Hot dogs stuffed with cheese and wrapped with bacon. A simple, fun idea to dress up a hot dog with the flavors of a bacon cheeseburger. These Bacon Wrapped Cheese Hot Dogs are sure to be a hit this summer, or any time of year.
I was having a craving for hot dogs and I started trying to think of delicious ways to dress up a hot dog for a fun weeknight dinner with my boys. A bacon cheeseburger came to mind and I thought why not incorporate those flavors into a hot dog.
We were out of propane for the BBQ, the day I first made these, so I baked the hot dogs in the oven, but since I posted the recipe, I’ve also made these on the grill and the smoker too. Any way you cook them, everyone loves them.
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs in the Oven
Cooking the hot dogs on a grill is my preferred method in the summer, but sometimes it isn’t convenient. So you can easily use your oven to make these Bacon Wrapped Cheese Hot Dogs just as delicious! Follow the directions below in our printable recipe for best results.
- Slice the hot dog lengthwise just deep enough to create a pocked, and stuff with preferred cheese. Sometimes I used shredded if I have it on hand, other times I use thin ¼-inch slices the length of the hot dog.
- Wrap bacon around the hot dog and secure with toothpicks as needed
- Place wrapped hot dogs on a broiler pan
- Bake as directed until bacon is crisp and the hot dog is sweating
Usually, I buy Oscar Mayer Beef Bun Length Hot Dogs. I like that they are the same length as the bun, and love that there are the same number of hot dogs as hot dog buns. (Why they all aren’t the same, I’ll never understand.)
The Sara Lee Soft & Smooth Wheat Hot Dog Buns are my favorite. There’s 2 grams of fiber in each bun and it makes me feel like my family’s eating a little bit better.
Recently I bought some fun split-top buns that are cut in the middle of the top instead of having to break them apart on the side. Have you tried the split top buns yet?
I served my Bacon Wrapped Cheese Hot Dogs with mustard, ketchup and relish, but they’re great with your favorite BBQ sauce as well.
Favorite side dishes to serve alongside the hot dogs can range from quick and easy like watermelon, carrot sticks, grapes, and chips. Or, if you have time to plan ahead, whip up some pressure cooker potato salad, baked beans, or a perfect pasta salad. Either way, these Bacon Wrapped Cheese Hot Dogs are sure to be a hit.
Bacon Wrapped Cheese Hot Dogs
Ingredients
- 8 hot dogs
- ½ cup shredded cheese
- 16 slices bacon pre-cooked
- 8 hot dog buns toasted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450º.
- Slice each hot dog lengthwise down the middle almost, but not all the way through. Fill the pocket with a little shredded cheese. (I used Shredded Colby Monterey Jack.)
- Wrap the hot dog with two slices of thin-sliced, pre-cooked bacon. Secure bacon with toothpicks if necessary. (I used Costco Hormel frozen fully cooked bacon that I thawed in the microwave for about 30 seconds so that it was easier to wrap around the hot dogs.)
- Bake approximately 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bacon and hot dog are hot.
If you’re looking for more great grilling recipes, Hey Grill Hey and Kiss My Smoke are two of my favorite grilling sites.
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Logen
bussin bussin
Mike gutting
We had these when I was growing up in the 50s and the 60s. A great treat
Barbara Schieving
Definitely a fun treat – glad it brought back fond memories. Thanks Mike!
Nancy
These were such a treat when we were growing up !! We loved them !!
Barbara Schieving
Such a fun treat to grow up eating. Thanks Nancy!
Chantelle
These whistledogs are a must for game night.
Aislinn
My mom would make these when I was a kid, but she also added slices of gherkins pickles along with the cheese. SO good!
Barbara Schieving
Sounds like the perfect addition 🙂
Vicky
This is actually an old recipe when I was growing up. Mom would broil the whole thing, watching carefully and turning as it browned the bacon. She also made these in the toaster oven, that was 50 + years ago.
Always a favorite, haven’t had them in years!
Karyl Henry
I don’t eat hot dogs very often. But I love everything bacon so I’m willing to compromise! These look so delicious.
Also, I’ve shared this on my Super Bowl Recipe Roundup: http://karylskulinarykrusade.com/recipe-roundup-super-bowl/
Barbara Schieving
What a fabulous roundup!
Tam
What a great idea!!! can we make these the night before and then wrap them in foil and steam them the next day?? or is there any way to make them ahead of time?
Barbara Schieving
Hi Tam – I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t make them the night before and cook them the next day. Let me know how it goes.
Connie Smith
I have been making these hot dogs since the early sixties when a new friend I met on the air base my husband was transferred to introduced us to them as a snack while playing cards. I have made them as a quick Saturday night supper for my kids over the years but haven’t had one in ages. I guess I will just have to whip up a couple for myself one night. Thanks for the reminder of a favourite dish.
Sinea Pies
Barbara, this is truly MAN FOOD! And many of us ladies LOVE man food!!! Pinned it to my new “Hot Diggity Dog” board and am featuring it tomorrow in a roundup celebrating National Hot Dog Day! Hope you can stop by 🙂
Tim
These were known as Swanky Frankys in our home when I was a kid. Gone to try this tomorrow.
Dawn
My question is, the photos above show raw bacon, yet this recipe says precooked. Can raw bacon be used?
Barbara Schieving
Hi Dawn – I used the precooked bacon from Costco that can look a little bit raw, but cooks very quickly. Since hot dogs also cook quickly I like precooked bacon better. However, someone else took pictures and posted them on Pinterest with a link to my recipe. Their photos do look like regular raw bacon. Since they took the time to take pictures of it and posted it on Pinterest, they must have been very happy with how they tasted with raw bacon. Thanks for the question.
Kat Crosby
My father-in-law created a similar hotdog back in the 60’s, he called them ‘specials’, it was a cut hotdog, stuffed with cheddar cheese and a pickle slice then wrapped in bacon and grilled. My children grew up eating these for every summer holiday or bar-b-que. As adults, they still ask for them on Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day…..thanks ‘Gamps’ for creating the ‘special’!
Barbara Schieving
Hi Kat – I like the addition of a pickle. Thanks for sharing!
Joan Barstad
This is the BEST recipe I have ever seen…and I will tell you why…I have a friend that “doesn’t eat” most foods. Like..roast , fish, hamburgers, pasta….you name it, and she doesn’t like it…except hot dogs. So, when I have them over for supper, which is often…because her husband loves to fish…and loves to eat fish….so, he gives us a lot of his catch, since she won’t cook it for him either…..and we have fish for him often. And I cook her hotdogs!!!!!!
Well, now, I can make her a FANCY hotdog! She will love it! Thank You.
Barbara Schieving
That sounds like a fun surprise. You’ll have to let me know what she says.
Bridget
I have been doing something like this for years. The difference is I put a slice of pickle in that slit with the cheese,wrap with bacon and then pour your favorite bbq sauce over it(I like Open pit). My mom used to call them BBQ hotdogs. Love them!!!
Barbara Schieving
Hi Bridget – I’m sure I’d love your version too.
Alyssa
We call these ‘heavenly hotdogs’ in my family.
And if you want to use them as a camp-fire meal, and cook them over the fire, I suggest cooking them cheese side down first (flipping it over, when cheese starts to melt and drip out), and sticking toothpicks at each end of the hotdog, to keep the bacon on. Just make sure you remember to take the toothpicks out, afterwards!
You can also just use appropriately size-sliced cheese, instead of shredded cheese, if you’re afraid of it falling out, if you’re camp-fire cooking it.
Barbara Schieving
Thanks Alyssa – Thanks a fun name. I’ve meant to try them on the camp fire. Hot dogs always taste better in the mountains cooked over a fire.
Steph Stargell
Wondering how long I would have to cook these if I used raw bacon? Or is that not possible? Should I precook the bacon so that the dogs and cheese do not burn? I know my family will love this for football food this weekend!
Barbara Schieving
Hi Steph – yes, I would precook the bacon. Cook it just until it starts to brown, you don’t want it crispy, you want it soft so it can wrap easily. Sounds like perfect football food.
Bridget
About 45 minutes. but be careful, the you may loose alot of cheese!
Cathy
how do you get the buns to look so good???? lol.
Barbara
Thanks! I just carefully open the buns so they lay flat, spread them with a little butter and toast them under the broil for a few minutes until they’re golden. Watch them closely so they don’t burn. Enjoy!
Cynthia
Oh my gosh! I grew up eating weiners with cheese wrapped in bacon. We loved them! It was really a real treat to get them! Now I’ll just add the bun! Great!
Marla
These are so original Barbara! This week the theme for my *Happy Post* is Grilled Cheese. Would love if you submitted this & any other Grilled Cheese themed links to the round-up. http://su.pr/1R06Od