Hot dogs are pure nostalgia for me. Ballpark afternoons, backyard grills, sticky little smiles.
When a few extra franks are staring at you from the fridge, I’ve got 9 ridiculously good ways to turn them into something you’ll actually crave. Think crispy hash, cozy casseroles, and a British classic that’ll surprise you. Let’s give those leftovers a serious glow up.
1. Hot Dog Hash with Roasted Veggies and Potatoes
I’m a sucker for a sheet pan meal that does most of the work for you. This hot dog hash is packed with roasted veggies, potatoes, and a medley of paprika, chives, tender peppers, onions, and tarragon that makes it surprisingly vibrant.
It comes together in 10 minutes of hands on time, then the oven takes over for 45 minutes of crisping magic. I love that you can toss
2. Hot Dog Toad in the Hole
I’ve hit Asia, Mexico, and America, and now I'm finishing with this British classic, using hot dogs instead of sausages, as typically would be used. The dish requires quite a few ingredients, but most of them are everyday pantry staples like oil, flour, milk, eggs, and vegetable stock. It takes about 15 minutes to get the dish ready for the oven and another 35 to cook it.
3. Hot Dog Spaghetti
As a child, I wasn’t a fan of the hot dog spaghetti they sold in cans. I thought it was kind of gross, to be perfectly honest, so when my friend first shared her recipe for hot dog spaghetti, I wasn’t sold.
She kept asking me if I’d tried it and if I liked it, so eventually, I gave it a try so that I could tell her I had made it. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was.
4. Penny Casserole
The name of this casserole is very fitting because it doesn't cost much more than pennies to make. All you'll need to make it are eight simple, readily available ingredients: hot dogs, frozen peas, red potatoes, butter, mustard, pepper, cream of mushroom soup, and diced onions.
Start by boiling the potatoes. Then you’ll combine all the ingredients into one baking dish and bake them for less than half an hour.
5. Cheesy Hot Dog Tater Tot Casserole
I’m not the world’s biggest tater tots fan, but even I enjoy this recipe. They're baked with hot dogs and smothered in chili, cheese, onions, and pepper!
What’s not to love?! It’ll only take you 10 minutes to prepare, and the other 40 minutes are strictly bake time.
6. Franks and Beans
Franks and beans always make a tasty side dish, but they’re even better when you make them from scratch. They take a little less than an hour to make, and when done, they’re a hit with the whole family!
7. Hot Dog Taquitos
These cheesy, crispy rolls of goodness are an American twist on a Mexican favorite or, as the recipe says, a “Mexican-inspired twist” on an American favorite! Either way, they’re pretty good.
You can bake them in the oven, and they’ll taste just fine, but if you have an air fryer, I highly recommend using it. They'll be much crispier.
8. Hot Dog Fried Rice
If you want to combine the traditional American food with a bit of an ethnic flair, hot dog fried rice is the way to go. The white rice, cloves, sesame oil, veggies, eggs, and soy sauce give it all the flavor of a yummy Asian dinner, and the hot dogs provide it with plenty of protein. Plus, you get to use up all those leftover franks that have been sitting in your fridge.
9. Chili Cheese Dog Pizza
This recipe is the perfect combination of two of the best junk food meals on Earth: chili cheese dogs and pizza. I’m not going to lie and say this is strictly nutritious or healthy, but I will tell you that it’s unbelievably good. I know some people who “cheat” and make it with canned chili, and it still tastes okay.