In this recipe for Marinated Hot Dogs, we’ll turn up the volume of flavor on an already popular food. The marinade is simply a few well-known sauces and some Cajun seasoning. I’ll also show you a helpful way to warm up those buns. All this and the right toppings add taste and a little gourmet to the classic hot dog!

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Marinating The Hot Dogs

Lots of things get marinated to enhance their flavor, so why not the all-American hot dog wieners?

The marinade we’re making for them has a little sweetness from some Soy Sauce and lots more flavor from Worcestershire and Cajun seasoning. Now here is where you don’t skimp on flavor. Always use high-quality soy and Worcestershire sauces. Trust me, I know! (Saying this while looking through the top of my eyeglasses.)

And as far as the Cajun seasoning goes, use your favorite blend. I like the balance of Slap Ya Mama’s taste and also this recipe for a homemade Cajun seasoning blend from George Graham’s Acadiana Table is delicious and easy to make.

By putting a half gallon Ziplok bag in a bowl before pouring in the marinade ingredients you get less mess from spills. The half gallon bags are the perfect size for marinating these dogs. You can order them by clicking the above link.

After placing the wieners in the bag, zip it up and marinate them in the refrigerator as long as time permits. The longer the soak the better. I recommend 8 hours for optimum taste, but I’ve cooked them after much less time.

Warming The Buns

About an hour before you plan on serving these delicious frankfurters, wrap up the buns in some parchment paper or foil if you prefer. I choose parchment paper for cooking over aluminum foil. There may be a chance of aluminum from the foil leaching into the food during cooking.

The wrapped bun also makes serving easy, especially when hanging out by the grill or fire.

Next, place them in a crockpot, turn it on low, and make sure the lid is tightly closed. Timing is important. You don’t want to keep the crockpot on too long as it tends to dry out the buns. One hour is the max for my pot.

Cooking The Hot Dogs

Now, cook them either on a hot grill, on skewers over a fire, or inside on the stove. Eight to ten minutes for each side is all it takes unless you like the taste of a charred dog.

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Dressing The Marinated Hot Dogs

There are many options when it comes to what to put on a hot dog. My usual is mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup. I also like it with this homemade Mustard Barbecue Sauce I posted a while back. It’s much like the sauce I remember eating on grilled burgers at bazaars and rodeos when I was a kid.

Setting up a hot dog bar with all the fixings is a fun and easy way to host your family and friends. You can get creative with different ingredients while cruising the grocery store aisles. Choose toppings like fresh veggies, different condiments, jarred pickles, and fresh items from the deli like cole slaw.

I like serving these Marinated Hot Dogs with Plain Potato Salad and baked beans. For an even easier version, chips and dips with a dessert from the deli are perfectly acceptable!

I hope you have fun discovering many ways to serve tasty all-American dogs. Let me know how it goes. I love chatting with you!

“All great change in America begins at the dinner table.”

Ronald Reagan