From a simple snack to an exquisite restaurant-quality meal, hot dogs can be enjoyed in so many ways. Thinking about what to serve as sides for hot dogs? There’s a good deal of yummy sides and toppings you can use.
Hot dogs are a beloved American dish, and we have plenty of options for turning them into a special treat.
🌭 Simple Hot Dog Toppings
Hot dogs served by food trucks come with many interesting and sometimes unexpected toppings.
For a no-fuss dinner, you’ll probably want to keep things simple.
Before anything else, a fresh bun and some basic toppings will make your hot dogs highly enjoyable. No need to get fancy.
Check out these easy hot dog toppings for a quick meal!
- Ketchup
- Onions (fresh, onion rings, caramelized)
- Mustard
- Cheese
- Bacon
- Coleslaw
- Relish
- Chili
- Mayo
- Sauerkraut
- Jalapeños
- Tomatoes
- Buffalo sauce
- Pickles
- BBQ sauce
🌽 Best Hot Dog Sides
As long as you have a bit of time on your hands, it’s really worth skipping convenience foods and cooking your own side.
Homemade sauces and pickles taste like nothing else and you can make them ahead.
They store well and will make your sandwiches, wraps, burgers, and hot dogs so much better.
Also, trying some creative sides will bring back the excitement in your kitchen and at the table.
Here are some of our favorite sides for hot dogs you can easily cook at home. Don’t expect any leftovers from these heavenly meals!
1. Easy Home Fries
As tasty as French fries might be, give these home fries a try, and you’ll have a new family favorite.
Golden potato cubes made quickly on the stovetop? Yes, please!
The unquestionable versatility of fried potatoes means you can enjoy home fries with various meat based dishes, not just hot dogs.
2. Creamed Corn Au Gratin
That bubbly layer of parmesan cheese brings magic to this dish like you couldn’t imagine!
Even better, you can make this creamed corn the night before and reheat it in the oven before serving.
3. Brown Sugar & Bacon Baked Beans
Hot dogs and baked beans make an excellent team.
This recipe needs only 10 minutes of prep and off into the oven it goes!
Depending on how thick you like your beans, the total cooking time is between 2 and 3 hours.
4. Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Dill pickles and pasta salads are popular sides. Why not mix them together?
Pour a mayo, sour cream, and dill pickle juice dressing on top and keep it in the fridge for a few hours or even overnight.
The result is a refreshing pasta salad that goes amazingly well with hot dogs.
5. Sunday Chili
Chili and a hot dog sound like my kind of cold weather comfort food!
Instructions are included for making it on the stovetop, in the Instant Pot or in the slow cooker.
Regardless of the method you choose, it will come out incredibly tasty.
6. Beer Battered Onion Rings
Beer batter gives these onion rings a crispy coating that’s to die for.
Having these right out of the fryer is like nothing else!
Are they heavy on the calories? Fried onion rings are certainly not diet food.
However, making them at home is healthier than any food you can order or buy in the store.
7. Cabbage, Radish, & Apple Coleslaw
Pair hot dogs with a lighter side like this refreshing cabbage, radish, & apple coleslaw.
This will make your meal significantly lower in carbs and also works nicely as a hot dog topping.
8. Chimichurri Potato Salad
You have to appreciate a good make-ahead recipe like this potato salad.
Make the chimichurri sauce the day before. The next day, pour it onto the cooked potatoes while they’re still warm and serve.
This potato salad can also be served chilled, which makes it a wonderful summer dish!
9. Easy Overnight Refrigerator Pickles
It’s so nice to have some homemade pickles in the fridge. With an easy recipe like this one, we all can!
Making pickles at home is really simple and the best part: after one day, these will be ready to eat in all their crunchy goodness.
10. Grilled Sweet Potato Fries
As a healthier version of the classic French fries, this sweet potato version has way less fat.
Grill marks are optional and so is a generous topping of cilantro before serving.
When it comes to seasoning, you try various combinations of herbs and spices.
Even if you use just plain salt, grilled sweet potatoes will still be delicious.
11. Air Fryer Corn Ribs
Corn ribs are an interesting take on Mexican street corn, one that you’ll keep making over and over!
The Air Fryer will give them the perfect amount of char, but you could also make these fun corn ribs in the oven or on the grill.
12. Easy Green Salad
Fresh, locally grown ingredients are the key to getting an amazingly flavorful salad.
The other important thing that will set your salad apart is the dressing. This recipe has a great oil and vinegar dressing recipe that’s super easy to customize.
You could also play around with the ingredients: use various kinds of greens, use bell peppers instead of tomatoes, or even add some nuts or seeds.
13. Homemade Sweet Pepper Relish
Relish and hot dogs are a match made in heaven! Making your own relish is totally worth it, since it’s a versatile side that goes well with a large diversity of dishes.
This particular recipe uses sweet chili peppers, so it’s also kid-friendly.
If you enjoy a bit of heat, you can always add hot peppers to your homemade relish.
14. Parsnip Fries
Parsnip is not exactly a veggie commonly used to make fries, but hey…..it actually works!
You’ll be surprised how delectable that subtle sweet flavor can be.
Tossing them with Parmesan cheese will amp up their flavor and I’m sure even the skeptics will enjoy them.
15. Avocado Tomato Salad
When you want to pair your hot dogs with something light and refreshing that’s also easy to make, give this avocado tomato salad a try.
It comes together in 10 minutes and with just three ingredients and a simple vinaigrette, it couldn’t get more frugal!
16. Beet And Cabbage Sauerkraut
Fermented cabbage is full of gut-friendly bacteria that can improve digestion and overall health.
With only 20 minutes of prep, you’ll just need to be patient for 3 to 5 days as the sauerkraut needs this time to ferment.
17. Garlic Parmesan Herb Butter Polenta Fries With Lemon Aioli
Polenta turned into crispy golden fries is simply a brilliant idea!
They are soft on the inside and crispy on the outside, just like you’d expect.
Tossing them in garlicky herb butter at the end will make them taste even more amazing.
Conclusion
Hot dogs make a great treat on their own although adding a side dish can make them more exciting and satisfying. These yummy sides work just as well with the Grilled Kielbasa.
Even more, the way you cook your hot dogs can add so much flavor!
We’re really happy how these hot dog burnt ends turned out. This is one excellent way to enjoy burnt ends when you don’t have the time to smoke a brisket.
Smoked hot dogs are another amazing way to serve them and I guarantee they will be a hit with your guests and family.
