Grilled Barbecued Hot Dogs

Made with yummy beef hot dogs and kicked-up store-bought barbecue sauce, these Grilled Barbecued Hot Dogs are the ultimate cookout recipe!
4.67 from 3 reviews

Made with yummy beef hot dogs and kicked-up store-bought barbecue sauce, these Grilled Barbecued Hot Dogs are the ultimate cookout recipe!

Turn them into loaded dogs with Blue Cheese Coleslaw, Sweet Heat Pickles, or Southern Pimento Cheese.

Grilled hot dogs with slits and basted with bbq sauce served on a white plate.
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Imagine the taste of sweet, smokey BBQ sauce and a hot dog in one perfect bite. Well, it’s here! I dreamed up this recipe for Barbequed Hot Dogs years ago, and it’s one of my favorite summer grilling recipes.

This somewhat “gourmet hot dog recipe” is so good! And you know, for any cookout, picnic, or potluck from Memorial Day through July and Labor Day, these dogs served with potato salad or baked beans, chips, and a cold drink are required for summertime eating!

Ingredients For BBQ Hot Dogs

Ingredients for bbq sauce in glass bowls along with hot dogs and hot dog buns.
  • Hot Dogs: I like to use all beef hot dogs, like Nathan’s Beef Franks, but any kind (turkey dogs, too) you like will work.
  • BBQ Sauce: Any store-bought barbecue sauce works great. Just use your favorite.
  • BBQ Sauce Mix-ins: To elevate barbecue sauce, you’ll need apple cider vinegar, ketchup, and honey. I also add a little water to help thin the sauce.

How To Make Grilled Barbecue Hot Dogs

Hot dogs, and saute pot with ingredients for homemade bbq sauce.

Step 1:Cut hash marks on the hot dogs.

Step 2: Mix together the BBQ sauce, ketchup, honey, and apple cider vinegar in a saucepan over medium heat. I do this in a pan on the grill and toast the buns.

Hot dogs on a grill pan based with bbq sauce, and hot cooked hot dogs on a white serving plate.

Step 3: Place the hot dogs on the hot grill. Brush them with the BBQ sauce and cook until they get grill marks and are heated through

Step 4: Turn and coat the other side with sauce. Keep cooking until grilled on this side, then remove it and enjoy it with your favorite toppings on soft hot dog buns! I like them with just a little yellow mustard drizzled over them.

Donya’s Success Tips

  • Start with a hot grill grate to get the best char on the hot dogs. You can use a charcoal or gas grill; either will work.
  • Don’t cut the hot dogs too much, you want to cross-hatch cut them only about ¼″ of an inch deep to create slightly more surface area for grilling and sauce.
Hot dog in a bun with mustard and ketchup served with chips in a red basket.

Commonly Asked Questions

Do I need to boil hot dogs first?

Nope, most hot dogs are precooked, so they don’t need to be boiled. Bratwurst is not always cooked and must be boiled before grilling.

Do you close the grill when grilling hot dogs?

Yes, closing the lid keeps the hot air circulating around the hot dogs instead of just on the bottom. This helps create the best texture all around.

Serving Suggestions

These grilled hot dogs are perfectly paired with classic barbecue side dishes like Creamy Southern Deviled Eggs. They’re also delicious with Mom’s Macaroni Salad, Spaghetti Salad Recipe, or my Greek Pasta Salad.

Delicious Recipes To Make On The Grill

If you tried this Grilled Barbecue Hot Dog Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!

Grilled Barbecued Hot Dogs

4.67 from 3 reviews
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 78kcal
Print Pin Rate
Made with yummy beef hot dogs and kicked-up store-bought barbecue sauce, these Grilled Barbecued Hot Dogs are the ultimate cookout recipe!

Ingredients

  • 1 2 lb package hot dogs or 2 one pound bags I use Nathans All Beef Hot Dogs
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • ½ cup prepared BBQ sauce
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • splash of water if needed

Instructions

  • Heat gas or charcole grill to medium high heat.
  • Using a sharp knife, cut hash marks in each hot dog – first going one way down, then reverse the cut for the other way. Set aside.
  • In a small skillet or heat proof pan, add ketchup, BBQ sauce, honey and apple cider vinegar. Place pan on grill to the side to heat up. 
  • When grill comes to temperature, place hot dogs on grates. Turn hot dogs until they start to get grill marks and are heated through. Using a grill brush, gently glaze each hot dog with heated BBQ sauce.Turn links and continue to coat with sauce.
  • When done, remove hot dogs from grill and serve with your favorite bun and toppings!

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving Ā· Calories: 78kcal Ā· Carbohydrates: 20g Ā· Protein: 0.5g Ā· Fat: 0.2g Ā· Saturated Fat: 0.03g Ā· Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g Ā· Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g Ā· Cholesterol: 0.1mg Ā· Sodium: 458mg Ā· Potassium: 130mg Ā· Fiber: 0.3g Ā· Sugar: 17g Ā· Vitamin A: 194IU Ā· Vitamin C: 1mg Ā· Calcium: 11mg Ā· Iron: 0.2mg
Grilled "hatch marked" hot dogs slathered with homemade barbeque sauce makes takes any cookout over the top! With just a few store bought ingredients, you'll make look like a rock start to family & friends.

5 Days ofĀ SouthernĀ Summer Comfort Food!

My go-to summer recipes!

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7 Comments

    1. Hey there!
      That’s a great question! I cut them into little hash marks, or X shaped cuts, along one of the sides. I don’t normally cut mine on both parallel sides just because they can tear, so I either just do one long slit or these X shapes across the top. Thank you so much for your fantastic rating, I hope you enjoyed this recipe! I appreciate your support!
      ~Donya

    1. Thanks, Wayne! It’s a game changer. I love that all the sauce, mustard, ketchup, chili or whatever creeps down into the channels. YUM YUM!!
      Thanks for sharing!
      XO,
      ~Donya

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