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🔥 Smoked Hot Dog Burnt Ends are the ultimate BBQ appetizer! Smoky, saucy, buttery bites of hot dog goodness everyone will fight over. 🌭🔥
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If you’ve ever wondered what are burnt ends but don’t have time to smoke a whole brisket, hot dog burnt ends are the fun, budget-friendly shortcut you didn’t know you needed. These smoky, saucy bites are perfect for BBQ season, game day, or anytime you want something ridiculously easy and flavorful.
I first made these on a whim during a family cookout when we were short on meat and long on hot dogs. The kids loved them, the adults went back for seconds, and now it’s one of my go-to hot dog recipe ideas whenever I fire up the grill.
This is one of those recipes that use hot dogs in a totally unexpected way. You get that sweet, sticky glaze like classic BBQ burnt ends, but it’s done in a fraction of the time and cost. Serve them as an appetizer, game day snack, or a main dish with fries and coleslaw.
If you’re always looking for creative hot dog recipe ideas, this one is guaranteed to surprise and impress. It’s a fun spin that turns a backyard staple into something totally crave-worthy. These hot dog burnt ends are sweet, smoky, and caramelized – and they just might be your new favorite party snack.
There are plenty of recipes that use hot dogs, but this one really stands out for its flavor and simplicity. Whether you’re serving it at your next BBQ or just switching up dinner on a budget, it checks all the boxes.
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Big BBQ flavor with minimal effort
- Budget-friendly and great for feeding a crowd
- Customizable with your favorite sauces and rubs
- A creative twist on traditional BBQ burnt ends
- Fun way to answer the question, what are burnt ends?, without hours of smoking
🛒 Ingredients & Substitutions
- hot dog sausages – use any kind, or try smoked sausage or bratwurst
- yellow mustard – Dijon mustard for a kid-friendly option
- BBQ seasoning – any store-bought or homemade rub
- dry mustard – optional but adds flavor depth
- BBQ sauce – use your favorite brand or homemade
- butter – salted or unsalted, both work
- honey – swap with maple syrup or agave if needed
✨ Variations
- Make it spicy with a chipotle or jalapeño BBQ sauce
- Add brown sugar for extra caramelization
- Use smoked sausage for more heat and a firmer texture
- Sprinkle with chopped green onions or crispy bacon before serving
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🔥 Tips
- Use quality hot dogs for the best results
- Slice evenly so they caramelize at the same rate
- Toss well in the sauce to coat every piece
- Let the sauce bubble and thicken until sticky
❓ FAQs
Traditionally, they’re the flavorful, caramelized edges of smoked brisket. These hot dog burnt ends mimic that flavor with much less time.
Absolutely! These make a great finger food for game days, BBQs, or tailgating.
Yes! You can smoke the hot dogs in advance, then slice and finish them in the sauce later when you’re ready to serve.
Hickory, apple, or cherry wood chunks are great choices for a mild, smoky flavor that complements the BBQ sauce.
Nope! You can use a grill with indirect heat, or even bake them in the oven with similar results.
Definitely. This recipe scales well; just use a larger pan and stir the pieces occasionally to ensure they’re all coated in sauce.
They go great with mac and cheese, baked beans, coleslaw, pasta salad, or even piled onto a bun like sliders.
Keep the heat indirect and stir occasionally. If it gets too thick too fast, you can add a splash of water or more BBQ sauce.
🍽️ Other Recipes You May Enjoy
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Poor Man’s Burnt Ends
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Smoked Garlic Herb Turkey Breast
Main Dish
Smoked Chicken Legs
Main Dish
Smoked Brats
Smoked Hotdog Burnt Ends
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Equipment
- gas grill or smoker
- disposable aluminum pan or grill-safe baking dish
- paper towels
- basting brush
Ingredients
Hot Dogs
- 8 hot dogs
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons BBQ seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
Sauce
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- ½ cup butter, melted
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon BBQ seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat your BBQ or smoker to 250°F for indirect cooking.
- Pat the hot dogs dry with a paper towel if needed.
- Brush mustard over each hot dog, coating all sides.
- Sprinkle BBQ seasoning and dry mustard evenly over the hot dogs.
- Add smoking wood chunks if using charcoal or a smoker.
- Place the hot dogs on the grill and cook for 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, whisk together BBQ sauce, melted butter, honey, and BBQ seasoning in a bowl.
- After 1 hour, remove the hot dogs and increase BBQ temperature to 350°F.
- Slice hot dogs into 1-inch bite-sized pieces.
- Place them in a 9×13 aluminum pan or grill-safe baking dish.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the hot dog bites and toss to coat.
- Return the pan to the grill and cook for another 30 minutes, until the sauce thickens and caramelizes.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
🥡 STORAGE
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.♨️ REHEATING
- Air Fryer: Preheat to 350°F. Reheat burnt ends for 3 to 4 minutes until warmed through.
- Microwave: Place in a microwave-safe dish and cover lightly. Heat in 30-second bursts, stirring occasionally, until hot.
- Oven: Preheat to 325°F. Place burnt ends in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil, and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until heated through.
- Skillet: Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add burnt ends and a splash of water or sauce. Cook, stirring occasionally, until warmed through.
❄️ FREEZING
Let the burnt ends cool completely, then freeze in a single layer before transferring to a freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.💡 TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS
- Use quality sausages or hot dogs for the best flavor.
- Slice evenly to ensure uniform cooking and caramelization.
- Try different BBQ rubs and sauces to switch up the flavor.
🍳 ALTERNATE COOKING METHODS
- Oven: Bake at 250°F for the first hour on a lined baking sheet, then transfer the hot dogs to a baking dish, add sauce, and bake at 350°F for an additional 30 minutes.
- Air Fryer: Cook the whole hot dogs at 300°F for 10-12 minutes. Slice, then toss in sauce, and air fry at 350°F for 5-6 minutes, or until caramelized.
♻️ LEFTOVERS
Chop and toss into mac and cheese, layer onto nachos, stir into fried rice, or wrap in crescent dough for pig-in-a-blanket bites.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
