Serving a sausage and hot dog bar can be an easy way to entertain, especially when you find good sale prices. Be sure to serve a variety of condiments and an assortment of hot dog toppings alongside for a creative and tasty twist on an old summer standard.
Whether you bake your own hot dog buns or buy them, you can serve a gourmet, high end sausage and hot dog bar. Consider these toppings ideas to surpass even those trendy food trucks and hipster sausage spots.
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Planning a BBQ Party? Hot dogs and sausages can be a go-to protein for your guests, helping you keep costs down while enjoying great company. Win-win, don’t you think?
While grilled brats and frankfurters are certainly inexpensive, they don’t need to feel cheap or as if you just chose the simplest way to feed your guests. With a little creativity and some creative hot dog toppings, you can serve a fun summer dinner for friends and family.
Why Do This
It shows you care. Let’s face it. Hot dogs can feel like an afterthought. It’s true there are great sausages out there, but it’s the toppings that really take it over the top and show you put in an effort.
It keeps costs down. When you offer a variety of hot dog toppings, you don’t have to serve a lot of any one item. Small bowls of different condiments, sauces, and toppings, will suffice, allowing you to keep to your grocery budget.
It’s fun! Providing a variety of hot dog toppings brings out the creative spirit in folks. Your guests will enjoy comparing notes and building bigger and better sandwiches. (Yes, hot dogs are sandwiches.)
Ingredients
Hot Dogs
Clearly, you’ll need a good supply of hot dogs, but consider throwing in brats, Italian sausages, as well as some plant-based options.
Be sure to cook them to a safe internal temperature, 140 degrees for hot dogs and 165 for sausages.
Buns
After the sausages, you’ll need buns. There’s lots of options here, too. Consider commercial or homemade hot dog buns, made whole wheat and/or white. Sub rolls are also good.
You can take a page from the Dog Haus‘s book and serve pairs or triples of Hawaiian rolls that haven’t been torn apart. Leave the rolls connected and split them horizontally for a fun twist on the traditional hot dog bun.
Topping Ideas
A mix of classic hot dog toppings goes well with some more out of the box condiments and sauces. Consider mixing and matching any of the following:
- various mustards – classic yellow, but also whole grain, brown, Dijon, honey, and horseradish mustards
- ketchup – the standard, but remember there are also other varieties, including sriracha, chipotle, and garlic
- homemade salsa
- BBQ Sauce
- pickles – sliced and/or relish, sweet, dill, or spicy
- fresh vegetables – chopped onions, sliced or diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, sliced jalapenos
- sauteed peppers and onions
- cole slaw
- shredded cheese – mozzarella, cheddar, jack, and pepper jack
- chili – can be canned, with or without beans, but homemade chili dogs are the best and cheapest.
- guacamole
- pico de gallo
- chipotle mayo
- cooked and chopped bacon
Step-by-Step Instructions
Setting up a buffet of hot dog toppings is super easy!
- Cook the hot dogs and other sausages until steaming hot.
- Serve the hot dogs with buns.
- Lay out a variety of hot dog toppings.
- Allow diners to choose which toppings they’d like.
FAQs
You can cook hot dogs on an outdoor grill, in a grill pan, or in a pot of boiling water. Although they have been precooked, hot dogs need to be heated to 140 degrees internal temperature to be safe to consume. Raw sausages need to be cooked until an internal temperature of 165 is reached.
Hot dog toppings are a personal preference. Some folks like ketchup and relish while others prefer onions and mustard. Offering a variety of hot dog toppings allows folks to pick and choose what they like best.
Tips for Success
- Offer a variety of sausages and hot dog toppings. Consider different meats and spice levels. Offer a plant-based option.
- Keep food safety in mind. Grill the sausages well and keep them hot. Watch the internal temp of the hot dogs for food safety. Likewise, keep the hot dog toppings cool. Food left out at room temperature for longer than two hours is considered unsafe to eat.
- Have plenty of fresh rolls. Dry stale buns are no fun. Don’t leave them open to the air. Keep them covered until ready to serve.
- Let your imagination run wild with the toppings you choose. There are so many tasty ways to top a dog, you don’t need to be limited to bottled condiments. Think outside the box and offer lots of choices.
Side Dish Ideas
Hot Dog Toppings Bar
Equipment
- small dishes
Ingredients
- 12 hot dogs or sausages
- 12 hot dog buns
Hot Dog Toppings – choose a few
- condiments such as ketchup, assorted mustards, relish
- BBQ sauce
- chili
- shredded cheese can be jack, cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper jack
- shredded lettuce
- cole slaw
- tomatoes sliced or chopped
- jalapenos sliced
- fajita vegetables
- chipotle mayo
- guacamole
- pico de gallo
- bacon
Instructions
- Over a medium-hot grill cook the hot dogs and sausages until steaming hot and they reach an internal temperature of 140 degrees. Keep the hot dogs warm.
- Serve the hot dogs with the buns and allow diners to choose what toppings they like best.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published on June 11, 2013. It has been updated for content and clarity.
Sonya
My daughter just hosted a hotdog bar. She served hotdogs and brats. Toppings she served were Sloppy Joes (also worked for those who do not like hotdogs), nacho cheese, cheddar cheese, sauerkraut, onions, relish, ketchup, mustard, and bbq sauce. She had side dishes of baked beans, potato salad, veggie tray and a fruit salad along with various kinds of chips and cupcakes. Oh and she also served Buffalo Chicken dip. Everyone was full and complimented the menu.
Jessica Fisher
Sounds yummy!
Jennifer
We really like onions, mayo and BBQ sauce on hot dogs. But when it’s available, homemade chili, cheese and onions is our very favorite! : )
Jennifer
Lorrie
Next time try this. I can it and freeze it too. http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg28087.html
Julia
I like to add what I call “Rainbow Relish,” which includes mango and basil. The recipe is here: http://roots-of-simplicity.blogspot.ca/2010/05/recipe-for-pigs-in-blaket-with-rainbow.html
Laurie
This is exactly what the hubs has ordered for father’s day! I’ll probably make him a peach pie too.
Annie
Thanks for the great idea! I’m going to make this for my father-in-law for Father’s Day.
Patricia
Sauerkraut!
Janet
If you’re cooking hotdogs I want french fries or baked beans to accompany the meal. This is a grea idea. My kids would love it!
Erin
If you are cooking brats, then i want some sauerkraut! Yum, what a fun idea.
Jessica
So did my 12yo! He opened a jar as we were sitting down. Silly me!