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    Home » Smoked Meats

    Smoked Hot Dogs (Tasty Toppings!)

    Published: Jun 17, 2022 · Modified: Aug 14, 2022 by Will · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy policy.

    Sometimes a great tasting hot dog is exactly what you need to curb a craving. These hot dogs with their perfect topping combinations will DEFINITELY satisfy that craving! So grab some 100% Beef dogs and let's get the smoker fired up!

    Four smoked hot dogs on grey slate with different toppings
    Jump to:
    • How to VIDEO - smoked hot dog
    • Why smoked hot dogs?
    • Brief History
    • Best dogs to buy
    • The Smoker / Grill
    • Smoking hot dogs
    • Hot Dog Toppings
    • FAQ
    • Recommended
    • Old Pro Tips
    • 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.

    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.

    Two boys at hot dog cart in New York in the 1920'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.

    Hot dogs on a white plate with mustard, ketchup, relish, and onions around plate.

    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 pellet smoker next to an offset smoker.

    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.

    Charcoal grill with lid on

    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.

    Bag of trophy blend hardwood pellets.

    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.

    Smoking 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.

    Slicing hot dogs down the middle with a sharp knife atop a white plate.

    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.

    Red Meat Thermometer with digital read out with temperature.

    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.

    Six hot dogs on grill.

    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 smoked hot dog on grey slate with two other hot dogs in background.

    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)
    Four smoked hot dogs with different toppings on grey slate.

    FAQ

    How long do hot dogs take in a smoker?

    At 250°F, it should take 45-60 minutes to cook regular sized hot dogs to an internal temperature of 160°F.

    How long does it take to grill hot dogs?

    At 400°F, it should take about 5 minutes to cook a regular sized hot dog. Jumbo hot dogs will take closer to 10 minutes.

    Are hot dogs healthy?

    Hot dogs are not typically labeled under healthy, but you can purchase 100% All Beef hot dogs which are a better option than pork and chicken mix.

    Recommended

    • Pork Egg Foo Young (Wagner style)
    • Smoked Salmon Avocado Toast
    • Smoked Corned Beef
    • Buttery Smoked Lobster Tails

    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
    Four smoked hot dogs with different toppings on grey slate.

    Smoked Hot Dogs - Tasty Toppings!

    Sometimes a great tasting hot dog is exactly what you need to curb a craving. These perfect topping combinations will DEFINITELY satisfy that craving!
    5 from 42 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Type: Smoked Meat
    Servings: 3 servings
    Calories: 692kcal
    Author: Will
    Cost: $10

    Ingredients
     

    The Dog & Bun

    • 6 hot dogs (100% Beef)
    • 6 hot dog buns

    Chicago Dog

    • 2 tomatoes (sliced into wedges)
    • 6 pickle spears
    • ½ onion (diced)
    • 12 pepperoncini
    • ½ cup sweet relish
    • ¼ cup mustard (yellow)

    NY Style Dog

    • ½ onion (diced)
    • ½ cup sauerkraut
    • ¼ cup mustard (brown or yellow)

    Chili Cheese Dog

    • 1 cup chili (beans or no beans)
    • ½ cup cheese (cheddar)
    • ½ cup jalapenos (sliced)

    Equipment

    Pellet Grill
    Pellet Smoker

    Instructions

    • Pre-heat smoker to 250°F.
    • Slice hot dogs lengthwise down the middle of hot dogs about halfway thru dog. Don't slice the dogs into two halves.
    • Place hot dogs directly on grill grate and smoke for 45-60 minutes until they reach an internal temperature of 160°F.
    • Remove from smoker and place on hot dog buns. Top with desired toppings and enjoy!

    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

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2Hot dogs | Calories: 692kcal | Carbohydrates: 92g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 3168mg | Potassium: 1030mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 2416IU | Vitamin C: 143mg | Calcium: 409mg | Iron: 8mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Smoked Hot Dogs (Tasty Toppings!)
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