8 Great Hot Dog Topping Ideas

Ketchup, mustard, relish: classic hot dog toppings, right? Yes, but there are so many more ways to top your perfectly grilled hot dogs. Here are eight awesome topping ideas to try out the next time you grill up some juicy franks.

The Tiki Dog

This variation is inspired by bacon-wrapped chicken skewers with pineapple and teriyaki sauce I made last year. I wrap the hot dog in bacon, then brush it with teriyaki sauce at the end of cooking. I placed the glistening, glazed frank in a toasted bun, then topped with with diced grilled pineapple, chopped red onion, and a light drizzle of more teriyaki sauce. It's a personal favorite.

The Frito Pie Dog

There's nothing quite as comforting in the winter as a bowl of Texas chili, which is even better served as Frito pie—salty corn Fritos topped with the chili and garnished with goodies like cheddar, cilantro, green onions, jalapeños, and sour cream. To create a summery version of that classic dish, I gave a hot dog the Frito-pie treatment, using all the same toppings along with this condiment chili recipe). Hot dog, that Frito pie chili dog is good!

The French Onion Dog

Given how well French onion soup did when transformed into a cheese dip, I didn't see why it wouldn't work on a hot dog as well. On top of a grilled frank, I spread on a heavy layer of caramelized onions and Swiss cheese (I would have opted for Gruyère if I had it in the house). I let the cheese melt over indirect heat on the grill, then added a sprinkle of fresh thyme. The sweet onions and creamy cheese once again proved this combo can work wonders in a variety of settings.

The Monte Cristo Dog

I'm a sucker for a Monte Cristo—French toast topped with ham, turkey, and Swiss cheese—and having started my hot-dog explorations in the morning, I had the idea of using those flavors on a grilled dog. The bun was given the French toast treatment, then loaded with a hot dog, a slice each of ham and turkey, and grated Swiss. I then put it back on the grill to let the cheese melt before giving it a final light drizzle of maple syrup. It certainly had a breakfast flavor, but I could imagine eating this eggy, sweet, and meaty hot dog at any time of the day.

The Nacho Dog

With Texas nachos still on my mind—and all the ingredients still on hand—I assembled a dog with refried beans, Longhorn cheddar, and pickled jalapeños. I don't really need to convince you this was amazing, do I?

The Bacon-Jack Dog

I wanted to make my own cheese-stuffed hot dog, so I split a frank lengthwise, stuffing it with Monterey Jack cheese, and then closing it up with a couple strips of bacon. I cooked the bacon-wrapped hot dog over indirect heat, then crisped at the end over direct heat. Once nestled into a toasted bun, I finished it with a few slices of avocado and a squeeze of chipotle mayo. Having so many flavors, from smoky and meaty to cheesy and spicy, this was one killer hot dog worth the extra effort.

The Onion Dip Dog

Having a lot of extra caramelized onions from the French onion dog, I used those leftovers to make a French onion dip. As I dunked my ruffled chips into that sweet and tangy dip, I couldn't help but think that this would be yet another great hot dog topping. So I slathered a mess of it onto a hot dog in a bun, then added crushed chips and green onions. I would have preferred chives over the green onions, but this still managed to be one mighty fine set of hot dog toppings, especially the chips, which added a nice salty crunch.

The Vietnamese-Style Dog

Having a jar of quick-pickled daikon radishes and carrots sitting in the fridge, I put those to use in my last hot dog of the day. Topping this dog as I would a banh mi—with pickled veggies, fresh cilantro, mint, and siracha mayo—resulted in a fresh and bright flavor that was the perfect foil to an afternoon of heavy hot dog eating. For a spicier touch, thin slices of fresh jalapeño can be added in as well.