It’s almost summer and that means it’s grilling season. Or as we like to think of it, fancy hot dog season! What is a fancy hot dog, you may ask? Well, it’s kind of a state of mind – however, the main thing is that you don’t stick to boring old ketchup and mustard toppings (there’s a place for the classics but it’s not fancy hot dogs).
Branch out and try new toppings, while cutting down on food waste, by picking a theme and using up condiments in your fridge. Most of us have the last couple shakes of a random BBQ sauce sitting around, a couple spoonfuls of pickled veggies, or those Taco Bell packets that we never seem to throw away – fancy hot dogs is the place for them. And the best part, they can be made to suit vegans, vegetarians, or carnivores. We’ve included some suggestions for fancy hot dog recipes below – several use Michigan ingredients – but feel free to experiment with your own creations!
Fancy Hot Dog Ideas
Drawing on the flavors of Southeast Asia, our Thai-Inspired Fancy Hot Dogs are a balance of sweet, savory, and sour. Main ingredients include:
- Vegetable slaw
- Peanut dressing
- BBQ sauce (coat the hotdog while on the grill)
- Cilantro
- Peanuts (for topping)
- Squeeze of lime (optional)
Our Tex-Mex-Inspired Fancy Hot Dogs are a crowd pleaser and merge the best parts of nachos and hot dogs – winner! Main ingredients include:
- Shredded cheese, or make it fancier with Oaxacan crumbles
- Black beans
- Pickled jalapenos
- Avocados
- Hot sauce packets
Tip: This would be a great place to use up the last of those tortilla chip crumbles at the bottom of the bag!
For the adventurous, our Polish-Inspired Fancy Hot Dogs are a pickled veggie-lovers dream. You can substitute kielbasa here or go with the good ole’ dog. Main ingredients include:
- Sauerkraut (McClure’s makes a great kraut and is Michigan-made)
- Mustard of choice (we used spicy brown)
- Crumbled potato chips (to add some crunch)
For an alternative version of a hotdog, try our take on Corn Dogs. The main ingredients for these corn dog muffins are:
- Cornbread mix (Jiffy – a Michigan company!)
- Michigan maple syrup
And of course, we had to save the best for last! Our Detroit-Inspired Fancy Hot Dogs are a play on the classic coney dog. Main ingredients include:
- Chill mix (we use a black beans and peppers mixture)
- Mustard of choice
- Onions
Everything pictured here (minus the hot dogs and buns) was sourced from a pantry or fridge. We hope this inspires you to invite friends over to fire up the grill or gather around the campfire – it’s fancy hot dog time!
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