Smoked Hot Dogs

Smoked Hot Dogs are about to be your newest summer grilling obsession. Pile on your favorite condiments and enjoy the flavor of these slow cooked hot dogs on the smoker. A simple and easy idea for a cookout! 

Once the summer heat hits, we do the majority of our cooking out on the grill. Smoking hot dogs are one of the family's favorites and for good reason. That smoky flavor paired with the saltiness of the cooked dogs creates the perfect bite every time. As you can see below, we like to use gluten free black Angus beef franks because let's just face it, they're made from premium cuts of beef.

Not only does this add a ton of flavor, but the hot dogs are juicy and tender, too. While I'm a fan of leftovers, there's just something about these leftover hot dogs that I can't get enough of. We'll literally cook up the whole package just to have some left for the next day.

You might as well grill up some great sides to go with your smoked hot dogs. I love these Smoked Baked Beans as my go-to recipe.

Smoked Hot Dogs Ingredients

Hot dogs - Use whatever type or brand of hot dogs that you like. We typically use beef hot dogs but pork hot dogs or turkey hot dogs are fine.

Smoked Onion Relish Ingredients

Smoked onions  - The cooked onions help to add an even smokier flavor and taste.

Pickles - I like using dill pickles but you can use sweet pickles or even bread and butter pickles.

Mustard - There's nothing quite like the saltiness of the mustard with the flavor of the hot dog.

How To Make Smoked Hot Dogs

Step One: Put the hot dogs on the smoker for 1 hour at 225 degrees.

Step Two: Mix the ingredients together to create the onion relish. Add to your hot dog and enjoy.

Storage: Make sure to store any remaining hot dogs or smoked onion relish in the refrigerator.

Variations

Toppings - The best part about a hot dog recipe is that it's totally versatile. You can change up the toppings and make them your own. The most common additions that are added are ketchup, mayo, tomatoes, chili, cheese, diced avocado, BBQ sauce, and diced onions. Add whatever hot dog toppings you like!

Change up the meat - There are other low-fat options for hot dogs such as turkey dogs or even chicken sausage that you can cook up and grill. Just be sure to pay attention to the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to make sure that the meat is cooked all the way through.

Skip out on the hot dog buns - You can cut out the carbs completely and just eat the hot dog as is. Once the hot dog is smoked, chop it up on the cutting board with a knife and add it to a bowl. Add your toppings and enjoy.

Common Questions

Can you cook hotdogs in the microwave?

You can - but why? You need that flavor from the electric smoker to get that smokiness. It's a flavor that you really don't want to miss. Cooking hot dogs in a super hot small area like the microwave will make the ends cook quicker than the rest of the hot dog. This can also cause the hot dog to burst or split open, letting out all of that juicy goodness.

Can you freeze cooked hot dogs?

You can. Just let the hot dogs cool down all the way and then add them to a freezer bag. They should stay fresh and frozen for up to 3 months.

How can you serve hot dogs as an appetizer?

Eating the ends of the hot dog and the rest of the hot dog cut up into small pieces makes a great appetizer. Cut it up and then add toothpicks into the middle of the pieces so people can grab them and enjoy.

What type of wood should I use to smoke hot dogs?

Hot dogs are really verstaile so any type of fine. We like to use hickory and pecan but you can easily use what you have. Change up the type of wood and you'll be amazed at the different flavors that really stand out more than others.

Do I need to reheat hot dogs on the grill?

You can but you can also reheat them in the microwave since it's such a short period of time. Just be sure to not overheat because it will zap them! Also, reheat them one at a time so that the heat disperses well. It's really hard to find a good balance to reheating things in the microwave if you overcrowd and try to do too many at once.