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The best way to make summer's most iconic meal: the hot dog! The secret to The BEST Grilled Hot Dogs is a spiral cut hot dog: slicing hot dogs with a spiral cut creates more surface area as they grill, resulting in perfectly crisp & charred grilled hot dogs that are still super tender & juicy throughout. Make a build-your-own hot dog bar to load 'em up with your fave classic toppings or take things up a notch with specialty grilled hot dog creations. Quick, easy, & always a classic – perfect for summer entertaining, backyard BBQs, game day, & more! Our completely FREE 5-Day Grilling Series helps you feel confident behind the grill all summer! Each lesson guides you through our best Grilling 101 tips + recipes so you can make restaurant-worthy grilled faves in your backyard. Grilling doesn’t have to feel complicated or intimidating – we’ll make it easy & show you how! CLICK HERE & receive 5 grilling-packed emails + 15 BONUS recipes for go-to grilling marinades. It’s about to be your best grilling season yet! Pin for Later
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THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY Endlessly Versatile Grilled Hot Dogs to Enjoy All Summer Long!While my love of grilled brats & grilled sausages is long documented here on PWWB, I simply can’t resist a good ol’ summer hot dog. Super affordable, infinitely customizable, & always delicious, iconic grilled hot dogs are always a crowd-pleaser. So, this one is for my fellow hot dog lovers out there. 🤗 Learning how to grill hot dogs perfectly comes down to one game-changing trick: spiral cut hot dogs. A spiral cut gives grilled hot dogs the kind of extra charred & crispy edges you crave from the grill. Wayyy better than classic boiled hot dogs! Plus, the nooks & crannies of a spiral hot dog are perfect for trapping whatever toppings you love most. Load grilled hot dogs up with classic ketchup & mustard or get inspired with specialty Chicago-style, teriyaki-style, or BBQ-style dogs. Toppings are the best part of any hot dog bar, especially if you’re shopping at ALDI – my favorite one-stop shop for any summer gathering! ALDI has all the best grilled hot dog essentials (plus everything else you need to enjoy grilling season!), all at the most affordable prices. There’s summer BBQ inspiration around every turn at ALDI: seasonal veggies, spreads, meats, cheeses, & amazing ready-to-serve options! Plus, shopping at ALDI makes it easy to build epic grilled hot dogs all summer long without much added effort. The options are truly endless!
You’ll love hosting an ALDI hot dog bar this summer because these grilled hot dogs are…
A grilling season classic made even better thanks to ALDI! ♡ Read on to learn more about how to make The BEST Grilled Hot Dogs, or jump straight to the recipe & get grilling! Key Ingredients for Epic Grilled Hot Dogs
Note: Full ingredients list & measurements provided in the Recipe Card, below.
The beauty of making grilled hot dogs is they couldn’t be simpler. You need 2 main ingredients & whatever add-ons you love…
The Secret to Perfect Grilled Hot Dogs? Spiral Cut Hot Dogs!Taking the time to slice hot dogs with a spiral cut is always worth it. This is the secret to the best-ever grilled hot dogs – it’s a small bit of prep that makes a huge difference!
The hot dog gets extra crispy & charred with a larger surface area. Think about it – a normal grilled hot dog has a pretty limited surface area to come into contact with grill grates, while a spiral cut spreads the hot dog out over the grill grates, creating more surface area to stretch over the flames. The result is deliciously crisp & charred grilled hot dogs that are still perfectly tender & juicy throughout. 🤤 So good!
The nooks & crannies of a spiral cut hot dog love to hug your toppings. 🤗 Ever load up a hot dog & get a big bite of plain hot dog on the bottom & loads of messy toppings on top? With a spiral hot dog, the nooks & crannies hold the toppings nicely & create a well-balanced bite. You can load up on tons of condiments, spreads, pickles, & veggies because the spiral shape holds the toppings perfectly!
Full Recipe Directions, including step-by-step photos, are included in the Recipe Card, below.
Slicing a spiral hot dog is really simple & only takes a few extra minutes of prep. Here’s what you’ll do…
Skewer the hot dog. Pierce a wooden or metal skewer through the center of a hot dog lengthwise. This trick makes spiral slicing a lot easier & virtually foolproof!
Grab a paring knife & position your hot dog. A small paring knife offers the precision you need when cutting a spiral hot dog. After you have your knife, place the skewered hot dog on a cutting board on a work surface in front of you.
Gently slice by running the knife down the length of the hot dog as you use the skewer to rotate. Be sure to let the blade of the knife sink all the way into the hot dog, until it hits the skewer. For a perfectly coiled frank, aim for about a 1/4-inch spiral cut. No rush here – take your time until you’ve sliced in a spiral down to the bottom of the hot dog.
Remove the hot dog from the skewer. If it has a beautiful coiled shape, then you’ve nailed it! If your first attempt isn’t perfect, that’s totally okay – just keep practicing! Grilling Hot Dogs 101: How to Grill Hot Dogs Perfectly Every Single Time!My favorite place to be at a backyard summer BBQ is cooking over the grill. If grilling is still new to you, learning how to grill hot dogs is definitely the best place to start! Hot dogs are super easy to grill & they’re ready after just a few minutes of cooking – the best kind of backyard grilling!
Full Recipe Directions, including step-by-step photos, are included in the Recipe Card, below.
Lightly spritz the hot dogs with cooking spray. I like to use grapeseed oil spray because it has a high smoke point perfect for hot grill temps. Simply give each spiral hot dog a light spritz right before you transfer it to the grill. Why? ⇢ The cooking spray helps promote browning, another trick for getting the beautiful char we’re after here!
Place hot dogs on the grill. Place the spiral cut hot dogs on the grill grates. Stretch them out a little as you set them down & arrange them perpendicular to the grill grates or at a slight angle so they don’t fall through as they cook. Then close the lid. Why? ⇢ A closed lid helps the hot air circulate & warm the grilled hot dogs through as they take on plenty of char.
Grill the spiral hot dogs. Grilling hot dogs only takes about 5-7 minutes. Since they’re already fully cooked, the goal here is to warm them through & get them nice & crispy. Grab a cold beer or glass of wine for this step & hang close to the grill. Every few minutes, you’ll want to open the lid & rotate the hot dogs for even charring on each side. Tip: Don’t forget to toast the buns! ⇢ I LOVE a lightly toasted hot dog bun. Once the grilled hot dogs are done, it’s time to toast the hot dog buns! Lightly spritz the inside of each bun with cooking spray, then place them directly on the grill grates. Keep a close eye on them – they’ll be nice & toasty in under a minute.
Grilling doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating, we’ll show you how! We’ve created a completely FREE 5 Day Grilling Series dedicated to help you be your most confident self behind the grill this summer. We’ll guide you through Grilling 101 Tips & Tricks (& as a bonus, we’ll send you our BONUS 15 Grilling Marinades download right away!). Sign up now! Let’s make this your best grilling season yet! 🙌🏼 🔥 What Goes Well With Grilled Hot Dogs? Classic Toppings from ALDI!A build-your-own hot dog bar is perfect for summer backyard cookouts, holiday gatherings like Father’s Day, or an easy evening with friends. Thanks to ALDI, loading up a spiral hot dog bar with your favorite toppings couldn’t be easier. (Plus, it’s SO affordable!)
Set up a Build-Your-Own Spiral Hot Dog Bar with…
Take It Up a Notch with Specialty Grilled Hot Dogs!The beauty of a spiral hot dog is you can turn it into whatever you’re craving most that day. Every bun is a blank slate to get creative & load up on all the good stuff! A few themed ingredients can create an insanely delicious specialty spiral hot dog that your guests will remember all summer long. I encourage you to get creative & have fun making your own spiral hot dog combinations. It’s also a great way to involve your friends & family if you’re hosting! Lay out a bunch of different ALDI hot dog toppings & let people mix & match to create their own flavors. It’s so fun to see what delicious combos people come up with! Here are some specialty grilled hot dog topping ideas to get you started…
Nestle sliced tomato & a full dill pickle spear into the toasty bun alongside the spiral hot dog, then top with yellow mustard, sweet relish, & diced onion. A Windy City classic!
Glaze the spiral cut hot dogs with teriyaki sauce, then top with grilled pineapple, thinly sliced red onions, thinly sliced jalapeño peppers, fresh cilantro leaves. A little sweet, spicy & savory! Tip! ⇢ Check the ALDI produce section for whole or fresh-cut pineapple!
Glaze the spiral cut hot dogs with go-to BBQ sauce, then top with grated cheddar cheese, crispy bits of bacon, & thinly sliced green onions. These hot dogs scream summertime! Tip! ⇢ Keep an eye out for Burman’s Regional BBQ Sauces at ALDI during the summer months. Inspired by the 4 major BBQ regions here in the U.S., each of these sauces burst with flavor. My go-to is sweet & rich Burman’s Memphis Style BBQ Sauce. 😋
Glaze the spiral cut hot dogs with a little buffalo sauce (mix Burman’s Hot Sauce with a little melted butter & garlic powder), then top with crumbled blue cheese, green onions, & ranch dressing. Feel free to grab a bottle of Tuscan Garden Simply Ranch Dressing at ALDI, or whip up your own – our homemade Herby Ranch Yogurt Drizzle works great here!
Spread Park Street Deli Street Corn Dip into your toasted bun, nestle a spiral cut grilled hot dog over top. Finish with grilled sweet corn, a dash of paprika, cotija cheese (Pueblo Lindo Grated Cotija Cheese at ALDI is fantastic!), fresh cilantro, & a squeeze of fresh lime. Tip! ⇢ Grill the corn right alongside your hot dogs. To serve, simply slice the charred kernels right off the cob – so good!
My personal favorite! 🤗 Top a spiral cut hot dog with quick pickled carrots, thinly sliced cucumber, thinly sliced jalapeno, freshly chopped cilantro, & a generous drizzle of Burman’s Sriracha Aioli. Fresh, crunchy, smoky, & sweet – SO good! I can’t wait for you to try the BEST Grilled Hot Dogs at your next summer cookout! They’re so much fun & truly so simple to make. If you do give them a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your PWWB creations! Printclock icon cutlery icon flag icon folder icon instagram icon pinterest icon facebook icon print icon squares icon heart icon heart solid icon
It’s impossible to resist a good ol’ summer hot dog – they’re super affordable, infinitely customizable, & always delicious, always a crowd-pleaser. This one is for my fellow hot dog lovers out there! Learning how to grill hot dogs perfectly comes down to one game-changing trick: spiral cut hot dogs. Slicing with a spiral cut results in a crispy & charred grilled hot dog that’s tender & juicy throughout – wayyy better than classic boiled hot dogs! – & the nooks & crannies of a spiral hot dog cradle whatever toppings you love most, making each bite even more delicious. Quick, easy, & perfect for summer entertaining, backyard BBQs, game day, & more! Be sure to refer to the blog post, above, for everything you need to know about how to grill hot dogs, plus inspiration for a build-your-own hot dog bar (complete with classic hot dog toppings ideas & specialty grilled hot dog inspiration!). Happy grilling! ♡
Keywords: grilled hot dogs recipe, easy grilled hot dogs, best beef hot dogs, how to grill hot dogs Tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram and hashtag it #playswellwithbutter Recipe & Food Styling by Jess Larson, Plays Well With Butter | Photography by Rachel Cook, Half Acre House. Follow along with Plays Well With Butter on Instagram, Facebook, & Pinterest for more easy, modern recipes & fun! |