Hot Dog Bar

This hot dog bar is the perfect way to feed a crowd at parties or any special occasion you plan on having a lot of guests! Everyone will love building their own hotdogs using a variety of meat, vegetables, cheese, condiments, and more at this DIY hot dog buffet! You can save time on the day of the party by preparing all of the toppings in advance!

Jump to:

• Hot Dog Bar For Parties
• 🥘 Ingredients
• Gourmet Hot Dog Topping Ideas
• Chicago Dog
• BBQ Dog
• Tex Mex Dog
• Greek Dog
• BLT Dog
• 🔪 How To Make A Hot Dog Bar
• 💭 Tips & Notes
• 🥡 Storing & Reheating
• ❓ Recipe FAQs
• 🥳 More Food For Parties
• 📖 Recipe Card
• 💬 Reviews

Hot Dog Bar For Parties

Hot dog bars are a great choice for any kind of party. From birthday parties to backyard BBQs, movie nights, game days, and more!

Everyone will love getting to build their perfect hot dog from a variety of toppings with limitless flavor combinations! Even picky eaters will find something to love.

🥘 Ingredients

You certainly don't have to provide all of these toppings. Choose at least 7-10 that could make some tasty combinations!

Hot Dogs

• Hot Dogs - 20 hot dogs, sausages, or links. Your favorite brand.
• Hot Dog Buns - 20 hot dog buns, hoagie rolls, or your preferred bread.

Toppings

For 20 hotdogs, I recommend having at least 2 cups of each topping you decide to serve.

Meat

• Bacon - Crumbled or chopped, extra crispy is best!
• Chili - I prefer homemade chili but you can use canned in a pinch.
• Pulled Pork - Pulled pork is delicious and you can serve it right out of your crockpot!

Cheese

• Shredded Cheese - I usually opt for shredded cheddar, but Monterey Jack is also a great choice!
• Feta Cheese - Crumbled feta is great for Mediterranean or Greek-style hot dogs!
• Nacho Cheese Sauce - You love it or you hate it, but it is almost always a hit with kids!

Vegetables

• Tomatoes - Diced tomatoes are a classic hot dog topping.
• Onions - Red or white sliced onions.
• Green Onion - Sliced green onions, chives, or scallions.
• Black Olives - Sliced black olives
• Shredded Lettuce - Thinly shredded lettuce is another great way to add some freshness and crunch to a hot dog.
• Pico de Gallo - It is even better when made from scratch!
• Jalapenos - I use pickled jalapenos, though you can certainly use fresh if you like things spicy!
• Pickles - Sliced pickles, pickle spears, or both!
• Corn - You can use canned corn or take it one step further and use grilled corn!

More Topping Ideas

• Sauerkraut - Sauerkraut and sausage are a classic combination!
• Roasted Onions & Bell Peppers - It's incredibly easy to quickly roast some peppers and onions for your hot dogs!
• Greek Salad - Cucumbers, tomatoes, kalamata olives, and plenty of vinegar.
• Coleslaw - Coleslaw gives hot dogs a much-needed crunch!
• Black Beans - Whole black beans make a healthy and hearty topping!
• Tennessee Onions - Carmelized baked cheesy sweet onions.
• Guacamole - Homemade guac is the perfect way to finish a Tex-Mex hot dog!
• Baked Beans - Baked beans are a wonderful addition to a BBQ-style hot dog!
• Diced Pineapple - Pineapple is a great way to add some sweet tropical flavor to your hot dog!
• French Fries - They are just as tasty on a hot dog as they are on the side of one!
• Crushed Potato Chips - You haven't lived until you try your favorite potato chips crushed on a sandwich, and they are just as tasty crushed up on a hot dog!

Condiments

• Ketchup - A classic choice, you can even use reduced sugar ketchup!
• Mustard - Yellow mustard, brown mustard, Dijon mustard, or honey mustard.
• Ranch Dressing - Some people like to put ranch on everything, and that's ok!
• Tzatziki Sauce - Great for Greek-style hot dogs!
• Sriracha - Or your preferred hot sauce so you can have a spicy option for guests.
• BBQ sauce - Your favorite brand of BBQ sauce.
• Relish - Sweet pickle relish is a must-have for Chicago dogs.

*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

Gourmet Hot Dog Topping Ideas

These are a few of my favorite toppings and flavor combinations for hot dogs! You can always write out a few suggested combinations at the start of your hot dog bar to help guests who have a hard time making a decision.

Chicago Dog

• Sweet Pickle Relish
• Yellow Mustard
• Tomatoes
• Pickle Spear
• Hot Sport Peppers (optional)
• Celery Salt (optional)

BBQ Dog

• Pulled Pork
• Coleslaw
• BBQ sauce
• Pickle Slices (optional)

Tex Mex Dog

• Black Beans
• Jalapenos
• Pico de Gallo
• Guacamole
• Shredded Cheese (or Cotija, or Queso Fresco, or nacho cheese!)

Greek Dog

• Greek Salad
• Feta Cheese
• Tzatziki Sauce

BLT Dog

• Bacon
• Shredded Lettuce
• Tomato
• Ranch Dressing

🔪 How To Make A Hot Dog Bar

Once you prepare the toppings and hot dogs, all you need to do is arrange them somewhere that is easily accessible to guests (don't forget serving utensils).

You can make the hot dogs however you like! I used my grill and grilling utensils, but you can just as easily make them on the stovetop or in your air fryer. You will also need ramekins or small bowls for serving and ideally, some form of labels for all the different toppings.

I made 2 packages of 10 hot dogs, but you can easily scale this up or down as needed!

1. Set up toppings & condiments. Arrange the toppings and condiments on a table or surface that can be easily accessed by guests. At the head of the table, start with plates and hotdog buns. It helps to label the toppings, if possible.
2. Prepare hot dogs & buns. Grill 20 (or however many you plan to serve) hotdogs then butter and toast the same number of buns. *Toasting the buns is optional! Place them at the start of your hot dog bar by the plates. Cover the hot dogs with foil until ready to serve.
3. Build your own hot dog. Let guests build their own hotdogs with their favorite topping and condiment combinations!

Crispy potato chips or french fries are classic sides to pair with hot dogs. Some seasoned popcorn or fried pickles would also be easy and delicious! Enjoy!

💭 Tips & Notes

• If you don't feel like firing up the grill, you can also make perfectly cooked hot dogs in your air fryer!
• A crockpot is a great way to keep warm toppings like nacho cheese, chili, or pulled pork warm.
• For 20 hotdogs, I recommend having about 2 cups of each topping. However, you can easily make more or less hot dogs and adjust the toppings as needed!
• To save on time, you may chop, grate, or dice the toppings the night before then cover and refrigerate them until your hot dogs are ready!

🥡 Storing & Reheating

Leftover toppings and condiments can be covered and returned to the fridge for up to 3 days. Leftover hot dogs can be kept in an airtight container and refrigerated for 3-4 days.

Reheating Hot Dogs

The easiest way to reheat your hot dogs or warm toppings is in the microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute, or until heated through.

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❓ Recipe FAQs

🥳 More Food For Parties

• Baked Potato Bar - An easy and filling option where guests can make their own loaded baked potatoes!
• S'mores Board - A great idea for any outdoor gathering, sleepover, or backyard BBQ!
• Pinwheel Sandwiches - Pinwheel sandwiches are the ultimate finger food for any occasion!
• Charcuterie Board - Charcuterie boards are all the rage and can easily be customized with your favorite meats, cheeses, nuts, and fruit!
• Lil Smokies Pigs In A Blanket - It's super easy to whip up a bunch of these 2 ingredient pigs in a blanket!
• Sour Cream Chip Dip - A creamy dip for chips that is super easy to make and so delicious!

📖 Recipe Card