Who invented the hot dog?

It’s hard to say definitively who invented the hot dog, but credit has gone to Emil Reichel and Sam Ladany (the co-founders of Vienna Beef) and Johann Georghehner, a German butcher. No one is entirely sure.

Why are they called franks or wieners?

Hot dogs are called franks, short for frankfurters, because they may have begun in Frankfurt, Germany. Hot dogs are called wieners because they may have begun in Vienna, Austria, which is wien in German.

When was the hot dog invented?

Sausages date all the way back to ancient times, but the hot dog is first found mentioned in print in the late 1800s.

Where was the hot dog invented?

There is no definitive answer, but Frankfurt, Germany and Vienna, Austria both take credit for the invention of the hot dog.

How did the hot dog get its name?

There are several myths about how the hot dog got its name, but the most likely origin is 19th century college humor, when students would make crude jokes pertaining to the questionable origin of the meat in hot dogs.

Why are hot dogs red?

Hot dogs are red because sodium nitrite is added to cure the meat, add flavor, and prevent the growth of bacteria. Sodium nitrite is also added to bacon, cold cuts, and Spam.

The 5 Best Hot Dog Toppings

Yes, you can eat a hot dog dry.

But why would you want to?

With more than enough foodie inspiration and trendy toppings to choose from, your hot dog additions can take your dogs from drab to fab with a few quick chops of your favorite Samurai-sharp chef’s knife.

Why not experiment with a few favorite topping ingredients and put your name on it?

Come on, ladies and gents—we know you want to baptize your secret mustard and cotija-cheese hot sauce. Can you see it in your mind’s eye yet? Friends and family streaming to your kitchen on a game night for some ‘Sarah’s Mucotija Hot Dogs?’

Okay, before we get too carried away with new hot dog names—let’s look at some all-time favorites, plus some exciting new hot dog toppings you can experiment with as a home cook.

1. America’s Sweetheart: Chili and Coleslaw Topping

Hot dog grilling Americans have unanimously chosen the ever-popular chili and coleslaw collaboration as the #1 to top all-time best hot dog toppings.

A classic Southern-style combination, chili and coleslaw go together like coleslaw and BBQ because, technically, chili also falls under that category.

There’s something about this smoky and slightly spicy combination with the chill and freshness of coleslaw, complete with a vinegar bite at the end. The combination just feels like they made it to spoon over a hot dog.

Add on top of that the loads of health benefits that tomatoes, chilies, and beans provide, and this topping winner earns even more points in our books.

Easy Chili Recipe for Your Hot Dog Topping

1 pound ground beef
1 can drained and rinsed red kidney beans
1 can tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes
1.5 cups beef broth
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 yellow onion
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Spice to taste with chili powder, ground cumin, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper

For the chili: Fry onions in olive oil until soft and add ground beef while breaking it apart thoroughly. Once brown and cooked, add all the spices and stir well. Add all the canned ingredients, mix, and let it simmer on a low heat for 25 minutes. Voila! Your chili topping is ready for your hot dog.

2. Red Pepper Relish Hot Dog Topping

Close your eyes and imagine biting into a fresh hot dog topped with roasted red peppers and garlic cloves that leaves a delightfully tangy taste after each bite.

You can add in crispy bacon bits for an extra smokey crunch. It pairs extremely well with this delicious topping.

Ny Street Cart Dog — New York Street Cart Hot Dogs

You don’t have to only imagine it—it’s super easy and fast to make. Your topping will be ready to roll long before hubby grills the last sausage.

Red Pepper Relish Recipe:

6 cloves roasted garlic, coarsely chopped
3 grilled red peppers, peeled, seeded, and diced
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus leaves for garnish
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the grilled pepper relish: Combine the garlic, peppers, oil, vinegar, and parsley in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Cover and let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving.

You’ll also enjoy: The New York Street Cart Hot Dog

3. Onion Sauce Hot Dog Topping

Does a plain old onion sauce recipe sound dull?

It might look and sound so, but believe us, this onion sauce perks up the taste of any hot dog and is an excellent taste to mix with other toppings like cheese, bacon, or ground beef.

Onions are so extremely versatile—and you can add different flavor varieties depending on how you prepare it.

Once you taste this tangy onion sauce, you’ll want it on standby at every hot dog BBQ.

It’s super simple to prepare and keeps well in the refrigerator, too, as it doesn’t contain any dairy. You’ll never have to waste a single drop of it.

Onion Sauce Recipe:

2 tablespoons canola oil
2 large onions, halved and thinly sliced
2 teaspoons ancho chile powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 teaspoon hot sauce

Method: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chile powder and cinnamon and cook for 1 minute. Add 1 cup water, the ketchup, hot sauce, salt, and black pepper and bring to a simmer. Cook until thickened and the onions are very soft, adding more water if needed, about 25 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool to room temperature before serving.

You’ll also enjoy: The Chicago Style Hot Dog.

4. Mexican Street Corn Dog Toppings

Bowl with guacamole red onion and tomato — Source: Pexels

Whether or not you like your hot dog hot,—you decide the heat levels of every sauce you prepare for hot dog toppings.

That’s one reason hot dogs are such a versatile dish when inviting people over. You can prepare many toppings, and each guest constructs their own dog according to taste.

But, we’ll talk about the perfect hot dog bar toppings further down.

Mexican flavors are rich while loaded with extra protein from all the refried beans you add to a good old Mexican Street Corn topping.

Finish it with fresh cilantro, and you’ll have a Tex Mex favorite for ages to come.

Texan Style Hot Dog Topping Recipe

1 avocado, peeled and pitted
1 can corn kernels
¼ cup sour cream
Juice and zest of 1 lime
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon spicy sauce
1 cup refried beans, drained and rinsed
½ cup red or yellow peppers, finely chopped
2 tablespoons red onions, finely chopped
1 tablespoon freshly chopped chili
1 tablespoon jalapeño, finely chopped
4 ounces chopped tomato
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Method: Make the drizzle first by blending the avocado, sour cream, lime juice, spicy sauce, and celery salt until it’s a fine pulp.

Make a salad by mixing the refried beans, corn kernels, peppers, onions, chili, jalapeño, tomato, cilantro, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Keep the pulp and the salad refrigerated until it’s time to pack your dogs.

You’ll also enjoy: The Chili Cheese Dog

How to Make Easy Sauerkraut?

5. Peanut Butter & Teriyaki Sauce Asian Hot Dog Version

Peanut Butter And Teriyaki Sauce — Source: Pexels

A decent amount of traditional mustard-loving hot dog fans have fallen head over heels for this delicious topping with a twist of Eastern influences.

The peanut butter gives the sauce a smooth texture while also acting as a thickening agent, all the while releasing its exceptional nutty taste into the topping.

This quick and easy peanut sauce topping doesn’t need any cooking, and you’ll find all the ingredients at the local grocery store.

Ingredients for recipe:

1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
2 tablespoons Teriyaki sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce
1 large dash of fresh lime juice
3 pressed garlic cloves
1 tablespoon grated ginger
2 tablespoons warm water

Method: Simply whisk all the ingredients, except the water, together till smooth and add water spoon for spoon until you get the required consistency. How simple is that?

For an added taste bomb, you can load your dog with shredded coleslaw or sauerkraut before adding a generous drizzle of your Asian-inspired peanut sauce.

You’ll also enjoy: The California Hot Dog

The Best Summer Hot Dog Bar (beque)

In the summer, when the weather’s fine, there’s nothing better than inviting your friends and family over for a day of fun in the sun.

And, the best hot dog bar on the block, of course.

A hot dog bar is all about overindulgence while enjoying every type of topping you can think of.

The motto for hosting the best hot dog bar is simple: Variety is king!

What Do I Need for the Best Hot Dog Bar?

Dogs & Buns	Fresh Toppings	Pre-prepared Toppings
Hot dog buns Sesame seed buns Pretzel buns Baguette Hot dogs Sausages Bratwurst	Sliced cucumber Chopped bell peppers Fresh cilantro Cheddar cheese Cheese Curds Pimento cheese Diced pineapple Sesame seeds Chopped kimchi Spicy mayo Yellow mustard	Crispy bacon Mac and cheese Fried onions Pickled carrots Chili BBQ sauce Hummus Tomato and cucumber salad Guacamole Spicy salsa

Finally—Get the Heat On

Hot dogs are as American as it gets. And with all the fresh herbs and spices in our favorite recipes, you get a good dose of healthy bites in there too.

However you enjoy your all-time favorite hot dog, as a snack or a complete gourmet meal, you’ll find all you’ll ever need to know right here.

With all the delicious ideas for toppings, you can have dogs all week long and never get dog-tired or bored.

Happy grilling, friends!

Photo by Engin Akyurt / CC BY

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