Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

Not sure what to have at your next summer cookout? Tired of the same old burgers? Have a DIY (Dress-It-Yourself!) Hot Dog Bar at your next cookout!

For our hot dog bar, I grilled organic, uncured, all-beef hot dogs and sweet Italian sausages. You could include kielbasa, veggie dogs, chicken sausages – anything! I also served both whole wheat and butter-top hot dog buns.

Next, you need the fixins!

Here are the condiments I included on our DIY hot dog bar. First, the classics:

You have to have the classics: mustard, ketchup, and sweet pickle relish.

But then I went a little crazy!

Regular and peach salsa, pickled jalapeños, black olives, cole slaw, chili, onions, pimiento cheese, grated cheddar…yum!

Of course, everyone can dress their dog how they like, but here are some great ideas for dressing up that dog:

The Classic

This is my favorite! No ketchup. Just mustard and relish on a grilled dog. Classic.

The Chili-Slaw Dog

For this hot dog creation, I was inspired by The Varsity, an iconic restaurant here in Atlanta. They serve a chili-slaw dog that’s famous! I just added creamy cole slaw and beef and bean chili to a grilled all-beef hot dog for my version.

Variation: My husband tried chili and grated cheddar on a hot dog and said it was delicious.

The Georgia Dog

I live in Georgia, which is famous for two things it grows: peaches and Vidalia onions. I combined chopped raw Vidalia onions – which are sweet – with a chunky peach salsa for a dog true to my home state!

The Dogfather (see what I did there?)

Make someone an offer they can’t refuse by serving them a grilled sweet Italian sausage with peppers, onions, and pickled jalepenos!

These are just a few ideas; really, the combinations are endless! My son made a Mexican Dog (a Chihuahua?), with tomato salsa, grated cheddar, and black olives. I would have photographed it, but he ate it before I could!

My daughter said this was the best dinner I’ve ever made. (Honestly, I’m not quite sure how to take that!)

Get creative! The dog’s the limit! What would you have on your hot dog?

Pin it for your next cookout!

Not sure what to do with your leftover hot dog buns? Turn those leftover hot dog buns into garlic knots!