5 Smoked Hot Dog Recipes (Smoker or Grill)

Here are easy instructions on how to smoke hot dogs while camping, either in a portable smoker or on a grill. Plus, smoked hot dog recipes with tasty toppings…

Jump to the recipes

Hot dogs are a staple camping food that is cheap, easy to cook, and SO VERSATILE! Sure, grilling or boiling them are go-to’s, but have you ever had a smoked hot dog? Mmm-Mmm, they’re good!

Best of all, the smoking process is hands-off. You simply do a bit of prep and let them smoke while you sit back and relax.

We’ll tell you how to make great smoked hot dogs in a portable smoker or on your camping grill. Then we’ll share some great hot dog recipes with various toppings to try with your smoked dogs.

(Already know how to smoke hot dogs? Jump to the recipes.)

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What Wood Is Best For Smoking Hot Dogs?

You can use any type of wood pellets or chips, but here are some favorite wood chips for smoking hot dogs:

• Oak
• Pecan
• Apple
• Cherry

The best wood to use depends on your personal preference. You can even try mixing woods, like oak and cherry wood, to create a unique smoky flavor that can become your signature.

Should You Season Hot Dogs Before Smoking Them?

If you’re going to eat your hot dogs a la carte or with basic toppings, you may wish to season them before smoking them. Many people use mustard powder, brown sugar, or a store-bought BBQ rub to add another layer of flavor.

But since we’re going to include smoked hot dog recipes at the end with various toppings, we will focus only on the basics in our smoking instructions. That way, you have a pure smoky flavor to serve as a base for the various toppings in our recipes.

How to Smoke Hot Dogs in a Smoker

More and more RVers and campers are packing portable meat smokers with the rest of their gear. They take their Mini-Max Big Green Egg or Traeger Tailgater wood pellet grill and smoker wherever they go.

If you’re one such camper, smoking hot dogs couldn’t be simpler on your next camping trip. 

As mentioned above, you can season your hot dogs before smoking. However, since we’re providing smoked recipes with various toppings at the end, we will cover only the basics here. That way, you have a simple yet delicious smoky flavor to complement any of the shared recipes at the end.

So, let’s dive into the step-by-step instructions right now…

Step 1: Prep Your Smoker

• Set up your portable smoker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Ensure you have enough wood chips or pellets and a reliable heat source.
• Preheat your smoker to a temperature of around 225°F (107°C).

Step 2: Prepare the Hot Dogs

• If desired, season your hot dogs with your favorite dry rub.
• For a classic smoky flavor, skip the seasoning and let the wood smoke shine through.
• Score the hot dogs with a sharp knife, ideally in a diamond pattern. This Slot Dog Slicing Tool makes it easy! 

Step 3: Smoke the Hot Dogs

• Arrange the hot dogs on the smoker grill grates, allowing some space between them for the smoke to circulate.
• Close the smoker’s lid and let the hot dogs smoke for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Depending on the level of smokiness you prefer, you can adjust the smoking time accordingly.
• If you need to cook faster, raise your smoker temperature and adjust the smoking time accordingly. Remove the hot dogs once they reach the ideal internal temperature…

Step 4: Check for Ideal Temperature

• Hot dogs are already cooked, so you don’t have to worry about doneness. But you do want your hot dogs to be hot!
• After the allotted smoking time, use an instant-read digital thermometer to check for the ideal internal temperature of 150-160 degrees F.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy!

• Once the hot dogs are done, carefully remove them from the smoker using tongs or a spatula.
• Serve the smoked hot dogs on hot dog buns or alongside your favorite toppings and condiments. Better yet, try a new hot dog recipe from our recipes below!

How to Smoke Hot Dogs on a Grill

If you don’t camp with a meat smoker, don’t worry! Even without a pellet smoker or electric smoker, you can still smoke hot dogs on your traditional camping grill. 

It doesn’t matter if it’s a charcoal grill, pellet grill, or gas grill; the instructions are essentially the same. It only takes a couple of extra steps that are really easy to complete. 

(BTW, we have an Ultimate List of the Best Smoker Accessories for Camping! Be sure to check it out!)

Step 1: Prep Your Grill for Indirect Heat

• Preheat your BBQ grill to medium-high heat for approximately 10 minutes.
• Prepare the grill for indirect heat by turning off one side of the burners or positioning the charcoal briquettes to one side.

Step 2: Soak Wood Chips and Prepare Foil Packet

• Soak a handful of wood chips in water for 30 minutes; then drain them well.
• Place the wood chips on a piece of aluminum foil and loosely wrap them, creating a small packet.
• Pierce a few holes in the foil packet to allow the smoke to escape.

Step 3: Place Wood Chip Packet on Grill

• Position the foil packet of soaked wood chips on the lit side of the grill or directly over the charcoal if using charcoal briquettes.

Step 4: Prepare the Hot Dogs

• If desired, season your hot dogs with your favorite dry rub or slather with your favorite BBQ sauce.
• For a classic smoky flavor, skip the seasoning and let the wood smoke shine through.
• Score the hot dogs with a sharp knife, ideally in a diamond pattern. This Slot Dog Slicing Tool makes it easy! 

Step 5: Smoke the Hot Dogs

• Arrange the seasoned or plain hot dogs on the unlit side of the grill, opposite the wood chip packet.
•  Close the grill’s lid and let the hot dogs smoke for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Depending on the level of smokiness you prefer, you can adjust the smoking time accordingly.
• If you need to cook faster, raise your smoker temperature and adjust the smoking time accordingly. Remove the hot dogs once they reach the ideal internal temperature…

Step 6: Check for Ideal Temperature

• Hot dogs are already cooked, so you don’t have to worry about doneness. But you do want your hot dogs to be hot!
• After the allotted smoking time, use an instant-read digital thermometer to check for the ideal internal temperature of 150-160 degrees F.

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy!

• Once the hot dogs are done, carefully remove them from the smoker using tongs or a spatula.
• Serve the smoked hot dogs on hot dog buns with your favorite toppings and condiments. Better yet, try a new hot dog recipe from our recipes below!

Have Leftovers?

Don’t worry if you have leftover hot dogs; they reheat great! Simply store them in an airtight container in your fridge or freezer. Defrost and 

You can eat them the next day as usual or cut them up and add them to mac n’ cheese or fresh squash casserole. Or, substitute them for leftover hamburger patties in this tater tot casserole.

5 Smoked Hot Dog Recipes & Toppings

Sure, smoked hot dogs taste good with your basics, like ketchup and yellow mustard. But why stop there? Why not continue to elevate your basic camping hot dog with elevated toppings?!

You can use smoked hot dogs with any of the following recipes. Even if the recipe traditionally uses a certain cooking method (like boiling hot dogs), you can try a new smoky twist on the classic!

Click on each recipe to see the full recipe card… 

35 Best Smoker Accessories & BBQ Tools for Camping

We’ve created an ultimate list & gift guide of the best smoker accessories and BBQ tools for camping, including tools, gadgets, cleaning, and comfort accessories.

Check out all the best smoker accessories by clicking here…

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