The 6 Best Hot Dog Cooking Methods For All Of Your Summer BBQ Needs

It’s summer, and that means one thing in my book: Hot dogs. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good dog anytime of year, but there’s something extra-special about enjoying one (topped with mustard AND ketchup, of course) at a summer cookout or BBQ. That being said, the tried-and-true grill isn’t the only way to prepare your hot dogs! If you don’t have the space, the weather isn’t ideal, or you’re simply not a fan of the taste of a grilled dog, never fear—there are plenty of options for how to cook this ballpark favorite.

I rounded up six ways to cook hot dogs to ensure that you understand all your options for cooking them this summer. Read below for the info you need, then try one (or all) versions for yourself. Watch out, Joey Chestnut—you’ve got some competition this summer!

Grilled Hot Dogs

Probably the most classic way to prepare hot dogs, the grill is also the superior cooking method, in my opinion. It’s how we prepare hot dogs in most of our recipes, because the flavor and texture a grill imparts is just unbeatable. You can use an outdoor grill or a grill pan if you don’t have access to one. Set your grill to medium heat, then cook the hot dogs until they are warmed through and grill marks appear. If you prefer more pronounced grill marks, leave ’em on until they’re charred to your liking.

Boiled Hot Dogs

Boiling is a solid method for cooking hot dogs, especially if you don’t have a grill and want some ASAP. We boil our hot dogs for our Chicago-style hot dogs, where the toppings are the main attraction. To prepare your dogs using this method, bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add your hot dogs and cook until they are warmed through, around 5 minutes.

Air-Fried Hot Dogs

What can’t the air fryer do? It can whip up some incredible hot dogs, that’s for sure. If you don’t have a grill and want to keep cleaning to a minimum, this is a great option. Set your air fryer to 400°F, then space out your hot dogs in the basket, and cook until warmed through, around 4 minutes. This method is not only very easy with minimal cleanup, but it’s one of the quickest options too!