How to Serve Up a Spectacular Hot Dog Bar at Your Next BBQ
A Hot Dog Bar is the perfect menu idea for your next BBQ party. With a variety of toppings, condiments, and delicious buns, the hot dog menu ideas will make sure that everyone’s tastes are satisfied. It’s sure to be one of your favorite BBQ party ideas!
This hot dog bar idea was a sponsored post by Hebrew National.
Hot Dogs are a great BBQ party idea
These hot dog ideas will help you feed your guests with ease!
Hosting a BBQ party is an exciting way to get together with family and friends. But why settle for the same old burgers when you can make it even more memorable by setting up a delicious hot dog bar?
With just a few supplies, you can create an impressive spread of toppings, condiments, buns, and decorations that will have your guests talking about your event for weeks to come.
Related: Hummus Party Idea
Barbecue parties are the ultimate in afternoon hangouts. You need three things for a good BBQ: good food, rad friends and (hopefully) warm weather.
Today I’ve partnered with Hebrew National to share my favorite BBQ party ideas. There’s nothing I love more than a grilled hot dog and a stress-free menu that will let you enjoy your own party.
Food and drink ideas for a BBQ party
How to set up a hot dog bar
A delicious main course will keep everyone coming back to any party you throw. The smell of grilling meat is a surefire crowd-pleaser.
I like to set up the hot dog bar from left to right and put the buns and hot dogs first followed by the toppings then any side dishes. This allows people to build their own hot dogs and move in one direction.
Don’t forget to provide utensils such as spatulas, tongs, and knives so that guests can easily assemble their own hot dogs.
To create the perfect hot dog bar for your party, you’ll need to have the right supplies and ingredients.
Grilled hot dogs are much more delicious than boiled ones, in my opinion. Try to grill them in batches so they stay warm. Otherwise, browse this post on how to keep appetizers warm for ideas to keep the hot dogs at the best temperature.
Hebrew National® All-Beef Franks are my go-to hot dogs. These all-beef hot dogs cost a little bit more than others out there, but the quality is worth paying for. And I feel really good about serving these to my guests.
What makes a Hebrew National kosher hot dog premium? It’s all about what makes the cut (and what doesn’t).
They’re choosy about what goes into their franks and only use premium cuts of 100% kosher beef from the front half of the cow and then choose the best from that.
No artificial flavors, colors, fillers or by-products are used. When your hot dog is Kosher, that’s a hot dog you can trust!
You’ll want to start with great quality Hebrew National® All-Beef Franks. You’ll also need buns and traditional toppings like red onions, relish, ketchup, and mustard.
You’ll also want to provide a variety of non-traditional toppings, such as cilantro, jalapenos, bacon, BBQ sauce, pineapple, and more.
One of my favorite flavor combinations is the BBQ sauce with tangy pineapple. And I knew it would be delicious on a Hebrew National® All-Beef Frank.
Your guests totally won’t be expecting this combo but they’re going to love it! The cilantro totally makes this! You can also add some red onion but as a host, you may want to steer clear of the onion breath…
If they don’t want to be adventurous, that’s ok. They can eat their hot dog however they want. As their host, you’ll know that the are still getting a quality, flavorful hot dog.
Sides to serve with hot dogs
A simple side salad is always a great BBQ party side dish. There are so many varieties to choose from but I usually stick with a basic romaine and iceberg mix. It appeals to all guests thanks to its mild flavors and ease of eating.
Offer a few types of dressing options and you’ve provided a healthy option if any of your friends are concerned about their diet. I’m only concerned about getting seconds.
More side dish ideas:
- One of these burrata recipes would be a great accompaniment to the hot dog bar.
- Hot and cheesy Green Chile Dip is great for a crowd!
- Bacon-wrapped Dates stuffed with goat cheese are a delicious sweet and salty bite.
- Baked Salami Chips are a fun snack to serve at a party.
- And of course, you can never go wrong with a variety of chips and dip.
Drinks to serve
Lemonade is always a great idea for a barbecue party. Make a batch or two of homemade (try my lavender lemonade or blueberry lemonade) or buy store-bought to keep things easy.
Jazz it up with sliced cucumber to infuse it with a little extra flavor. The cucumber is pretty subtle but adds a special touch that your guests will really enjoy.
If it’s hot out, something super refreshing like Basil Cucumber Soda would be outstanding. For something a little boozy make Iced Tea Sangria.
Simple decorations
There isn’t usually a lot of decor at a BBQ party unless it has a theme. An easy way to make guests feel special is by having some fresh flowers around. But you don’t need to get crazy with dramatic arrangements.
Check your yard to see if you have anything growing wild that you can cut and place in jars. Or grab a few bunches of baby’s breath for your grocery store.
Adding something living to your food table is a nice touch and makes the table feel like you put some thought into it.
