It’s National Hot Dog Day!

July 19, 2023

Yes, there’s a National Hot Dog Day. It’s on the third Thursday in July, which in 2023 is July 19th. Happy National Hot Dog Day!

You can trace the history of hot dogs to German immigrants who introduced frankfurters to America in the 19th century. German immigrant Charles Feltman is often credited with selling the first hot dog in a bun at his Coney Island stand. He sold more than 3,000 hot dogs in 1871. Hot dogs have become an American tradition. They’re found at ballparks, served on the 4th of July, and hot dog eating contests have become a unique part of American culture.

To Grill or Not to Grill That Is the Question

Although you can boil or pan-fry hot dogs, there’s no better hot dog than a grilled one, especially in the summer.

How To Grill a Hot Dog   

1. Preheat your grill to medium heat.
2. Place the hot dogs on the grill and cook them for about 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until they are heated through and have nice grill marks.
3. Serve your hot dogs immediately while they are still hot!

Hot Dog Recipes 

There’s more than one way to serve a hot dog. Regions across the USA have their preferred ways to serve the American dog. Here are a few.

Classic American Hot Dog

• • Ingredients: Hot dog buns, beef or pork hot dogs, mustard, relish, chopped onions.

• • Instructions: Place the cooked dog on a bun and spread the ingredients on top, beginning with the mustard.

Chicago-style Hot Dog

• • Ingredients: Poppy seed buns, beef hot dogs, yellow mustard, chopped onions, sweet pickle relish, dill pickle spear, tomato slices, peppers, celery salt.

• • Instructions: Place them in the buns and top with mustard, chopped onions, relish, pickle spear, tomato slices, peppers, and then sprinkle with celery salt.

Chili Cheese Hot Dog

• • Ingredients: Hot dog buns, beef hot dogs, canned chili, shredded cheddar cheese, diced onions.

• • Instructions: Top with chili, shredded cheddar cheese, and diced onions. Optionally, you can also melt the cheese under a broiler or microwave.

Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dog

• • Ingredients: Hot dog buns, beef hot dogs, bacon slices, barbecue sauce, chopped onions.

• • Instructions: Wrap each hot dog with a slice of bacon. Grill until the bacon is crispy and the hot dogs are cooked. Top with barbecue sauce and chopped onions.

Gourmet Hot Dog

• • Ingredients: Artisanal hot dog buns, gourmet sausages (e.g., bratwurst, Italian sausage), caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, Dijon mustard, and arugula.

• • Instructions: Grill the sausages according to their specific instructions. Place them in the buns and top with caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, Dijon mustard, and arugula.

Feel free to customize these recipes according to your taste preferences and add any additional toppings or condiments you like. I like to chop and add jalapenos to mine. Enjoy your hot dogs!

Just Say No

There are a few things we need to discuss that should never be done to a hot dog.

No to Ketchup on a Dog!

First and foremost, never put ketchup on a hot dog after you’re 18 years old. Ketchup is for French fries, not frankfurters. Fight me. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council agrees with me.

No Microwaving Dogs!

Do not microwave sausages. Grill, steam, boil, or pan fry but don’t nuke the dogs.

Do Not Cook Dogs on a Dirty Grill! 

A dirty grill’s no place to cook a hot dog. You don’t want the grease and bits from the burgers you cooked three days ago to alter the hot dogs. We just happen to have a few suggestions for cleaning your grill before and after cooking your dogs. How to Clean a Grill with Bar Keepers Friend.

Happy National Hot Dog Day to you and your family. What’s your favorite hot dog recipe?

About the Author 

Randy Clark is a speaker, coach, and author. He publishes a weekly blog at Randy Clark Leadership.com. Randy is passionate about social media, leadership development, and flower gardening. He’s a beer geek, and on weekends (after COVID-19), he can be found fronting the Rock & Roll band Under the Radar. He’s the proud father of two daughters; he has four amazing grandchildren and a wife who dedicates her time to helping others. Randy is the author of the Amazon bestseller The New Manager’s Workbook: A crash course in effective management.