A pack of hot dogs and a hot grill is all it takes to get dinner going in the summer. They’re quick, crowd-pleasing, and easy enough for backyard BBQs and cookouts while camping. But even hot dogs deserve right side dish. That's why you should check out this list of side dishes for hot dogs to turn your frank fix into a full-blown meal.
Just like hot dogs themselves, these side dishes are easy. Think classic BBQ sides like coleslaw and pasta salad along with fun new recipes like grilled watermelon and pickled okra. Some of these sides like the corn salad and baked beans can even double as hot dog toppings! And the best part about these recipes is that they can go with just about any style dog you want to create, whether it’s a bacon-wrapped hot dog or a Chicago-style hot dog. So, no matter which hot dogs you throw on the grill, these side dishes will make the meal complete.
Bell Pepper-Cabbage Slaw
If you’re tired of the same ol’ slaw, try this new kind made with bell peppers: It’s the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, tangy, and cool for cookouts.
Get Ree’s Bell Pepper-Cabbage Slaw recipe.
Grilled Zucchini
These veggie spears are marinated then grilled until just tender and lightly charred. A sprinkle of homemade lemon salt gives it a bright, citrusy finish.
Get Ree’s Grilled Zucchini recipe.
Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad
Combine all the creamy, tangy flavor of deviled eggs with pasta salad in this dish. It’s full of crunchy bits like pickles, celery, and bell pepper.
Get Ree’s Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad recipe.
Green Goddess Potato Salad
Add some green to your diet! This potato salad gets its bright color and herby flavor thanks to chives, parsley, tarragon, and avocado.
Get Ree's Green Goddess Potato Salad recipe.
Macaroni and Cheese
What's more nostalgic than a hot dog and mac and cheese dinner? Ree's baked mac and cheese is crispy on top and creamy inside, delivering a cheesy contrast to each bite of smoky sausage.
Get Ree's Macaroni and Cheese recipe.
Grilled Corn on the Cob
This summer staple is so easy to make using our method for grilling the corn with some husks peeled and some left on. It's a foolproof trick that will yield sweet, juicy corn every time. The garlic-chive butter doesn't hurt either.
Get the Grilled Corn on the Cob recipe.
Lemon Herb Pasta Salad
Here’s a real medley of flavors in a side dish: sweet peas, marinated artichokes, salty feta, and plenty of fresh basil and parsley. The lemon-shallot dressing is what really makes it.
Get the Lemon Herb Pasta Salad recipe.
Big Grilled Veggie Salad
You get plenty of smoky, just-off-the-grill flavor in this salad that’s full of charred zucchini, squash, peppers, onions, and mushrooms. Top it off with lemon juice and zest, crumbled feta, and fresh herbs.
Get Ree’s Big Grilled Veggie Salad recipe.
Tomato Cucumber Feta Salad
This bright summer salad goes great with all your grilling favorites, including hot dogs! Juicy heirloom tomatoes and cucumbers plus salty feta make for fresh flavor in every bite.
Get Ree's Tomato Cucumber Feta Salad recipe.
Bow Tie Pasta Salad
How cute and colorful is this bow tie pasta salad? Toss the ingredients (bell pepper, green onion, green peas, ham, and cheese) in dressing the night before to let the flavors marinate and save time the day of the cookout.
Get the Bow Tie Pasta Salad recipe.
Ranch Slaw
Ranch lovers can get their fix even on hot dog night with this tangy slaw recipe! The crunchy, cooling veggies, including coleslaw, carrots, and scallions, are the perfect companion to the cookout classic.
Get Ree's Ranch Slaw recipe.
Classic Coleslaw
A classic hot dog calls for a classic side like crunchy coleslaw. It's creamy and tangy—and it only takes 10 minutes to whip up!
Get the Classic Coleslaw recipe.
Pickled Okra
Instead of your typical pickles, try pickled okra instead. The veggie is a Southern favorite that becomes crisp and tangy with a quick-pickle brine. They have plenty of dill flavor and a bit of spice from the dried chiles.
Get the Pickled Okra recipe.
Cucumber Salad
This salad is one of the most refreshing things you can eat come summertime. The cool cucumber slices and zippy dressing can even be made ahead. It's that easy!
Get the Cucumber Salad recipe.
Baked Beans
Hot dogs and beans are a match made in cookout heaven! But they're particularly delicious when the beans are smoky, sweet, tangy, and topped with bacon.
Get the Baked Beans recipe.
Grilled Watermelon
Sure, you can serve up watermelon slices with your hot dogs for lunch. But why not take things one step further and make it grilled watermelon instead? The fruit gets smoky and caramelized with an herby fresh pop from the cilantro and lime.
Get the Grilled Watermelon recipe.
Loaded Baked Potato Salad
This potato salad is anything but ordinary! It's loaded with all the goodness of a baked potato—including the sour cream, bacon, cheese, and green onion.
Get the Loaded Baked Potato Salad recipe.
Corn Salad
This corn dish has a bit of heat from the chopped jalapeño and chipotle-lime dressing, but it's perfectly balanced out by the sweet corn and buttery avocado. In other words? A new summertime favorite.
Get the Corn Salad recipe.
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
The sweet and tangy flavor of this macaroni salad is always a hit at a summer cookout. You can pair it with steaks, burgers, and hot dogs!
Get the Hawaiian Macaroni Salad recipe.
Fried Pickles
Fried pickles are golden, crispy, and salty—so they're pretty much the ultimate snack food. The key is using thicker dill pickle chips for the best breading to pickle ratio.
Get the Fried Pickles recipe.
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