Macaroni and Cheese

We keep telling ourselves we’re going to stop putting macaroni and cheese on everything, but why put an end to a good thing? Piling creamy mac and cheese on top of a juicy hot dog brings back fond childhood memories of Grandma’s beloved hot dog casserole. We didn’t stop with ooey, gooey macaroni when we made this amazing hot dog. We also added crispy bacon crumbles (we’ve got tips on preparing bacon here if you need a little help). Diced onions, either green or yellow, also pair well with a hot dog covered in macaroni. Be the star of your next block party when you surprise your neighbors and family members with these uniquely delicious hot dog toppings. Keep scrolling through our colorful gallery for 9 more clever topping ideas to please a crowd.

Eggs and Bacon

Around here, we like breakfast for breakfast…and lunch, and dinner, and snacks, and…well, you get the idea. This savory hot dog is a breakfast lover’s dream. A soft bun sandwiches a mound of salty hashbrowns, and a sunny-side-up egg covered in smoky bacon and fragrant cilantro sits atop a roasted hot dog. If you decide to add cheese to your breakfast hot dog, opt for cheddar or colby jack. Instead of ketchup, try warm maple syrup or spicy mayo. Is it just us, or would some waffle chunks or pancake pieces also taste amazing on this breakfast dog?

Tex Mex

Tex Mex hot dogs are the perfect meal for those nights when you kinda want tacos but also kinda want to fire up the grill and make some meat. It’s pretty much impossible to screw up a Tex Mex hot dog, so load it up with all of your favorite toppings and chow down.

Tex Mex Topping Ideas

• Salsa or pico de gallo
• Guacamole
• Sour cream
• Fajita veggies
• Cilantro
• Corn
• Black beans
• Pinto beans
• Rice
• Crushed tortilla chips
• Shredded cheese
• Onions

Cucumber and Mint

Get your Vietnamese fix without ordering takeout when you create your very own Banh Mi hot dog. This hot dog is piled high with refreshing cucumber slices, aromatic mint leaves, shredded carrots, and spicy mayo. We’ve found that beer-braised hot dogs work best for this Vietnamese hot dog recipe, but feel free to prepare yours however you like. We recommend placing the spicy mayo in a squeezable container or pouch rather than a jar so you can drizzle it lightly across the hot dogs.

Potato Salad

This potato salad hot dog makes us think of summer cookouts and pool parties every time we take a bite. You can use mayo-based or mustard-based potato salad, and it doesn’t have to be homemade. We like to buy a giant tub from the deli and slather it on our grilled wieners. You can also try chicken salad, egg salad, or tuna salad. We’ve heard all of them are good on a hot dog.

Guac and Cheese

It takes very little time to top a hot dog with guacamole and cotija cheese, and we love how sophisticated these ingredients look. Instead of using ketchup, slice a few cherry tomatoes in half and place them on top of your guacamole.

Fruit Loops

North Carolina and Ohio are known for serving hot dogs covered in sugary-sweet Fruit Loops at bars and sporting events. If you haven’t already killed your diet for the day, place some cooked Ramen noodles under the pile of colorful breakfast cereal. Don’t forget the cheese, tomatoes, relish, and pickles!

Coleslaw

Look, we’ve seen the memes floating around that say stuff like “There’s only one place for coleslaw, and that’s the trash can.” Those folks have obviously never seen this awesome hot dog topped with colorful coleslaw. Any old variety of coleslaw will do, but we like to whip up a homemade batch with purple cabbage to add color and texture to our roasted wieners.

Marinara Sauce and Cheese

When your kids are begging for pizza but don’t want to wait an hour or so for delivery, delight them with these pizza hot dogs. Cover each hot dog with marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and any other pizza fixings your family likes, then broil the topping-covered dogs for a couple minutes until the cheese melts.

Mango Chutney

Mango chutney lends a tropical infusion to spicy aioli mayo and a grilled or beer-braised hot dog. You can pick up premade mango chutney from the produce department or salsa aisle, or you can make your own by combining diced mango, pineapple chunks, raisins, yellow onion, and ginger. We like to place the mango chutney directly on the bun rather than piling it on top of the hot dog so the bun absorbs some of the sweet juice from the chutney’s fruit. Green onions and cilantro balance out the chutney and spicy mayo nicely.