Go Back

Firecracker Hot Dogs

Firecracker hot dogs are spiral-scored grilled hot dogs loaded with spicy jalapeño relish, bright yellow mustard, and a sriracha drizzle. Charred and split open on the grill, they’re piled into buttery toasted buns and finished with crispy fried onions for a bold BBQ-style party hot dog recipe.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

hot dogs and buns
  • 8 beef hot dogs
  • 8 hot dog buns
toppings
  • 2 tbsp butter, softened Soften for easy spreading.
  • 0.5 cup jalapeño relish or pickled jalapeños, chopped
  • 0.25 cup yellow mustard
  • 2 tbsp sriracha
  • 0.25 cup crispy fried onions
  • 1 ketchup for serving

Equipment

  • 1 grill pan

Method
 

Score and grill the hot dogs
  1. Score each hot dog with diagonal cuts or a spiral cut to help them char and open on the grill.
  2. Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat and cook hot dogs for 8–10 minutes, turning frequently, until charred and split open slightly.
Toast the buns
  1. Butter the inside of each hot bun and toast on the grill for 1–2 minutes until golden.
Assemble the firecracker toppings
  1. Place a hot dog in each toasted bun and top with jalapeño relish.
  2. Add a squeeze of yellow mustard to each hot dog.
  3. Drizzle sriracha over each hot dog.
  4. Finish with crispy fried onions and serve immediately with ketchup on the side.

Notes

Pro tip: keep the grill medium-high and turn often so the spiral cuts char quickly without burning the hot dog casings. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat gently on a skillet or grill pan. Freezing isn’t recommended for best bun texture. For a lower-heat option, use mild jalapeño relish and reduce sriracha to 1 tbsp total.