17 Hot Dog Toppings You Haven’t Tried Yet

From the Recipe Creator: Many of the options on this list will make your hot dog richer and heavier. Look to tangy slaw if you’re ready to lighten things up a bit. It’s a perfect combination of sweet, salty and acidic flavors all wrapped up in a crunchy package.

From the Recipe Creator: Instead of using chili and cheese as toppings for hot dogs, this recipe cooks everything together in a slow cooker. The flavors melt together, creating a next-level creation that absolutely wows the taste buds. We love making this one for a Memorial Day cookout because they’re made ahead of time, so you can spend more time with your guests than cooking in the kitchen.

From the Recipe Creator: I have a very hearty tomatillo plant in my garden. To use up the abundant produce, I decided to make a relish. You can use it as a dip or as a condiment on eggs, hot dogs, meat loaf or burgers. It has an addictive taste. —Deb LaBosco, Foley, Minnesota

From the Recipe Creator: If you’ve ever spent any time in the Southwest, you know all about Frito pie. It’s not actually pie at all—it’s a bag of crunchy Fritos that have been topped with a bowl of chili and shredded cheese. Add an extra layer of goodness by using it as a hot dog topping, adding a little sour cream as needed to tame the heat from a spicy chili recipe.

From the Recipe Creator: A bacon-wrapped hot dog is a thing of beauty in itself, but it tastes even better when you go one step further and add the fermented flavor of sauerkraut to the mix. This combination is especially good if you use cheese-filled hot dogs, really making it a fully-loaded frank.

From the Recipe Creator: Sweet and savory with just a hint of heat, these dynamite burgers are packed with flavor. The combination of pineapple and bacon may sound unusual, but you'll find they're a perfect match. —Mary E. Relyea, Canastota, New York

From the Recipe Creator: Ready to create a mashup of two comfort food classics? Whip up your favorite batch of mac and cheese and ladle it into your hot dog bun. To really take this dish to the next level, sprinkle some panko bread crumbs on top to create a crispy topping that mimics an oven-baked dish.

From the Recipe Creator: This is our little play on a Seattle dog, or a hot dog topped with cream cheese and caramelized onions. This dip brings all those sweet-and-tangy vibes to your hot dog, and any leftovers can be served on the side with chips. To make it a true Seattle dog, garnish each bun with thinly sliced jalapeno peppers.

From the Recipe Creator: My grandparents originated this recipe that's been treasured in our family for four generations. It's named after a dance hall they ran in rural Iowa. Whenever I bite into a hot dog or hamburger dressed up with this taste bud-tingling relish, I think of them and their delicious country cooking. —Melinda Winchell, Las Vegas, Nevada

From the Recipe Creator: My stepmom was born in Mexico and introduced us to hot dogs with avocado and bacon. We were instantly hooked. Now our whole family makes them. —Amanda Brandenburg, Hamilton, Ohio

From the Recipe Creator: Although Coney hot dogs invoke images of New York’s Coney Island, the dish referred to here is a Midwestern invention. These hot dogs are smothered in a tomato-based chili sauce made with ground meat, beef stock and plenty of spices. Drizzle this one with mustard, serve it with some chopped onions, and you have yourself a real winner.

From the Recipe Creator: There’s just something about the richness and herbaceous profile of pesto that makes it work on almost anything. When you need to use up a jar of pesto, mix the green sauce with a little mayonnaise or aioli and add it to a hot dog garnished with Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped tomatoes.

From the Recipe Creator: I love veggies and fresh ingredients this time of year. I make big bowls of this salsa, which we eat with pretty much everything in the summer when tomatoes are bountiful. My kids love it, though I leave out the jalapeno when making it for them. —Amy Gattuso, Madison Heights, Michigan

From the Recipe Creator: Celebrate your inner Southerner and whip up a batch of pimiento cheese for your next cookout. The grated cheese will start to melt as soon as it hits the warm hot dog bun, making the dip extra creamy. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to add some pickled jalapenos to this combination to take things up a notch.

From the Recipe Creator: This is one of our favorite potluck recipes, and it works surprisingly well as a hot dog topping. It’s gooey, cheesy and rich, and the spicy buffalo sauce cuts right through the high-fat frank. Of course, you can always double down and make this extra decadent by sprinkling on some blue cheese crumbles just before serving.

From the Recipe Creator: This addition not only adds a ton of flavor to your hot dog, but it also infuses every bite with a delightful crunchy texture. The onion rings are a great addition on their own, or they can be drizzled with mustard to add some tang. We think the onion ring hot dog gets even better if you top it all with your favorite barbecue sauce.