Boiled Hot Dogs are an easy way to make a lot of hot dogs all at once! Learn how to boil hot dogs so that they come out juicy and tender every time you make them.
The Easiest Hot Dog Recipe
Boiled hot dogs are not the fanciest meal you’ll ever eat, but they’re still one of those essential foods that everybody should know how to make. Especially if you’ve got kiddos! There are so many different ways to serve hot dogs, and so many ways to switch up the condiments and toppings so that nobody gets tired of them.
Today, though, we’re mainly going to focus on how to cook hot dogs. Now, there are a lot of techniques out there. You can grill them, sear them on the stovetop, roast them in the oven, cook them over a campfire, etc. The quickest and most foolproof way to cook them, however (in our opinion), is to boil them.
Boiling hot dogs makes them so juicy and tender, and the process takes all of 7 minutes from start to finish. How simple is that?
Why We Love Boiled Hot Dogs
Boiled hot dogs may be simple, but they still deserve some recognition and a spot on your meal plan! Here’s why we’re such big fans of this recipe:
- Great Texture and Flavor: These hot dogs always come out plump and juicy, and they don’t taste too salty either. Each bite is a delight because the flavors from your favorite condiments will shine through!
- Efficient: Boiling hot dogs is one of the easiest ways to make a big batch of hot dogs in one go. That means everybody gets to eat at the same time (i.e. there’s no eating in shifts, which can happen sometimes when you’re grilling or air frying).
- Adaptable: There are so many ways to serve hot dogs! You can serve them in a bun, topped with Hot Dog Chili and/or Homemade Cheese Sauce, and on and on. See more suggestions below!
What You’ll Need
The ingredients list for today is REALLY short. You literally just need hot dogs and water, that’s it.
- Hot Dogs: You can use beef hot dogs, turkey hot dogs, or whichever other type you like.
- Water: You can salt the water if you would like. You can also boil them in beer for more flavor!
How to Boil Hot Dogs
Okay – let’s break down the best way to cook hot dogs! Here are the quick and easy steps you’ll need to follow:
- Fill a Pot With Water: In a medium size pot, add enough water so that the hot dogs will all be covered when added to the pot.
- Bring the Water to a Boil: Using tongs, place the hot dogs into the boiling water.
- Boil the Hot Dogs: Turn the heat down to a soft boil and cook the hot dogs for 5 to 6 minutes.
- Remove the Hot Dogs: Use the tongs to remove the hot dogs and place them on a plate to let the water evaporate.
- Serve and Enjoy! Place the warm hot dogs in buns and serve with your favorite condiments!
How Long to Boil Hot Dogs
If you’re just taking the hot dogs out of the fridge, go ahead and boil them for 5 to 6 minutes. If you have frozen hotdogs, you will need to boil them for 2 minutes longer, for a total of 7 to 9 minutes. Boiling frozen hot dogs is actually a great way to cook them, because you don’t have to worry about defrosting them.
Tips for Success
Alright, so now that you know how to make the best hot dogs out there, we’ve got a couple of tips to share with you so that you get perfect results every time you make them:
- How to Tell When the Hot Dogs Are Done: You can tell the hot dogs are done when they darken in color and the skin gets a little wrinkled.
- How Do I Tell If the Hot Dogs Are Undercooked? Hot dogs are already cooked so we are basically heating them up. No need to worry about consuming undercooked hot dogs.
- How Do I Keep the Skins From Splitting? Usually hot dog skins do not split when boiled but, to be extra safe, you can preemptively poke holes in them with a fork before cooking them, if you like.
Serving Suggestions
What goes with a hot dog, you ask? Pretty much anything you like. Here are some of our go-to side dishes and toppings for hot dog dinners:
- Toppings and a Bun: All of the classics are perfect for boiled hot dogs – ketchup, mustard, mayo, relish, pickled onions, you name it.
- Fries: What’s a hot dog without a pile of salty french fries next to it, to soak up some of that extra ketchup?
- Beans: Some sweet Southern Baked Beans go great along side hot dogs in the summertime! If you are having a party, try these Crockpot Baked Beans as they are hands off and save a lot of oven space!
- Salad: Any creamy pasta salad will pair really well with a hot dog, but we also really love this Cucumber Tomato Salad during the warmer months. If you aren’t a fan of cucumbers, this Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad is another great lighter option.
- Hot Dog Chili: We love to serve boiled hot dogs with some spicy ground beef chili and shredded cheese over the top to make chili dogs.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
A really nice part about this hot dog recipe is that it stores quite well. Here’s what to do if you have leftovers:
- To Store: Store leftover hot dogs in an airtight container for 5-6 days in the refrigerator. Do not store them in buns, as they will likely become soggy.
- To Reheat: Reheat in the microwave or add a little water to a skillet and steam them.
More Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas
Looking for more quick and easy dinner recipes to try? We highly recommend these ones:
- Air Fryer Steak Bites
- One-Pot Italian Sausage Pasta
- 30 Minute Shrimp Alfredo
- Easy Garlic Parmesan Chicken
- Air Fyrer Shrimp Tacos Recipe
- 10 Minute Air Fryer Mahi Mahi
- Air Fryer Hot Dogs
How to Boil Hot Dogs
Ingredients
- 8 Hot Dogs
- Water
Instructions
- In a medium size pot, add enough water that the hot dogs will all be covered when added to the pot.
- Bring the water to a boil. Using tongs, place the hot dogs into the boiling water.
- Turn the heat down to a soft boil and cook the hot dogs for 5 to 6 minutes.
- Use the tongs to remove the hot dogs and place them on a plate to let the water evaporate.
- Place warm hot dogs in buns and serve with your favorite condiments!
Notes
- To Store: Store leftover hot dogs in an airtight container for 5-6 days in the refrigerator. Do not store them in buns, as they will likely become soggy.
- To Reheat: Reheat in the microwave or add a little water to a skillet and steam them.
