Hot Dog Bar

Are you looking for a fun BBQ recipe to feed a crowd? This hot dog bar combines simple ingredients and makes them gourmet. Sure ketchup and mustard are cool, but have you tried coconut relish, garlic aioli, or buffalo sauce? Let us show you how to amp up your hot dogs for your next bbq. Serve alongside our baked beans and potato salad for a complete meal.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

We've taken popular flavors from tacos, chicken wings, jalapeno poppers, and Hawaiian dogs and created hot dogs that are unforgettable. This hot dog bar is not the run of the mill ketchup and mustard toppings. This recipe is perfect for summer! Serve it alone with some homemade Strawberry Ice Cream!

The Puka Dog

This series of hot dog recipes was inspired by a hotdog I ate at Puka Dog in Kuaui, Hawaii. We ate there on a whim and we were hooked! We had to go back again before we left. They are unique in the fact that their hotdog buns are tubes of bread that the hot dog slides into. They serve them up with a lemon garlic sauce and tropical relish.  My favorite relish was the coconut!  Which is one that I've re-created for you today.  I'll admit that this recipe isn't spot on, but it's still dang good and will bring a little island flare to your mainland celebration

About The Ingredients

Many of the ingredients for these hot dogs are simple and can be used without extra preparation, but the Hawaiian dog requires just a little bit of mixing. I'll be focusing on how to make the Hawaiian dog, but will give you the run down on the others as well.

All of these ingredients can be found at your local grocery store.

• Hawaiian Roll Hot Dog Buns - the most common brand for this is King's Hawaiian, but you can often find store brand. These buns are slightly sweet and the perfect combo for our copycat Puka Dog
• All Beef Hot Dogs - I prefer an all beef hot dog, they have great consistency and flavor. Something like Hebrew National will fit the bill.
• Shredded Coconut – this will be the base of your relish. I like to use the sweetened coconut that can be found on the baking aisle.

The complete ingredient list is located in the recipe card below.

How To Make The Puka Dog

Step 1: Start by making your garlic lemon aioli. Add Mayo to a medium bowl.
Step 2: Add garlic.
Step 3: Add the juice of one lemon.
Step 4: Whisk until well combined. Set aside.

Step 5: To make the coconut relish, add water and sugar to a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer and let sugar dissolve.
Step 6: Add in mayo, dijon, and coconut extract. Stir to combine.
Step 7: Add in coconut flakes and jalapeno.
Step 8: Stir to combine and let simmer for 15 minutes.

Step 9: To assemble the dog, layer your Hawaiian bun, frank, garlic aioli, and coconut relish. garnish with parsley if desired.

The Hot Dog Bar

What goes well with a hot dog bar? We have come up with some pretty darn delicious hot dog topping combos for a hot dog bar. Let me give you the run down.

The Guacamole Dog

You’ll need:

• Guacamole – homemade or store bought.
• Pepper jack cheese – finely shredded.
• Chipotle Aioli – find this near the ketchup in your grocery store. Sometimes it is calling chipotle mayo.
• To assemble, layer a toasted bun, frank, guacamole, and shredded cheese and top with chipotle aioli.

The Jalapeno Popper Dog

You’ll need:

• Cream cheese – the spreadable version goes on a bit smoother than the regular, but either tastes great.
• Jarred or canned jalapenos – I think that these work better than fresh, because they are a bit softer and milder. They can be found near the pickles or on the ethnic food aisle.
• Nacho cheese or shredded cheddar – you can purchase nacho cheese in a can in the ethnic foods aisle, or you can use shredded cheddar cheese.

To assemble, layer a toasted bun, frank, cream cheese, jalapenos, and cheese.

The Buffalo Dog

You’ll need:

• Ranch or blue cheese dressing – if you are sensitive to the flavor of blue cheese, go with ranch. It will provide the same flavor profile and creaminess.
• Blue cheese crumbles – this will add a nice salty bite.
• Hot sauce – choose a hot sauce like franks, that gives a nice buffalo flavor.

To assemble – layer a toasted bun, frank, dressing, blue cheese, and hot sauce.

FAQs

Expert Tips

• To Fit More Toppings – to fit more toppings on a hot dog, try slicing the frank in half lengthwise. This will allow more room from toppings from the hot dog bar.
• Cooking the perfect hot dog – there are several methods of cooking hot dogs, boiling, toasting, and grilling. I believe that grilling yields the best flavor. Cook on a hot gas or charcoal grill turning every few minutes.

More Recipes You May Enjoy

If you liked this hot dog bar, you’ll probably like:

• Cowboy Caviar – this salad/dip is the perfect addition to any bbq. With black beans, corn, and fresh mango and avocado – you’ll be coming back for seconds and thirds.
• Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork – the ultimate BBQ recipe! Tastes like it cooked all day, but made in the pressure cooker in a fraction of the time. Top with BBQ sauce and slaw and you'll go to heaven.
• Grilled Summer Pasta Salad – this salad is the perfect side to bring to a BBQ. Fresh ingredients, grilled chicken and a kick of Italian dressing.
• Baked Beans - another classic for Memorial Day, 4th of July, or Labor Day. Our recipe is easy, and even has crumbled bacon!

Keep In Touch!

If you try this hot dog bar or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave us a comment below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest to see what else we’re getting up to!