Hot dog tips and recipes to try on your next RV vacation

You really haven’t lived until you’ve cooked a hot dog on a camping trip. Seriously, it should be on everyone’s bucket list. However, you don’t have to limit yourself to a plain ole’ dog topped with the usual suspects like ketchup or mustard. In fact, we recommend you kick those hot dogs up a notch. RV Advisor offers tips and a few delicious hot dog recipes you can try on your next RV vacation.

Best way to cook hot dogs

Let’s start with the basics of how to cook a hot dog, in case you don’t know. There are actually a few ways to cook them.

1. Boil. This one is super easy. All you need is a pot and water. Drop the hot dogs in the water and turn the heat on high. Once the water is boiling, turn the heat down and let them simmer for a few minutes.
2. Fry. Throw the hot dogs into a frying pan, warming both sides. To add extra flavor, slice the hot dogs lengthwise and lay them flat, so the inside gets “charred,” too.
3. Cook over a campfire. We think it should be a law that everyone should get to cook hot dogs over an open fire at least once. Skewer the hot dog on a clean stick or a metal skewer and hold it over the fire until it’s cooked the way you want. Be sure to keep a careful watch, so you don’t burn it.
4. Grilled. There are few things better than eating a hot dog from the grill. Just place them on a grill, the same as you would a hamburger or BBQ chicken.
5. With beans. Pour a can of baked beans in a pot and add sliced hot dogs. Heat the whole delicious concoction over medium heat. (Note: You can use the stovetop or a fire-safe pot outside.)

Level up on toppings

Once you’ve cooked your hot dog, it’s time to have fun. Like we said, there are plenty of alternatives beyond ketchup so give your toppings an upgrade. Here are a number of delicious and unexpected options:

• Chili
• Raw or glazed onions
• Grilled red/green peppers
• Jalapeño peppers
• Pico de gallo
• Pulled pork
• Crumbled bacon
• Melted cheese
• Chili cheese
• Shredded cheese
• Barbecue sauce
• Spicy brown or Dijonnaise mustard
• Coleslaw
• Salsa
• Queso (blend of melted cheese and salsa)
• Fried onion sticks
• Crumbled potato chips or potato sticks
• Crushed Frito chips

Go crazy and try combining more than one topping, such as melted cheese, bacon and Jalapeño peppers. Top with coleslaw and crushed Fritos. You can even set up a “hot dog bar,” setting out a variety of different toppings and then let everyone decorate however they want.

A few hot dog recipes

#1. Pig in a blanket

This old favorite may have been part of your childhood. This recipe is very easy. All you need is hot dogs, a can of crescent rolls, and slices of cheddar cheese.

What you do:

• Cut cheese into long wedges
• Cut a slit on one side of each hot dog
• Put a cheese slice inside the slit
• Wrap an uncooked crescent roll around the hot dog
• Bake in an oven or wrap in tinfoil and cook over an open fire as long as it takes to cook the crescent rolls (usually about 10 minutes)
• Enjoy!

#2: Campfire hot dog pups

This recipe from 50campfires.com combines bacon and…wait…do you need to know anything beyond that it includes bacon?

Ingredients:
8 hot dogs
Sliced cheese, cut in strips
10 slices of bacon, cut in half crosswise
Toothpicks

Instructions:
Partially split hot dogs lengthwise (don’t cut all the way through). Fill the slit with cheese. Wrap 2 strips of bacon around each hot dog and secure with a toothpick. Grill or cook over an open fire with the cheese side up.

#3: Hot dog chili recipe

You can use canned chili or go all out and make hot dog chili from scratch. Here is a simple recipe from sugardishme.com.

Ingredients:
1-lb ground beef
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp brown sugar
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
Cayenne or red chili flakes to taste
1 cup broth (chicken, beef or vegetable)
1 15-ounce can of crushed tomatoes

Instructions:
Brown the ground beef in a large pan. Drain excess liquid and grease.

Add seasonings and pour in broth. Turn the beef and seasonings over in the skillet to make sure the meat gets coated. Add the tomatoes, reduce heat to medium, and let simmer.

There are a number of ways to decorate a hot dog using chili as your base:

• Chili + shredded cheese + raw onion
• Chili + coleslaw
• Chili + melted cheese or queso
• Chili + crushed Fritos or potato chips/sticks
• Chili + cheese + shredded bacon

However you eat your hot dog, just make sure you enjoy this special rite of camping and RV trips. You’ll be happy you did. For more helpful tips, become an RV Advisor Member today.