The Best Hot Dog You’ll Ever Eat starts with a quality bun, diagonal cuts, and a sweet, tangy Special Sauce. An easy J Dawgs copycat recipe!. It’s so easy, you will be making this all summer! Invite me to your barbecue, please! Originally published May 12, 2015.
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My friend Kate is a fabulous concert-level violinist. This weekend she was playing with the Sacramento Orchestra and scored tickets for Sandi (my sis-in-law) and me.
The first piece was amazing. A full choir sang with the orchestra, as well as a boy soprano. Both of us got chills, almost cried, the whole bit. The second piece…not so much.
The moment the not-cool piece ended, Sandi turns to me during the applause and says, “I did NOT like that.” “Me neither!!” and then we start going on about how it paled in comparison to the first one.
THEN. Just wait, you guys. Everyone is still applauding when the conductor turns to the audience and moves his hands in the universal “stand-up-now” motion. I’m halfway out of my chair when I look behind me and realize the conductor was not asking the audience to stand up.
He was asking the man sitting directly behind us to stand up. And at least a half-dozen people sitting next to him. Our eyes widened in fear as we stared up at the man standing not 2 feet away from us, waving his hand to accept the applause.
We fumble for our programs. Who is he???
THE COMPOSER. Who were the people standing next to him? The family of the dead guy that the piece was written about.
Someday when I die, and I get to find out All The Stuff (you know, you find out Stuff when you die, right? Please say yes?), my first question will be, HE DIDN’T HEAR US DID HE??
This is the BEST hot dog you will EVER eat
I wasn’t made out for the orchestra anyway, let’s be real. I’m more of a hot dog kind of girl. JDAWGS HOT DOGS to be specific. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, then you are not from Utah, but if you are ever passing through, you HAVE to try JDawgs. It started out as a tiny shack just off BYU campus (my alma mater). Like literally, a shack. Students would pick up a hot dog on their way home or in between classes. Now I hear they are opening their 5th location, this one in SLC. They haven’t made it out to Sacramento yet, so I make them at home.
Featured Comment
“Oh my word!!!! Ahhfreakinmazing!! Soo good! On my permanent roster of favs! We loved the recipe soo much!” – Emily B.
Key ingredients
- All-beef or Polish hot dogs. I like the ones from Costco, but any brand will work.
- A great hot dog starts with a great bun. Look for large, soft, sturdy buns that can hold all your toppings without falling apart halfway through dinner.
How to make the best hot dog of your life
Start by making the special sauce. Just combine everything in a small saucepan and heat until it’s warmed through and barely starts to bubble. Let it cool while you fire up the grill.
Before grilling, use a serrated knife to make a series of diagonal cuts along each hot dog. As they cook, the cuts open up, and the dogs curl into their signature smiley shape (they know what’s coming).
Grill the hot dogs over medium heat until they’re nicely charred and caramelized, turning once halfway through. While they’re finishing up, butter the inside of the buns and toast them briefly on the grill until they’re warm and lightly crisp around the edges.
Pile the hot dogs into the toasted buns, drizzle generously with the special sauce, and add any toppings you love. That’s it. Simple, messy, and ridiculously good.
How to store leftovers
Got leftovers? Store the grilled hot dogs and special sauce separately in the refrigerator. The hot dogs will keep for 3-4 days, while the sauce stays good for up to a week.
To reheat, warm the hot dogs on the grill, in a skillet, or in the microwave until heated through. The buns are best toasted fresh right before serving.
Can I freeze my leftovers?
Hot dogs freeze beautifully. Let them cool completely, then store in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. I don’t recommend freezing assembled hot dogs or the buns as they’re much better fresh. The sauce can also be frozen for a couple of months if you find yourself with extra.
More hot dog and sausage recipes
Recipes for Dinner
Leftover Hot Dog Pizza with Caramelized Onions
Recipes for Dinner
Easy Sausage and Broccoli Kebabs with White Bean Salad
Recipes for Dinner
Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs (Grilled)
Recipes for Dinner
Homemade Pretzel Dogs
The Best Hot Dog You Will Ever Eat
Ingredients
For the sauce:
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce, I used Sweet Baby Rays
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
- 1 & 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- dash black pepper
To assemble:
- large all-beef or Polish hot dogs, Costco has the best!
- large buns, The ones at Costco fit perfectly
- butter
- white onions
- sauerkraut
- pickles
- banana peppers
Instructions
- To make the sauce, combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and set over high heat. Stir occasionally until the mixture barely starts to bubble, then remove from heat.
- Let cool completely. I like it to be room temperature, but you can chill it if you want.
- When you are ready to cook the hot dogs, set your grill to medium heat.
- Use a sharp serrated knife to make diagonal cuts in the hot dog a little more than halfway through. You want the cuts to make large W’s all the way down the dog. See photos.
- Grill the dogs until they are as black as you want them. Should take about 3-5 minutes per side. Don’t forget to flip them halfway. The dogs will curl into a smiley face because of the cuts. It’s because they’re so happy that you get to eat them.
- Butter the inside of the buns and place on the grill. Leave them for just a minute or so, until they get slightly crispy on the edges. Don’t overdo it or the bun will turn stale.
- Place the hot dog in the bun and top with tons of special sauce and any other desired toppings. If you are not eating right away, you can wrap the dog and the bun in foil to keep warm, like they do at JDawgs.
Omg I am cringing so hard for you and that orchestra story!! Also you just made my life complete. I adore JDawgs and remember the shack days with fondness :) so glad I can make them at home–now I’m even more pumped that I finally caved and got a Costco card :)
Yay another JDawgs lifer!! :) And yes, we just barely graduated to Costco too. Late bloomer much?
Ohhhhhhhh my gosh Karen, I would’ve DIED. Like, literally died. Curled up in the plush symphony chair and cried and died. Maybe the conductor should’ve arranged to play that piece first, instead of the other one… So you wouldn’t have had that little moment. ;) But with a juicy hot dog like this to come home to? That would’ve made everything better!
Amy, I actually think you WOULD have died. I can just see your adorable face turning purple with embarrassment. hehe!! Lucky for me I’m much more callous than you so I think I’m gonna make it :) :)
Hi Karen. Â Pay no mind. Â We love your stories and your response was perfect. Â Buh bye. Â Now, I never had jdawg either but plan to buy the sausages this week and the buns. Â I looked on Costcoâs site and there are 3 pages of buns! Â Do you know the brand name of the oneâs you are talking about? Â Thanks a million. Â
Ah it’s okay Carol, Amy and I are friends, we were teasing each other :) And 3 pages of buns?? who knew! I used Franz Classic Hot Dog buns. enjoy!!
No, I was addressing the Dayne comment. Â But you didnât need help. Â Your response was PERFECT. Â Thanks for the bun info. Â Man, those dogs are huge! Â Canât wait.
I have never heard of JDawgs, boy I need to get out more! You just elevated the plain hot dog into something culinary here! Those cuts and the sauce make it look extra yummy!! I can’t wait to try this one out.
You are missing out Malinda! Do you live in Utah? You need to head over stat. If not definitely put this on your shopping list!
No, I live in Colorado but I am definitely going to make this next time we bbq!!
Honestly, I rarely eat hot dogs, but this one looks absolutely delicious that I’m craving it now, which is extremely weird. And that pretty cut is so easy to make. I actually came to check out how you do that. Haha
I’m glad I could be the one to bring out freaky cravings in you Shinee :) haha! The cuts totally make this dog.
I usually am not tempted by hot dogs…like the only time I eat them is at carnivals or concerts, but THIS made me want a hot dog like right now. Actually, no, like yesterday. Like it should already be sittin’ in my belly by now. YUM!!! And the story about the orchestra – hilarious! But you know, whether he heard or you not, any artist (musician, painter, or even food blogger as we all know) has to be ready for people to not like their work so I’m sure he’ll be okay! :D
You are totally right Beeta!! If he cries himself to sleep all week it’s his own darn fault :) just kidding!!
Haha I would of died of embarrassment and stress if he heard us the whole time. Oops. Oh well, thats why this world is so nice. You will probably never see him again. These dogs sound awesome too. I am a total hot dog girl too. Wish I could swing by for some. Yum!!
I am counting on that Cyndi, that I will never see him again!! haha.
We can all identify with the story in one way or another. I finally just stopped laughing. You have inspired me to go to JDawgs for lunch. Thanks for the recipe. I’ll file that away but its easier to go to the store and buy a huge $10 bottle – sorry, I couldn’t resist. Greetings from Provo…
Dude Brad if I lived in Utah I would be at JDawgs like every day. It’s an addiction. Even when I can make it taste the same at home, I swear, there’s just something about that place! Thanks for stopping by! Viva la BYU!
I love a good j-dawg copycat!
Your story is hilarious! Sounds like something that would happen to me. These hot dogs are the perfect way to recover from such a thing though. They look amazing!
This IS good recovery material!! Good plan.
Maybe he didn’t hear you with all of the applause?? These hot dogs look amazing! :)
Oh my gosh, that is awful! I hate when things like that happen! I’m SURE he didn’t hear you. :) Summer makes me crave hot dogs like every day, although I don’t ever get all fancy with mine like you do. Need to get on this!
You are a good girlfriend Nicole. “Of course he didn’t hear you, I’m sure of it.” It’s just what I need, haha!!
Oh my gosh, that orchestra story had me laughing! Here’s hoping they didn’t hear you!! I have been craving J Dawgs hot dogs forever! I lived right across the street from their first stand when I was at BYU and frequently ate one for lunch. Sadly, I haven’t made it back to Utah since graduating. That is awesome that they are expanding so much. I can’t wait to make this sauce this week, thanks for sharing!
Go BYU! I don’t live in Utah anymore either. Thank goodness for this recipe and Costco!! Enjoy Tara! :)
Never heard of JDawgs but I LOVE the way they are cut and for me, the dogs are all about the sauce and the condiments!!!!! can’t wait to try this sauce!!!!
Oh my goodness, that is seriously the most hilarious thing ever!! I definitely would have attempted to change seats after such a traumatic incident. LOL. And I totally believe you when you say these are the best hot dogs—that sauce looks totally killer!
That’s what we should have done! After the last performance (there was a 3rd piece played) the people right next to us turned around and congratulated the composer on his work, and we just stood there, looking forward, trying not to make eye contact with anyone. So bad!! haha.
Girl. Okay so your story? You had me cracking up. I have probably done something like that 10000 times. I am terrified to find out all the STUFF. But happy to eat all the hot dogs. The slashes + sauce are pretty genius!
Haven’t we all Heather?? Glad to know I’m not the only one putting my foot in my mouth.