Hot Dog Bar

Hosting a hot dog bar has always been a fun way for me to showcase that my taste for hot dogs extends far beyond just mustard and ketchup. I love experimenting with interesting and unique toppings, and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how delicious these unconventional hot dogs can be.

Hot Dog Bar

A “hot dog bar” is the perfect solution for me when I don’t want to feel guilty about serving “hot dogs” at my next gathering. Let’s face it, I love outdoor grilling (especially for a crowd). However, if ribeye steaks for 20 aren’t in the cards, this is a great, creative alternative. In the past I’ve had guests contribute the side dishes, which makes it an even more interactive, food-friendly party. I can also scale it up or down by the quality and types of hot dogs and buns I serve. I tend to lean towards more wild, hot dog combinations, I think they’re more fun.

There is obviously some pre-prep work with a hot dog bar, but it’s better than being stuck at the stove during the party. I set a large table with cute bowls for the ingredients of each hot dog combination. Then I print instructions on how to assemble each one. My job during party time is to have lots of buns and hot dogs coming off the grill.

There is something here for everyone’s taste, and the kids can still have their plain ketchup and mustard dog… no need to make something different.

Why I Love These Recipes

• I’ve always preferred off-the-beaten-path hot dog combos, they’re just more interesting. I’m the same with pizza.
• The possibilities are endless when it comes to additions or substitutions for each recipe.
• This is a great way to have something available that satisfies all kinds of dietary needs and preferences.

Find the complete recipes with measurements for all the hot dog combinations in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Elote Hot Dog Ingredients

Corn and onions form the base, topped with lime mayonnaise and Cotija cheese. There’s plenty of flavor in this one.

• corn -fresh or frozen 
• avocado oil
• scallion whites and greens
• salt & pepper 
• mayonnaise
• fresh lime juice
• Cotija or feta cheese
• chile powder

Banh Mi Hot Dog Ingredients

Fresh flavors of cilantro, cucumber, and jalapeno give this combo its bold flavor. A touch of mayo and carrots marinated in vinegar and sugar make it a winning combination.

• white vinegar
• granulated sugar
• carrots
• coarse salt
• mayonnaise
• cucumber
• fresh jalapenos -remove any seeds if you don’t like heat
• cilantro leaves

Sweet and Spicy Island Hot Dog Ingredients

Pineapple and red onion tossed in a simple spice mixture with sugar and cayenne. This delicious combo brings the tropical vibes.

• avocado oil
• pineapple 
• red onion
• sugar
• salt
• cayenne pepper

Reuben Hot Dog Ingredients

Just like the favorite sandwich with sauerkraut, sweet dressing, and Swiss cheese. This combination is always a crowd favorite!

• mayonnaise
• ketchup
• sweet pickle relish
• Worcestershire
• salt & pepper
• Swiss cheese
• sauerkraut -jarred or fresh

Rustic Ranch Hot Dog Ingredients

Baked beans and a slice of crispy bacon are the stars of this show. It’s a classic combination that never fails.

• cooked bacon
• baked beans
• white onion
• yellow mustard

Hot Dog Bar Tips

• Offer a selection of hot dog types such as beef, chicken, and vegetarian options. I like to have all the possibilities available.
• Provide different types of buns including classic, whole wheat, and gluten-free.
• Offer even more sauces than what’s called for such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, and hot sauce. Some people will only want a more-plain hot dog, especially kids.
• Serve complementary sides like baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw, and chips.
• Label each topping and provide instructions on how to build different hot dog combinations.
• Use a slow cooker to keep hot dogs warm.

More Unique Hot Dog Recipes

• Buffalo Hot Dogs
• Hot Dog Chili with Beans
• Zucchini-Marinara Dogs
• Three Cheese Sausage Dogs with Avocado
• Chicago-Style Hot Dogs

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Print Recipe

5 from 6 votes

Hot Dog Bar

Hosting a hot dog bar is a fun way to showcase that taste for hot dogs can extend far beyond just mustard and ketchup. Experimenting with interesting and unique toppings can lead to surprisingly delicious results, delighting those who try these unconventional hot dogs.

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Cook Time5 minutes mins

Total Time35 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Hot Dog Bar

Servings: 4 hot dogs

Calories: 290kcal

Author: Cathy Pollak

Equipment

• measuring cups and spoons
• mixing bowls

Ingredients

Elote Hot Dog:

• 2 cups corn, fresh or frozen (thawed)
• 2 tsps. avocado oil or any neutral oil
• 2 scallions, sliced, white tops and greens, divided
• salt and pepper
• 2 tbsps. mayonnaise
• 2 tsps. fresh lime juice
• Cotija or feta cheese
• chile powder

Banh Mi Hot Dog:

• 2 tbsps. white vinegar
• 1 tsp. granulated sugar
• 2 carrots, thinly shredded
• 1/2 tsp. table salt
• mayonnaise
• cucumber, thinly sliced
• 2 fresh jalapenos, sliced
• cilantro leaves

Sweet and Spicy Island Hot Dog:

• avocado oil or any neutral oil
• 3-4 pineapple spears or wedges fresh or canned
• 4 thickly sliced fresh red onion rings
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• table salt
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Reuben Hot Dog:

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp. ketchup
• 1 tbsp. sweet pickle relish
• 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• salt and pepper
• 1 cup Swiss cheese, shredded
• 1 cup sauerkraut drained

Rustic Ranch Hot Dog:

• 4 slices cooked bacon
• 1 cup canned baked beans, warm
• white onion, diced
• yellow mustard

Instructions

Elote Hot Dog:

• In a skillet, cook 2 cups corn until browned. Add 2 teaspoons oil and sliced scallion whites, cooking until scallions are tender. Season with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise and lime juice. Top hot dogs with corn mixture, lime-mayonnaise, crumbled cotija or feta and sliced scallion greens. Sprinkle with chili powder.
  2 cups corn, fresh or frozen (thawed), 2 tsps. avocado oil, 2 scallions, sliced, white tops and greens, divided, salt and pepper, 2 tbsps. mayonnaise, 2 tsps. fresh lime juice, Cotija or feta cheese, chile powder

Banh Mi Hot Dog:

• In a small bowl, stir together vinegar and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Stir in carrots and coarse salt; let sit 10 minutes. Top hot dogs with mayonnaise, cucumber, carrots, jalapeno and cilantro leaves.
  2 tbsps. white vinegar, 1 tsp. granulated sugar, 2 carrots, thinly shredded, 1/2 tsp. table salt, mayonnaise, cucumber, thinly sliced, 2 fresh jalapenos, sliced, cilantro leaves

Sweet and Spicy Island Hot Dog:

• Lightly oil pineapple wedges and red onion rings and grill until tender. You can alternatively, use a grill pan or you can choose not to grill the pineapple or onion. After grilling, chop and season the pineapple with sugar, salt and cayenne pepper. Top hot dogs with pineapple mixture.
  avocado oil, 3-4 pineapple spears or wedges, 4 thickly sliced fresh red onion rings, 1 tsp granulated sugar, table salt, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Reuben Hot Dog:

• Combine mayonnaise, ketchup, relish and Worcestershire; season with salt and pepper. Top hot dogs with Swiss cheese and sauerkraut and sauce.
  1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 tbsp. ketchup, 1 tbsp. sweet pickle relish, 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper, 1 cup Swiss cheese, shredded, 1 cup sauerkraut

Rustic Ranch Hot Dog:

• Place cooked hot dogs in buns with a slice of bacon. Top with warmed baked beans, white onion and yellow mustard.
  1 cup canned baked beans,, white onion, diced, yellow mustard, 4 slices cooked bacon

Notes

Serving Size: Each hot dog recipe is enough for four hot dogs.

Nutrition: Listed calories are for a regular sized hot dog and bun only. Please do your own calculations for whatever toppings and additions you use.

For optimal outcomes when preparing this hot dog bar, it's recommended to refer to the recipe details within the post. The recipe post commonly includes valuable notes, expert tips and frequently asked questions, that are not presented in the recipe card, often including how to make this recipe dairy-free, gluten free or vegan and ideas for healthy ingredient substitutions or variations.

The provided nutrition information is merely an approximation, as variations can arise depending on the specific ingredients/brands you select.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Hot Dog Bar

Amount Per Serving (88 g)

Calories 290 Calories from Fat 150

% Daily Value*

Fat 16.7g26%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Polyunsaturated Fat 4g

Monounsaturated Fat 6.5g

Cholesterol 48mg16%

Sodium 733mg32%

Potassium 237mg7%

Carbohydrates 24g8%

Fiber 0.8g3%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 10g20%

Vitamin A 31IU1%

Vitamin C 12mg15%

Calcium 123mg12%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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