot dog recipe to make. I ALWAYS grab a street dog when I visit NYC, it's a must... along with grabbing a slice of pepperoni pizza. The NY dog is a lot more simpler than the Chicago dog, but just as tasty!

• 100% beef hot dog
• Hot dog bun
• Onions (diced)
• Sauerkraut
• Brown mustard (yellow if you prefer)

Chili Cheese Hot Dog

The chili dog is a messy but delicious masterpiece. I like using canned chili for hot dogs. It's up to you whether you want a chili with beans or no beans. I like both ways. Top with some cheese and you have a great chili cheese dog!

• 100% beef hot dog
• Hot dog bun
• Chili (beans or no beans)
• Cheese (shredded cheddar)
• Jalapenos (sliced)

Old Pro Tips

• Choose 100% beef hot dogs
• Slice the dog with a sharp knife for a stronger smoke flavor
• Try local butchers hot dogs, support local businesses. A lot of time they have GREAT hot dogs and sausages
• Toast the hot dog buns for even more flavor

FAQ

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