Southwest Hot Dogs

It’s time to fire up your grill! These Southwest Hot Dogs are an easy summer dish perfect for grilling season! So good. Enjoy! #StartYourGrill #CollectiveBias

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Southwest Hot Dogs and Easy Summer Dishes with Park’s Finest™ Frankfurters from Ball Park®

One of the things I love most about summer is grilling! Hello, what’s not to love about food cooked over fire?! I am the grill master at our house … and it’s a job I love! 🙂 Growing up in Florida, my parents grilled often – year round. I think that kinda spoiled me with all of those grilling recipes! There’s just something about grilled food that makes it taste better, doesn’t it?! 

Like many families, we spent Memorial Day weekend with family and breaking in the grill for summer. This year was extra special because Elijah just graduated from high school, so it feels like we’ve been partying for a week! I guess now that I think about it, technically we have been partying and celebrating for that long! 😀

We stopped by our local Safeway to get some shopping done for our Memorial Day cook-out. While looking for hot dogs to go with our burgers, I spotted these new Park’s Finest™ Frankfurters from Ball Park® and decided to give them a try! They are new and I had never seen them before. We chose the Signature Seasoned … but there is also a Cracked Dijon Mustard and a Slow Smoked Hickory variety. 

I loved that these frankfurters are made with 100% beef and that there’s no artificial preservatives, flavors, colors or fillers …. and NO Nitrates!! Park’s Finest™ Frankfurters from Ball Park® is a premium line of bold hot dog varieties, infused with premium seasonings. 

Here are some fast facts for you …. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day (aka “hot dog season”), Americans eat nearly 7 billion hot dogs according to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council! Did you know that 98% of all hot dogs are eaten with condiments – the number one condiment you may ask?! Mustard!

Grilling the perfect dogs

 When it comes to grilling the perfect dogs, Ballpark knows a thing or two. Here are few tips for perfecting your dogs on the grill:

• Spray it before you lay it: Before laying hot dogs on the grill, be sure to spray the grill with vegetable oil or cooking spray to ensure the food doesn’t stick to the grates as it’s cooked.
• Don’t lose the juice: Use tongs rather than a fork to gently turn franks and handle as little as possible. Do not cut or pierce the hot dogs while they are grilling or those delicious juices may be lost.
• Get the “smoky” flavor – If you prefer your hot dogs to have a smoky taste, keep the grill completely covered while cooking. 
• Dress the dog: Have lots of fun toppings ready for your guests to use to top the hot dog – everything from the traditional mustard and ketchup to grilled veggies, chili & cheese or even sour cream.
  Always “dress the dog,” not the bun.

• Condiments should be applied in the following order: wet condiments like mustard and chili are applied first, followed by chunky condiments like relish, onions and sauerkraut, followed by shredded cheese, followed by spices, like celery salt or pepper

The Southwest Hot Dog

This Southwest Hot Dog is inspired by the Sonoran Dog found at Nogales Hot Dogs in Phoenix. Brian and I recently had the pleasure of experiencing one of Phoenix’s landmarks on a rare night out. Before we moved here, I read about all of the food trucks here in the Valley – and the various fare they sold. But the one that really caught my attention and was at the top of my “foodie bucket list” here in Phoenix, was Nogales Hot Dogs! I am so glad that we had that experience and we crossed it off our list! I am sure we’ll be repeat customers! 🙂

To be totally truthful, I never would have thought beans would be good on a hot dog …. but man, was I wrong! I had no idea what I had been missing! I couldn’t wait to get home and make my own spin on the famous Sonoran Dog! Side note – This Southwest Hot Dog is different that what you get at Nogales Hot Dogs – so if you’re ever in Phoenix and decide to stop by, please, don’t go there thinking this is what you’ll get! 🙂

There really is no “recipe” needed to make these at home, but if you would like to replicate these yummy Southwest Hot Dogs (and really, you should – they are so good!), here is how I did it:

Making Southwest Hot Dogs

To assemble these Southwest hot dogs at home: toast hot dog buns. Top grilled hot dogs with refried beans (homemade or canned), homemade guacamole and drizzle with mayonnaise. Serve with salsa on the side. 

***Just a side note – Right now, you can save $0.55 on one package of Park’s Finest™ Frankfurters from Ball Park®. Click HERE for your coupon. Offer valid 05/26/14-06/01/14

I can see more of these Southwest Hot Dogs happening this summer! Now that you know one of my favorite grilling recipes and how I top my dog, what is one of your favorite grilling recipes and how do you like to top your dogs?!

Other recipes you may enjoy

• Phoenix Sunset Margarita
• Sweet & Sour Hot Dogs
• The ULTIMATE List of Hot Dog Recipes
• Chili Dog Casserole
• Hawaiian Dogs

Originally published on May 27, 2014. Updated on April 29, 2021.