Easy Weeknight Meal: Barbecue Bacon Hot Dog

This hot dog idea was inspired by Chili's Southern Smokehouse Bacon Burger, which is one of my favorites there. I love the combo of flavors with the onion straws, the sauce and bacon. So why not turn it into a hot dog?

Ingredients
4 all beef hot dogs
8 strips cooked bacon
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced (I used a mandolin)
1 cup milk
olive oil for frying
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon chili powder
4 Tablespoons barbecue sauce
4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

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Directions
Place the hot dogs on the grill and heat on medium heat. While that is going on, make the onion straws. I used a red onion since I love the flavor more then yellow.

In a separate bowl, add the milk. On a plate, add the flour and chili powder. Dip a few of the onions at a time into the milk then dredge it in the flour. Add olive oil to a skillet and fry on medium to high heat a few at a time as to not overcrowd the skillet. When they're brown, set them on a napkin to absorb the excess grease and repeat until all your onions are cooked. 

Your hot dogs should be done by now. I cooked them on my stovetop indoor grill so I can turn them occasionally while I was cooking my onion straws. Now it's time to assemble!  I put my barbecuse sauce on the bun, added my bacon, then the dog, then the onions and topped with cheese.

Don't these look amazing! We eat lots of hot dogs during the summer, so I've been trying to "shake it up" with my recipes. This was wonderful!! All the flavors blended together spell summer to me and I'm sure it will for your family as well. Enjoy!!

Darn Good Philly Cheesesteak Hot Dogs

Well this dinner is probably a carnivores delight!!  Roast beef AND a hot dog? Yes, please. 

I like a good cheesesteak and have been fortunate enough to enjoy one right in the heart of Philadelphia at a farmer's market. That was a lot of years ago (I won't say how many) but it was very memorable. Living here in Utah, I have not found one that truly matched up but have come close.  This Philly take on the traditional hot dog is a meat lovers dream and is sure to make cheesesteak lovers sit up and take notice. There are a lot of recipes for hot dogs out there these days and they range from Mexican style, Asian style and more. This all-American classic was made Philly style. 

Ingredients (serves 4)
4 all beef hot dogs
4 bratwurst buns
1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced into strips
1 medium green pepper, thinly sliced into strips
1 clove garlic, minced
4 ounces deli roast beef, cut into 2 inch strips
4 slices provolone cheese

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Directions:
I did this stove top style since we had a big summer thunderstorm and I didn't feel like standing in the rain. I have a griddle fryer and I heated it to medium and placed the dogs in the pan. 

In a separate skillet, melt the butter and add the garlic, onions and peppers. Stir fry until onions are soft. Add the roast beef and cook until heated through. 

Just before I was ready to serve the dogs, I buttered the buns and placed them face down on the griddle to toast them a bit.

Toasted goodness!

To assemble, I added a bit of mayo to my bun, laid down the hot dog, put the cheese on that and covered the top with the roast beef mix. Melted my cheese very nicely!

So next time you are looking for recipes with hot dogs, give this one a try. It's beefy goodness that I think would be a unique hot dog recipe at your next backyard barbecue.