Creative Hot Dog Side Dishes for Your Next Cookout
As temperatures start to warm up, it’s hard not to think about future cookouts with friends and family. You may even start searching for unique hot dog recipes or hot dog side dishes for just such occasions. To accompany the All-Beef Hot Dog or any other meal option at the Freddy’s near you, guests can choose from both familiar side dishes like Freddy’s Fries and unique options like Cheese Curds. If you are hoping to bring a little creativity to your own hot dog side dishes this year, keep reading to discover some potentially new-to-you ideas inspired by classic hot dog side dishes!
Tasty Takes on Classic Hot Dog Side Dishes
Potato chips, coleslaw and corn on the cob are just a few of the most common hot dog side dishes served at cookouts across the country. After several years of enjoying these more familiar preparations, you may be interested in serving up a new variation or even preparing an entirely different hot dog side dish. To provide a little inspiration, here are six suggestions to consider:
1. Grilled Potato Salad
With ingredients like hard-boiled eggs and a fair amount of mayonnaise in addition to potatoes, potato salad is a beloved summer indulgence but one that can be a little heavy, especially on hotter days. For a new twist on an old favorite, consider trying a grilled potato salad at your next cookout. For example, this recipe from Serious Eats features two grilled elements to bring in some smoky flavor and a lighter dressing than your current go-to recipe may feature.
2. Dip-Stuffed Veggies
Cut veggies and assorted dips often do double duty at cookouts as an appetizer and a hot dog side dish. Inspired by warm preparations like stuffed mushrooms or jalapeño poppers, consider a cool variation for cookouts, such as a recipe like this 3-ingredient one that uses colorful mini peppers from Wholesome Yum®.
3. Non-Cabbage Slaw
Cabbage may be the main ingredient in many traditional coleslaw recipes, but it isn’t the only cruciferous vegetable that can be used for this kind of dish. To illustrate, this recipe from Inspired Taste incorporates both broccoli stems and florets to create a slaw. Shredded Brussels sprouts can also be the star of your slaw, as reflected in the recipe at Cookie and Kate. If you appreciate checking this type of hot dog side dish off of your cookout to-do list ahead of time, recipes featuring these other vegetables can also typically be prepared a day or two before the actual event!
4. Corn Salad
During its peak season, it’s hard to compete with corn on the cob as a hot dog side dish. However, this dish can be a bit more challenging to eat. Fortunately, ears of corn can also be grilled or otherwise prepared ahead of time in order to make a tasty salad, such as this elote-inspired recipe from Love and Lemons or one that also includes beans, peppers, and avocado as detailed at Once Upon a Chef.
5. Watermelon Skewers
As with corn on the cob, a platter of fresh, juicy watermelon slices is another frequent hot dog side dish that necessitates plenty of extra napkins and brings happy smiles to the faces of cookout guests. If you are looking for another similarly portable side featuring this sweet fruit, then you may want to explore a recipe like the one for skewers shared at The Pioneer Woman. Similar ingredients as featured in these skewers can also be combined with just a few others to make a delicious salad, if you prefer a one-dish preparation versus assembling individual servings.
6. Chip Tower
Perhaps the most iconic hot dog side dish is the potato chip. At cookouts, guests may simply pick their favorite bag (like the Freddy’s Kettle Chips) from the variety box or collect one or more of their preferred flavors from the provided bowls of chips. While making homemade potato chips would certainly be one way to bring a little something special to this particular side dish, your guests may also be impressed by the flavor combination and spectacle of a potato chip tower, as shared at The Kitchn.
Trying different hot dog side dishes is one way to bring new flavors to your cookout or to hot dog meals in general. At the Freddy’s near you, you have a similar opportunity to pair your choice of hot dog, steakburger or other sandwich with either a familiar side or one that you may not have had before. Download the Freddy’s app at Google Play or the App Store today to explore how you can customize your next hot dog meal, as well as keep track of your Freddy’s Rewards points, favorite orders and more!