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Hot Dog Burnt Ends Recipe: Cheap, Simple, and Easy

Hot Dog Burnt Ends are a great BBQ appetizer - they're cheap and simple to do.
dylan clay profile picture
By Dylan Clay
December 5, 2024
hot dog burnt ends

Slice Hot Dogs into Thirds

Some folks like to smoke them whole first and then slice, however, I think you get more coverage when all edges are exposed.

schonlands hot dogs

Use Mustard to Bind Dry Rub to Hot Dogs and Then Apply Rub

If you don’t have mustard, a great alternative is a neutral cooking oil.

Put them into an aluminum pan, and add mustard.

Mix around so that all surfaces of are covered in mustard.

Then apply your favorite bbq rub.

hot dogs covered in mustard binder with rub

Get Your Smoker to 225F

I used my weber kettle.

Put them on indirect and ensure none of them are touching.

Add your favorite hardwood – I used post-oak.

hot dog burnt ends on the weber kettle

You want to smoke long enough for the mustard to burn off.

hot dogs after 1 hour of smoking
Hot dogs after one hour of smoking

After 1 Hour of Smoking, Put Into an Aluminum Pan

In order to glaze, you can use your favorite barbecue sauce.

With recipes like this, I like to use up whatever I have on-hand.

I used roughly 1/3 cup of Sweet Baby Ray’s and 1/3 cup of Stubb’s.

I also used 2 tablespoons of butter and a few shakes of BBQ Rub.

preparing hot dog burnt ends for glazing

Put in your oven set to 375F for 30 minutes.

Every 10 minutes or so stir the hot dog burnt ends around so that the butter was mixed in with the sauce.

bbq cocktail weenies glazed

Hot Dog Burnt Ends Recipe

Smoked Hot Dog Burnt Ends
Active Time1 hour 40 minutes
Total Time1 hour 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • Hot Dogs
  • Mustard
  • 3 tbsp Your favorite BBQ Rub

Glaze

  • 2/3 Cup Your Favorite BBQ Sauce
  • 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter

Instructions

  • Slice hot dogs into thirds.
    Hot Dogs
  • Put sliced hot dogs into an aluminum pan. Use mustard as a binder.
    Mustard
  • Apply rub liberally to mustard covered hot dogs.
    3 tbsp Your favorite BBQ Rub

Smoke the Hot Dog Burnt Ends

  • Set your smoker to 225F. We used post oak but use whatever hardwood you prefer.
  • Place hot dog burnt ends on the grill so that they aren't touching.
  • Smoke for 1 hour.

Glaze Hot Dog Burnt Ends

  • After 1 hour, put the smoked hot dogs into an aluminum pan.
  • Add your favorite barbecue sauce and 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter.
    2/3 Cup Your Favorite BBQ Sauce, 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter
  • Either increase your smokers temperature to 375F or bring inside to your oven.
  • Place into your oven and stir every 10 minutes or so just so the melted butter is incorporated into the sauce. You also want all surfaces of the hot dogs covered in sauce.
  • After some time the glaze will start to caramelize. This process took us around 30 minutes. However, be sure to keep an eye on them as it depends on how much sauce you add.
  • Once the glaze is set and the sugars have caramelized, bring outside and serve with toothpicks to eat and enjoy!

Notes

Don’t fret if some of the casings crack, it’s more or less bound to happen, especially in an oven.
If you don’t have my rub, any sugar-based barbecue rub will suffice here. 

4 comments

  • Richard Goodwin

    Two big thumbs up from me. Delicious recipe!

  • 5 stars
    These are a great thing to make in the winter to get your barbecue fix. Don’t take to long and taste great. Thanks for the article.

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