There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about a dish that doesn’t take itself too seriously—just good, simple fun on a plate. These hot dog burnt ends have that playful spirit, but with enough sweet-smoky magic to make even grown-ups hover around the pan. They’re easy, budget-friendly, and always the first thing to disappear at casual cookouts or family game nights.
Ingredients
- 3 packages (32 oz each) hot dogs
- 2/3 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/3 cup yellow mustard
- 2 teaspoons liquid smoke
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, divided
Instructions
- Set your oven to 300°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cut the hot dogs into thirds or quarters—whatever bite-size shape you like—and spread them out in the dish.
- Drizzle the BBQ sauce, mustard, and liquid smoke over the hot dogs, then give everything a good toss so they’re well coated.
- In a small bowl, stir together the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and half of the brown sugar. Shake this mixture evenly over the hot dogs.
- Slide the pan into the oven and bake for 1 hour, stopping halfway to stir so everything cooks evenly.
- Pull the dish out, sprinkle the remaining brown sugar on top, turn the oven up to 400°F, and bake for another 10–15 minutes until the edges get glossy and caramelized.
- Serve warm alongside whatever deli salads or picnic favorites you love most.