17 hot dog toppings and hacks to try this Memorial Day
Erin McDowell
- Hot dogs are one of the most popular Memorial Day foods, and you can get creative with toppings.
- Chopped pickles, bacon bits, and guacamole are just a few easy additions.
Hot dogs are one of the easiest and most delicious cookout foods perfect for Memorial Day.
They're also among the most popular grilling foods in the summer. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council reports that Americans eat roughly 7 billion hot dogs between Memorial Day and Labor Day, for roughly $614 million in hot-dog sales.
However, you don't have to stick with the standard mustard, ketchup, and relish for toppings — and you might already have good additions in your kitchen.
From chopped pickles to melted cheese, here are 17 hot-dog toppings and hacks to try.
One simple trick can turn your hot dogs into spirals, which makes them extra crispy.
To spiralize your hot dogs, skewer them and cut them diagonally while turning the hot dog away from you.
TikTok cook Carolina Gelen's 2023 video showing how to make spiral hot dogs went viral.
"This easy technique gives you more surface area for caramelization, for flavor, and definitely more fun," she explains in the video, adding that the hot dogs "can hold so many more toppings due to their shape."
Stuff your hot dogs with cheese and wrap them in bacon for a decadent twist on this cookout favorite.
An easy way to elevate your hot dogs with pantry basics is to cut your hot dogs halfway down lengthwise, stuff the cut with string cheese, and wrap them in bacon before grilling.
Give your hot dogs a Vietnamese twist with banh mi toppings and served in a sliced baguette.
Banh mi hot dogs bring an Asian-inspired twist to this cookout favorite. One recipe by Damn Delicious suggests topping your hot dogs with toppings like cucumbers, cilantro, onion, and pickled carrots and serve in a nicely toasted baguette.
Or go for a German-style hot dog with mustard and sauerkraut.
While in Germany this dish would traditionally be served with a bratwurst or sausage, standard American hot dogs also work.
A quick pineapple or mango salsa can take your hot dogs to the next level.
A pineapple or mango salsa with red onion and cilantro is easy to make and packs a lot of flavor.
Quick pickled onions add a slightly tangy taste to hot dogs, and they're surprisingly easy to make.
Pickled onions are easier to make than many home cooks might think, but they add some serious flavor to any hot dog.
Bon Appetit's recipe suggests thinly slicing red onion and adding it to a jar with apple cider vinegar, sugar, and kosher salt for at least one hour. Then, drain the onions and add them to your hot dog for a tangy flavor.
While relish is a common addition to hot dogs, you can also chop up your own pickles.
Chopping up your own pickles gives your hot dog more of a crunchy texture than relish. Plus, you can customize it to your own tastes by using dill pickles, sweet pickles, or bread and butter pickles.
Sliced jalapeños turn up the heat on a classic hot dog.
Whether you want to pair sliced jalapeño with other toppings or simply add them to a plain hot dog, this pepper is a great way to add spice and flavor to your Memorial Day meal.
You can also add an easy homemade pico de gallo to your hot dogs.
This fresh ingredient adds flavor and a slight kick.
Sautéed mushrooms add a rich, earthy flavor to hot dogs.
Mushrooms are a kitchen staple for many home cooks, and sautéeing them with a little butter makes a perfect addition to hot dogs.
Adding some baked beans as a topping makes hot dogs a lot more flavorful.
Baked beans are often served at summer cookouts. They add more flavor to hot dogs without the hassle of making chili.
Chili and shredded cheese make for a classic hot-dog combination.
If your summer cookout does happen to already have chili on the menu, slathering it on top of your hot dog, along with cheese and a little onion, makes for a filling, protein-filled meal.
You can also add melted cheese for a delicious cheese dog.
You can make a simple cheese sauce by making a roux with butter and flour and then adding milk and cheddar cheese to your pot on the stove.
Bacon bits add a salty taste and crispy texture to hot dogs.
Most would agree that bacon makes anything better, and hot dogs are no exception. Chopped-up crispy fried or grilled bacon bring a whole new level of flavor to a regular hot dog.
You can also give hot dogs a spicy twist by topping them with a drizzle of Buffalo sauce and blue cheese.
For a Buffalo-style twist on a hot dog, drizzle your dog with Buffalo or hot sauce and sprinkle some blue cheese on top. Red onion also works well with this spicy combination.
Greek food-inspired toppings put a Mediterranean twist on a traditional hot dog.
Additions like feta cheese, cucumber, sautéed peppers, oven-dried tomatoes, and a spicy aioli will impress guests at your summer cookout.
A quick homemade guacamole also adds fresh flavor to store-bought dogs.
Whether you happen to have a store-bought guac on hand or want to make your own, this creamy, flavorful addition brings hot dogs to a whole other level.
A simple recipe for homemade guacamole includes two or three perfectly ripe avocados, diced red onion, cilantro, jalapeño, lime juice, and a generous amount of salt.
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