Grilled Venison Hot Dogs
Smoky grilled venison hot dogs topped with tender grilled onions, scallions, pickles, and a tangy barbecue sauce, all piled into toasted hoagie-style buns for a hearty, meaty dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 package of venison hot dogs
- 1 yellow onion, chopped/sliced
- 4 scallion stalks, diced
- 16 hamburger pickle chips
- ¼ cup bottled hickory or spicy barbecue sauce
- Ketchup, to taste
- Mayonnaise, to taste
- 4 homemade hoagie-style split hot dog buns (or similar rolls of your choice)
Instructions
- Heat grill to medium-high heat and oil the cooking grates.
- Place venison hot dogs and sliced yellow onion on the grill; cook covered for 5 minutes.
- Turn the hot dogs and onions; continue grilling covered for another 5 minutes, or until the hot dogs are heated through and the onions are tender.
- Brush barbecue sauce over each venison hot dog and over the grilled onions.
- Arrange the buns cut-side down around the edges of the grill.
- Continue grilling covered for 2 minutes, or until the buns are lightly toasted.
- Chop the grilled onion slices into small pieces and chop the scallion stalks.
- Assemble the grilled venison hot dogs and vegetables in the toasted buns, topping with pickle chips, ketchup, and mayonnaise as desired.
- Serve and enjoy.
Cook’s Notes
Keep the grill covered while cooking to help the hot dogs heat through evenly and the onions soften without burning. Brushing the barbecue sauce on near the end of grilling prevents it from charring too much.
Ingredient Swaps
If venison hot dogs aren’t available, any game or beef hot dog works well in this recipe. You can also swap the hoagie buns for standard hot dog buns or brioche rolls.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these hot dogs hot off the grill with a side of chips or a simple coleslaw for a casual backyard dinner.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftover cooked hot dogs and onions separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet or microwave until warmed through before assembling in fresh buns.
Common Questions
Can I make these hot dogs in the oven instead of on a grill?
Yes, you can broil or bake the hot dogs and onions at high heat, though you’ll miss some of the smoky grilled flavor.
What barbecue sauce works best?
A hickory or spicy barbecue sauce is recommended, but any bottled sauce you enjoy will work well with the venison.
Can I prepare the onions ahead of time?
You can slice the onions in advance and store them in the fridge, but they’re best grilled fresh right before serving for optimal texture.