What's the most off-the-wall topping you could imagine on a hot dog?
Well, it's probably already been done!
And if it's edible, it might just be amazing.
Keep watching to learn about some perfectly unexpected hot dog toppers.
Colombian perros calientes - literally translating to "hot dogs" - get a creative and crunchy
twist, thanks to a handful of potato sticks or crushed chips.
The combination is absolutely heavenly, with the crisp, salty chips playing off the meaty
hot dog, soft bun, and oodles of tasty toppings.
Sounds great, right?
If you would like to try to make a Colombian-style hot dog at home, just simply purchase a bag
of potato chips or sticks, crumble them on top, and let the magic begin.
Another way these dogs get sufficiently dressed up is the salsa rosada, or pink sauce.
It's a combination of mayonnaise and ketchup that adds a hearty, delicious zing to your
hotdog.
Toss on some fresh slaw, salsa, and pickles if you want to get really fancy.
Or, you can dial it back and give your standard mustard and ketchup dog a little sprinkle
of chips.
One of the best places to discover new hot dog recipes is…
"Reddit."
"Obviously."
And there you can find mention of a hot dog piled high with tomatoes, feta, and maybe
an olive or two.
This fresh Greek-inspired combo works because it cuts back on the fat from the hot dog itself
and infuses bold and bright flavors into every bite.
Since we already know that ketchup and hot dogs work wonders together, it's not surprising
that chunks of tomato accomplish the same thing.
The feta adds a sharp, cheesy bite that pairs perfectly with ripe, juicy tomato slices.
Add a few cucumber moons to the mix if you want to go full-on.
Although cucumber might seem like a strange topping for your favorite hot dog, the coolness
of the veggie works in brilliant contrast with the hot dog itself.
Finally, homemade or store-bought tzatziki rounds off the dish.
While you don't technically need it, the tanginess and creaminess of the sauce really wraps it
all together.
Kimchi is one of Korea's best-loved and most versatile condiments.
This sour slaw is astonishingly multi-faceted.
But beyond using it to slap people in the face, its deep layers of flavor and texture
can literally and figuratively spice up your hot dog.
Although it's akin to sauerkraut, kimchi packs a little more flavor, with notes that are
both familiar and exciting all at the same time.
So if you love slaw or sauerkraut on your hot dogs, there's a good chance that you'll
find kimchi right up your alley.
Savvy foodies can find kimchi dogs on menus all over the world, but you can also make
them right at home.
Since plenty of specialty stores and even larger traditional convenience stores carry
the condiment.
If you're wondering what else you can slather your kimchi on, you're in luck.
There are many different ways that kimchi can elevate even the most humble dishes.
So get creative, and prepare for a real slap in the taste buds.
Although freshly chopped onions are the ideal companion to any tasty hot dog, there's something
simply divine about sautéed or caramelized onions.
As with many of the other toppings on our list, slow-cooked onions bring a satisfying
dose of sweetness to your charred hot dog.
Plus, texturally, they go well with a crunchy, toasted bun and a nicely cooked dog – that
makes for one of the more gourmet toppings on our list.
The key to melt-in-your-mouth caramelized onions is patience.
These babies have to cook low and slow until they get that golden, richly caramel-colored
hue and fantastic flavor.
A bit of butter, some olive oil, and sliced onion, plus at least 45 minutes, is all you
need to dive headfirst into sweet onion heaven.
But, if you're looking for a textural difference, you can also throw in some raw or fried onions
for contrast and some additional flavor.
The Sonoran hot dog is one of the country's most beloved regional hot dog styles.
Although every corner of Arizona does them differently, there are a few key things that
you'll find on these bacon-wrapped beauties, including avocado [ and salsa.
Whether your salsa is hot, medium, or mild, your avocado is whole or mashed into a silky
guacamole doesn't matter much.
What's truly vital is the pairing of both of these yin and yang ingredients.
One brings the heat and the other brings the cool smoothness of fresh avocado.
Being the iconic street food that it is, the Sonoran hot dog is crowned with everything
imaginable, like pinto beans, mushrooms, peppers, and condiments.
They top a beautiful foundation of chunky, fresh salsa and ripe avocado.
You can duplicate it yourself at home with homemade or canned salsa and thinly sliced
or smashed avocado.
Pineapple on pizza is about as polarizing as it gets.
"Pineapple?
Ugh!"
"So much for that!"
But they're pretty good on hot dogs, which can get a fruity glow up from some sunny-hued
pineapple salsa piled on top.
Known as the hula dog, this fantastic dish originated in Hawaii.
It made its way to the mainland, thanks to the twin flavors of sweet, tropical pineapple,
and sriracha.
Although you can get super fancy and make your hula dog with pineapple salsa, some purists
love to simply pile on the fruit and enjoy the delicate dance of sweet and savory.
Although sriracha is the original hula dog spice, you can use any hot sauce that you
have on hand or simply forgo it altogether.
The beauty of this sweet and sassy dog is its simplicity and unexpected flavor profile.
When you think of hot dogs and cheese, do you picture that neon yellow gas station goo?
If so, it's time to upgrade your thinking.
Good melted cheese is phenomenal on hot dogs, and it doesn't have to be of the Frankenfood
variety.
Think brie, gruyere, or smoky sharp cheddar.
Once you have your satiny, creamy blanket of premium cheese, you can dress your dog
up any way that you'd like.
Chili is phenomenal with cheese dogs, and fried onions give the dog a little extra kick
and texture.
You can even opt for several different kinds of cheese for varying tastes and flavors or
look to the Midwest for cheesy inspiration.
There, designer cheese dogs are a regional favorite, and you can find them on tons of
different menus.
For example, in Kansas City, hungry diners can scarf down a hot dog loaded up with sauerkraut
and Swiss cheese.
The best hot dog toppings are all about contrast.
Piling freshly roasted corn on top of a perfectly cooked hot dog and a piping hot bun is an
excellent example of execution and primo flavor pairing.
Sweet roasted corn compliments the richness of a meaty hot dog, and you can brighten up
the whole thing with some citrus.
If you like your dogs hot, throw on some chili powder, jalapenos, or even a little cheese.
A mix of hot sauce and mayo wouldn't be a miss either.
Purists can simply go with the corn and the hot dog, reveling in the sophisticated interplay
of flavors and textures.
Although you can get this masterpiece in plenty of places all around the country, it's easy
enough to replicate at home.
Just make sure that you use fresh, not canned corn, and roast it to perfection before loading
it on your dog.
Macaroni and cheese is one of the world's cherished and classic comfort foods.
While it works perfectly well as a sidekick for your hot dog.
True connoisseurs know that the best way to do it up properly is to load your macaroni
and cheese right onto the dog itself.
In fact, many restaurants offer versions of this delicious duo, but you can certainly
make it yourself right at home.
All you need is a few generous scoops of store-bought or homemade macaroni and cheese, a perfectly
grilled dog, and a sturdy bun.
Since the mac and cheese tend to get pretty heavy and goopy, it's good to toast your buns
before loading them up.
Especially if you're adding other tasty elements like bacon bits or crushed potato chips.
Also, make sure that you have plenty of napkins on hand.
"We got enough napkins?
Yeah!
Yeah, we got enough napkins!
That's enough.
That's enough right there."
This is one sloppy little slice of heaven.
"Time for some ranch!"
When it comes to toppings, ranch dressing is in a league of its own.
People slather this undisputed king of condiments on everything from chicken wings to garden
salads.
So why not try it with the humble hot dog?
If you want to make your hot dog shine, swap out ketchup or mustard for a generous drizzle
of ranch dressing.
It adds a creamy, tangy vibe to the hot dog that goes well with another topping fave on
our list — potato chips!
Thanks to its inspired flavor profile, the ranch hot dog craze is picking up plenty of
steam.
So whether you use store-bought, or make your own.
We recommend you try this unexpected and fun flavor combo this summer.
It might not be the most outside-the-box topping.
But you might find yourself swearing off the ketchup and mustard forever and discovering
a whole new dimension of ranch dressing.
Pesto is an excellent, bright, herb-like topping for your hot dog.
Packed with plenty of cheese, garlic, basil, nuts, and oil, pesto is straight-up yummy
and can add a dose of springtime to an otherwise heavy meal.
However, if you opt to top your dog with pesto, be careful of competing flavors.
Pesto tends to be stronger, so it plays nicely with creamier dressings like mayonnaise.
It's also intensely flavorful, so a little drizzle will definitely do for you.
If you want to get really varsity level, consider tossing a few basil leaves in a toasted bun
before loading up your dog with a squirt of pesto.
The contrasting textures will make the dish sing and certainly give you a brand-new hot
dog tasting experience like no other.
So give pesto dogs a shot this late spring or summer.
"You won't regret it!"
Check out one of our newest videos right here!
Plus, even more Mashed videos about your favorite stuff are coming soon.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't miss a single one.