Easy Curried Hot Dogs — Hot & Crusty Baked Franks for a Quick Budget Meal

 

 

If you love easy comfort food with a little personality, these Hot & Crusty Curried Franks are about to become a new favorite. This budget‑friendly recipe takes everyday hot dogs and transforms them into something unexpectedly delicious with a creamy lightly spiced curried ketchup, honey mustard, and sweet pickle  and a golden, buttery, toasty finish. 

They are quick to make, perfect for busy weeknights, and packed with the kind of nostalgic flavor that feels both familiar and fun. Whether you’re feeding kids, craving something simple, or just want a cheerful twist on a classic, this dish delivers warm, satisfying comfort in every bite.

 

When I was growing up every Friday night was hotdog night in our house. This was one of our favorite nights of the week. Mom had a special electric griddle/waffle iron (like a panini press) that she would use to do the hotdogs in that made them come out super tasty.  The buns would be buttered and grilled first until toasty brown and then she would grill the frankfurters. Sometimes she would split the frankfurters and open them up like a book prior to grilling. Those were always my favorites.

Each hotdog would be wrapped in a paper napkin and be presented to us at the table where we could put our own condiments on them.  Chopped raw onion would be available along with some ketchup, mustard and relish. A simple supper and a real favorite supper.

I first discovered this recipe for Hot & Crusty Curried Franks back in the early 2000's when I was working at the Manor in the U.K. I had a German friend and she shared the recipe with me. A simple homemade take on the popular German Curry Wurst. What you have here are Smoky frankfurters, wrapped in buttered bread which has been spread with curry ketchup, pickle and honey mustard, and then oven baked until  crisp and golden brown. For me, it was love at first bite!

I have been making these tasty hotdogs ever since.  They always go down a real treat and make a delicious, simple, economical and thrifty supper when served along side a hot cup or soup or some potato salad. 

This is Hot Dog Night with a tasty European Twist! Prepare to fall in love!

 

INGREDIENTS NEEDED

TO MAKE

HOT & CRUSTY FRANKS

Simple ingredients put together in the simplest and most delicious way.

• 6 slices of soft white sandwich bread, crusts trimmed off
• 3 TBS curried ketchup (see notes below)
• honey mustard to taste
• 3 pickled gherkins, chopped (Or hot dog relish to taste)
• softened butter for spreading
• 6 smoked frankfurters

 

NOTES ON INGREDIENTS

• Make sure your bread slices are sized large, very fresh and not too thick. This will make it much easier to roll out.
• I used French's Honey Mustard. I really like Honeycup, but that has become very difficult to find where I live. You can use Dijon mustard or German mustard if you are not a fan of Honey Mustard.
• I make my own curried ketchup by whisking together 3 TBS of tomato ketchup and 1 tsp medium strength curry powder. You can of course adjust this as per your own taste.
• I prefer to use sweet pickle relish rather than chopped gherkins.
• You can melt the butter if you find it easier to brush on rather than spread with the butter. The fresher your bread the easier it is to brush the butter on rather than spread.
• I used Schneiders all beef frankfurter/hotdogs.
• I did sprinkle some crispy fried onions on top prior to baking as a garnish. This is entirely optional.

 

HOW TO MAKE

HOT & CRUSTY CURRIED FRANKS

These really are not very difficult to make and go together very quickly and easily! 

1. Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5. Have ready a flat baking sheet. (I like to line it with some baking parchment._
2. Flatten the bread with a rolling pin to make it more pliable. Spread each slice on one side with softened butter. (Do not skip the rolling step. It is essential. You can melt the butter if you would rather do so than using softened butter.)
3. Flip each slice over and spread each one with 1/2 TBS curried ketchup, some honey mustard and about 1 tsp chopped pickled gherkin. (Remember less is more. Don't overdo any of these fillings. I like to use hot dog relish instead of pickled gherkin for it's sweetness.)
4. Lay a frankfurter at one long end of each slice of bread and roll up tightly. Secure with a couple of cocktail sticks and place onto the baking tray. (The long edge of the bread is the side which is the longest. Do secure to prevent them from flying apart in the oven.)
5. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown and crisp. Remove the cocktail sticks before serving.

Hot soup, a green salad or some potato salad go very well on the side of these.

 

HINTS AND TIPS FOR SUCCESS

If you follow these hints and tips success is insured.

• Read through the recipe several times before beginning to help familiarize yourself with ingredients and equipment needed.
• Assemble everything you need to make this recipe before you begin. This can help to prevent you from leaving anything integral to the recipe out by accident.
• Use the right kind of bread. Thinly sliced white bread is recommended. You will need to remove the crusts.
• Roll the bread with a rolling pin to help to make it pliable and easier to roll up around the frankfurter and fillings.
• Less is more. Don't be tempted to spread the fillings onto the bread too thickly. Doing so will make it more difficult to roll the bread around the frankfurters. You can always serve extra ketchup, mustard or relish for dipping them in after they are baked if you wish.
• Secure them tightly with cocktail sticks while they are baking to help prevent them from flying open in the cooking process. Do remove them before serving.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

MUST I USE HOT DOGS?

While hotdogs or frankfurters are traditional, feel free to use Bratwurst, Vienna sausages, chipolatas or even vegetarian sausages or frankfurters. Since they are larger, and basically uncooked, they may need to be partially cooked or steamed ahead of time.

CAN THESE BE MADE AHEAD OF TIME?

Certainly you can do everything up to the point of actually baking them ahead of time. Place onto a tray, cover with some cling film and refrigerate until you are ready to cook them.

MUST I USE HONEY MUSTARD?

We like the honey mustard, but feel free to use any kind of mustard you enjoy.  Dijon is nice as is German mustard.

CAN I USE ANOTHER KIND OF BREAD?

White bread is traditional. You can use Brioche or Challah, just so long as the slices are not too thick and you trim the crusts off.

CAN THESE BE MADE IN THE AIR FRYER?

Absolutely! Preheat your air fryer to the requisite temperature and air fry for the required amount of time until they are golden brown and crisp.

CAN THESE BE FROZEN?

I do not recommend freezing these. Any leftovers will keep in the refrigerator, wrapped tightly, for up to three days. Reheat in a warm oven.

 

A FEW MORE

HOT DOG RECIPES TO ENJOY

I know that hotdogs are perhaps not the healthiest of foods to eat, but they do make for an economical option when it comes to getting a simple supper on the table. Here are a few other delicious hot dog recipes which we enjoy!

HOT DOGS AND SAUERKRAUT - A street-cart classic made cozy at  home. If you grew up loving a good hot dog night, this recipe is going to hit you right in the memories. Tender all‑beef frankfurters simmer with tangy sauerkraut, a touch of brown sugar, and plenty of black pepper until everything is smoky, juicy, and infused with that unmistakable street‑cart aroma. Pile it all into a toasted soft‑sided bun — the kind we Maritimers adore — with a little raw onion on the bottom and honey mustard on top, and you’ve got pure hot‑dog heaven. It’s simple, fast, and unbelievably satisfying… the kind of meal that reminds you why some classics never fade. If you love hot dogs and you love sauerkraut, this one’s going to be a keeper.

MAC AND CHEESE DOGS - When two childhood favorites join forces. If there was ever a dish that proves comfort food doesn’t need to apologize for itself, it’s these Mac & Cheese Dogs. Think smoky hot dogs tucked into crisp‑toasted buns, then crowned with a creamy, velvety homemade macaroni and cheese that’s so good you’ll be tempted to eat it straight from the pot. A sprinkle of extra cheddar and a handful of crispy fried onions give each bite that irresistible crunch — the kind that makes you close your eyes for a second. It’s playful, nostalgic, and wonderfully over‑the‑top in the best way. Kids adore them, grown‑ups secretly love them, and they turn an ordinary midweek supper into something that feels like a treat.

 

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Yield: Makes 6 hot dogs

Author: Marie Rayner

Hot & Crusty Curried Franks

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 15 MinTotal time: 25 Min

Deliciously different. Quick and easy to make, these go great with some hot soup, or a salad on the side. For an optional garnish and a bit of crunch why not sprinkle the tops with some crispy fried onions before baking?

Ingredients

• 6 slices of soft white sandwich bread, crusts trimmed off
• 3 TBS curried ketchup (see notes below)
• honey mustard to taste
• 3 pickled gherkins, chopped (Or hot dog relish to taste)
• softened butter for spreading
• 6 smoked frankfurters

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5. Have ready a flat baking sheet. I like to line it with some baking parchment.
2. Flatten the bread with a rolling pin to make it more pliable. Spread each slice on one side with softened butter.
3. Flip each slice over and spread each one with 1/2 TBS curried ketchup, some honey mustard and about 1 tsp chopped pickled gherkin.
4. Lay a frankfurter at one long end of each slice of bread and roll up tightly. Secure with a couple of cocktail sticks and place onto the baking tray.
5. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown and crisp. Remove the cocktail sticks before serving.

Notes

You can easily make your own curried ketchup. Simply whisk 3 TBS of tomato ketchup together with 1 tsp medium curry powder (or to taste.)

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