4th of July Hot Dogs

Is there anything more 4th of July than a platter of hot dogs with tiny flags stuck all over it.

Probably not, and honestly that’s part of the charm.

These are the classic cookout kind, grilled dogs tucked into soft buns and piled with cheese, pickles, onion, tomatoes, ketchup, mustard, and a little parsley so the whole tray doesnt look sleepy.

They feel casual in the best way, like paper napkins, cold drinks, and everybody reaching over the platter before youve even sat down.

If youre building a holiday spread, these play real nice with 4th of July Classic Potato Salad, Blue Curacao Mocktail, and 4th of July Tie Dye Cupcakes.

Messy, bright, a little ridiculous, and very hard to be mad at, which is pretty much what a holiday hot dog should be.

How to Make Fourth of July Hot Dogs

This one moves fast, so having the toppings ready before you start filling buns helps a lot.

1. Grill the hot dogs

Heat a grill or grill pan, then cook the hot dogs until they’re hot through and marked on the outside.

You want that lightly browned look here, because plain pale hot dogs just dont hit the same, lets be honest.

2. Fill the buns and pile on the toppings

Set each grilled hot dog into a bun, then add the shredded cheese, pickles, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and parsley.

There is no tidy way to make these and that’s kind of the point, so just let them look loaded and generous.

3. Finish with ketchup and mustard, then plate them up

Drizzle ketchup and mustard over the tops, arrange the finished hot dogs on a platter, and add the little flags if youre using them.

Once they’re all lined up like this, dinner pretty much starts itself.

A Few Cookout Notes

• Have all the toppings chopped before the dogs come off the heat, because these go together fast once you start.
• Add the cheese while the hot dogs are still warm so it softens a little into the bun.
• Don’t overfill the buns before moving them to the platter, or things start slipping out in a hurry.
• Set out extra ketchup and mustard on the side for people who want the full zigzag situation.

What Else Belongs on the Table

These make sense with cold salads, chips, fruit, and easy drinks, basically all the stuff that lets people grab a plate and wander off happily.

If you want to keep the whole menu in the same mood, add 4th of July Classic Potato Salad and Fourth of July Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwiches for a full cookout table.

If Any Are Left

These are best the day you make them, but leftover assembled hot dogs can be covered and refrigerated for up to 1 day.

If you know you’ll have extras, store the toppings separate from the buns and hot dogs so nothing gets too soft too fast.

Use Up the Extras

Leftover pickles, tomatoes, and onion can go onto burgers, sandwiches, or a quick chopped salad without much effort at all.

Any extra shredded cheese and parsley can get tossed over eggs, roasted potatoes, or another round of hot dogs if people suddenly want seconds, which does happen.