What is your favorite brand of hot dog?

[BBQandLove]

I dunno if I have a favorite, but I picked up a 5 pound pack of Nathan’s Jalapeño & Cheese hot dogs recently and I do like them. Here, I wrapped one in a cheese quesadilla made on my PK Grill with HEB Butter Tortillas. Wheeee doggie! That was some eating!

[barelfly]

Looks like a great platform for some green chile!

[Willy]

Nice twist on a dog!

[Michael_in_TX]

I am late to this thread, but that is a thing of beauty!

[ssandy_561]

I might be in the minority here but I don’t care for all-beef hotdogs. Give me a pork beef blend. It does need to be in a natural casing though. That “snap” really makes the hot dog for me.

Grilled over charcoal is the best way to prepare them in my opinion.



Sahlen’s are my favorite brand of all time. They are made in Western New York. When ever we go back to visit I’ll pick up a pound or three.



I have found a close substitute here in Ohio. Walnut Creek hotdogs are delicious also.




Now for the chili / coney sauce it’s only one brand for me that’s also from Western New York. Texas brand chili dog sauce is all I use.



I can’t remember when they changed the directions on the package to make it but I’ll always make it how the directions used to read. The new directions say to brown your ground beef and then add water and the seasoning packet but that’s no good for me. I’ll first put the water in the pan and add the raw ground beef to the water, then bring to a boil while constantly stirring the mixture and once it boils I’ll remove it from the heat and stir in the seasoning packet. It makes a much finer texture to the chili sauce. The boiling ground beef looks disgusting until you add in the seasoning packet but it tastes so much better this way.


The rolls I love to use are New England style hot dog rolls.



These are great because of their design. Spread just a touch of butter on the sides and grill them up before serving the hotdog in them makes one incredible roll.

[SheilaAnn]

ssandy_561 Isn’t that the kind of bread for lobster rolls, too? I’ve never had a lobster roll….

[ssandy_561]

SheilaAnn yes very similar

[Mlambert603]

Same... I do not care for all beef dogs...

[ssandy_561]

Now if you are looking for something completely different there are always Red Hots and White Hots. The brand I like is Zweigle’s. They are from Central New York.








You know you are eating a hotdog but it’s not quite a hot dog. I won’t put chili / coney sauce on either of these hotdogs. I’ll dress them simply so I can enjoy the flavor of the hotdog itself.

[smokin fool]

The one on the left looks like what we call an Oktoberfest sausage up here.

[rlozinak]

Sahlen's for sure. A western New York hotdog.

[jfmorris]

Our household favorite is Nathan's. I've tried Hebrew National after reading how they were very good, but just miss the spices and flavor components of Nathan's, so we always go back to it, even if it costs a little more than some others at the store. Nathan's is one of my wife's favorite things off the grill...

Indoors I've started doing my dogs in a skillet or grill pan, if it's raining outside. I refuse to boil hot dogs. I hate a water logged Weiner...

[Jfrosty27]

Nope. Never boil a hot dog. Either steam it Chicago style or browned in a skillet or on a grill.

[Jared49]

I like them under the broiler for a quick dog.

[Hulagn1971]

jfmorris I'll be doing these on the indoor 17" Blackstone flat top.

[Prof Bunky]

I was thinking last night about what to cook this weekend. Weather is going to be kinda' crappy and wet and want to cook indoors. Then it dawned on me, why not some incredible, best you ever had hot dogs? We don't eat hot dogs much at all and thought this would be really fun. I want to make the best, from the bun to the wiener to the toppings and chili. What is your absolute favorite brand of dog? Here in NC, we use Bright Leaf packers hot dogs which aren't my favorite. They are nuclear red and really just don't excite me. I like Nathan's but want some expert opinions from folks in hot dog country like up north, western and mid-western. Even if you aren't in those areas please chime in. What is your favorite bun and who makes it? Lastly, the hot dog chili. Do you have a tried and true outstanding hot dog chili recipe you'd like to share or point me to? Looking forward to everyone's input!

Allen Brothers but I can't spend that much any more. Following that, Boar's Head natural casing, the fat ones. Whatever they're called. Knockwurst? I forget.

[Murdy]

Skinless, Vienna. Natural casing, though I don't have a preferred shop right now, I tend to get them from local, independent sausage makers and prefer a heavy smoke--in the absence of an independent sausage kitchen, I tend to buy Klement's or Usinger's if I can find them.

[Sid P]

Vienna Beef, but I do need to try Nathan’s and Hebrew National.

[jhapka]

Fraboni’s Cheddar Delites

[Santamarina]

Our go-to for dogs is Costco beef hotdogs. Ideal way to cook is over charcoal grill, but the Blackstone often wins out when I’m making dogs for a crowded pool day full of kids.

When the weather’s bad or I’m just cooking up one or two for myself I’ll pan fry’em in bacon grease…from the piece of bacon I just cooked and plan to put on the dog!

As for toppings…all a dog really needs IMHO is mustard. But I also love to add the aforementioned bacon and Grillo’s dill pickles - either sliced or diced. Truth is, I’ll put just about anything on a dog except ketchup.

Here’s a tasty option: bacon, mustard, mayo, pickled jalapeños, with a dash of Tajin.

[smokin fool]

My wife would gladly toss me under a bus for a Costco beef hot dog.
and laugh her arse off while doing it, not my fav though I find them extremely garlicie.

[smokenoob]

My favorite is a Hat dog 😁
stomach agrees, not boiled or grilled, just worn

[johnec00]

Home made Hebrew National knock-off (smoked)

[Dan Deter]

Applegate Uncured Organic...they taste good and don't upset SWMBO's stomach.

[WayneT]

Nathan’s and Hebrew National.

[Attjack]

This thread inspired me to buy some hot dogs. I got Ballpark. They had Nathan's too but I think I like Ballpark better. I guess I should have got both to do a side by side. I also bought King Hawaiian hot dog buns which I have not had before.

[ssandy_561]

King Hawaiian hot dog and hamburger rolls are great. Try a ham and cheese sandwich on the left over rolls. You won’t be disappointed.