Turn Up Your Hot Dog Game With These Simple Bite-Sized Treats Everyone Will Love

Hot dogs are an American staple, whether you roast them over a campfire in the woods or on a top-notch grill. While there are plenty of ways to customize hot dogs, sometimes you're not looking for a full meal, but a bite-sized snack instead. But rather than do something basic like pigs in blankets (with a bacon upgrade!), why not try something new? Keep things simple and delicious by making hot dog sliders instead.

As you might imagine, hot dog sliders are the miniature version of the American classic — just like regular sliders are small hamburgers. What's great is you don't have to hunt for special bite-sized ingredients, and you can opt to cut the regular foods down to size. Chop both your hot dogs and hot dog buns into thirds so they make smaller portions and are easier to snack on. You can also butterfly slice your hot dog bites lengthwise so they fit wider, more like sandwich meat, on your bun. Note that you'll want to cut the dogs before grilling so all sides get that nice crispy finish. Then top off each slider with your favorite grilling ingredients like cheese, pickles, and onions, along with your go-to condiments, and enjoy. You can also create a variety of flavor combinations, which is perfect for satisfying all the guests who want to enjoy your bite-sized hot dogs.

While classics are classics for a reason, hot dogs are no strangers to upgrades; and neither should your sliders be. There are plenty of grilled hot dog styles including the barbecue-inspired cowboy hot dogs, and we can't forget about Anthony Bourdain's favorite, the Chicago-style dog. Simply shrink down the size of the ingredients in these recipes and you can serve them to a large crowd by way of sliders. To emulate some of these variations, opt for caramelized onions and relish, or even add small spoonfuls of beef chili sauce for mini chili dogs. You could even swap the classic potato bun for a heartier sesame or pretzel bun so you can pack on extra flavor without it spilling out. Or do all of the above and prepare a couple of different styles so you can enjoy a hot dog slider sampler plate.

Note that there is no hard and fast rule about the type of hot dog you use for your sliders, which is great for flavor exploration and dietary inclusion. Swap your pork wiener for a beef frank, learn the difference between sausages and hot dogs, explore different meat combinations, or even get hot dogs with other ingredients mixed in. You can buy hot dogs that are already stuffed with cheese and jalapeño, which makes choosing toppings even easier. Going back to the basics is a great place to start and will certainly please a crowd, but this easy, bite-sized hot dog upgrade is almost begging you to get creative.