During a Super Bowl party in my tiny apartment, I needed to feed friends to man a grill in the freezing weather without missing the game. My grandmother’s recipe, oven-baked hot dogs in homemade BBQ sauce, saved the day. When I pulled that sizzling pan from the oven, my friends fell silent before declaring them the best hot dogs ever. Now, these BBQ hot dogs are my signature game-day dish. They take minimal effort with maximum flavor, delivering that perfect BBQ taste without any grilling hassle, no matter the weather outside.
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Table of Contents
Hot dogs baked in the oven
This oven-baked hot dog recipe transforms an ordinary cookout staple into something extraordinary through a brilliant combination of technique and flavor. The key innovation is cooking the hot dogs in a homemade barbecue sauce that infuses them with savory-sweet flavor as they bake. Slitting the hot dogs before baking creates more surface area for caramelization and allows the sauce to penetrate deeper. The sauce itself balances tangy, sweet, and smoky notes from the combination of ketchup, mustard, and spices, while the sautéed onions add depth and natural sweetness. Basting throughout the cooking process ensures the hot dogs develop a flavorful exterior while remaining juicy inside. This method also allows you to prepare multiple hot dogs simultaneously with minimal supervision—perfect for entertaining.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the BBQ Sauce:
- Onion – Provides aromatic foundation and natural sweetness
- Butter РCreates a rich base for saut̩ing onions
- Black pepper – Adds subtle heat and depth
- Prepared mustard – Contributes tangy sharpness
- Paprika – Delivers subtle smoky notes and color
- Ketchup – Provides tomato base and sweetness
- Vinegar – Balances sweetness with bright acidity
- Water – Creates proper sauce consistency
- Worcestershire sauce – Adds complex umami depth
For Assembly:
- Hot dogs – The star ingredient, transformed by baking and sauce
- Hot dog buns – Vessel for holding the flavorful dogs and sauce
How to Cook Hot Dogs in the Oven
- Sauté onion in butter until onion is translucent.
- Add pepper, paprika, mustard, ketchup, vinegar, water, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to boil.
- Cut 3-inch slits in each hot dog.
- Place hot dogs in a flat baking pan, slit side up.
- Pour sauce over the hot dogs.
- Bake in 350 degrees oven for 25 minutes.
- Baste hot dogs with sauce occasionally while they are baking.
- Place baked hot dogs and sauce in hot dog buns. Enjoy!
BBQ Hot Dogs in the Oven: Saucy Game Day Favorite
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 4 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 12 hot dogs
Instructions
- Saute onion in butter until translucent.
- Add black pepper, paprika, mustard, ketchup, vinegar, water, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to boil.
- Cut 3-inch slits in each hot dog. Place hot dogs in a flat baking pan, slit side up. Pour sauce over hot dogs and bake in 350 degrees oven for 25 minutes. Occasionally baste hot dogs with sauce while they are baking.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe variations
How can you change this recipe up? Here are a couple of suggestions:
- Use different hot dogs or sausages. I have made this recipe with the full-sized smokies, as well as the hot dogs with cheese.
- Use store-bought BBQ sauce. If you don’t have time to make a homemade barbecue sauce, you can use a bottle of your favorite sauce.
Storage and Reheating
- Store leftover hot dogs and sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days
- To reheat, place hot dogs and sauce in a covered baking dish at 325°F for 10-15 minutes
- For quick reheating, microwave individual portions for 1-2 minutes until heated through
- The sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated separately for up to 5 days
- It is not recommended for freezing as texture may change
Tips for cooking hot dogs in the oven
- Cut slits into the hot dogs to increase the surface area; this way, the hot dogs brown more.
- About halfway through cooking, shake the pan to rotate the hot dogs so they brown on all sides.
- Line the baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup.
- Cook the hot dogs in a savory sauce for lots of flavor.
- This is a great way to cook up many hot dogs at once.
Do you love hot dogs? Try these recipes!
- Hot Dog in Air Fryer
- Bourbon Hot Dogs
- Hot Dog Casserole
- Mac and Cheese Hot Dog
- Mini Corn Dogs
- Hot Dog Onion Sauce
Quick Dinner Recipes
- Smoked Sausage and Peppers
- Hamburger Green Bean Casserole
- Homemade Sloppy Joes
- Country Fried Steak
- Italian Sausage Spaghetti
Be sure to check out my easy dinner recipes and the best beef recipes here on CopyKat.com!
My name is Ginny Manley. My mother made BBQ hot dogs very similar to your recipe. I have never come across them before. On a whim I googled to see if there was such a recipe online. I had to laugh when your name and recipe came up. Is this a copycat recipe from somewhere else?
These are still one of my favorite recipes that has been passed down. I hope this recipe finds its way into many homes. It’s a good one
This was just a way we made hot dogs around the house. I have a few family recipes online.
I’m planning to have a good truck business in the future and having unique hotdog recipes would be a good contender for the menu. I like the fact that you incorporated barbecue sauce in the recipe. Perhaps I should start looking for a supplier of barbecue sauce for my business.
These were great!