Garlic Butter Grilled Cheese Dogs (Easy Comfort Food Recipe)

 

 

If you’re looking for the kind of easy, comforting supper that makes everyone at the table smile, these Garlic Butter Grilled Cheese Dogs are about to become a new favourite. They take everything we love about a classic grilled cheese and a good old-fashioned hot dog and bring them together in the most irresistible way — buttery, golden, cheesy, and just a little bit indulgent.

This is one of those fun, simple recipes that feels like a treat without asking much of you in the kitchen. A quick homemade garlic butter, a handful of melty cheese, and a few hot dogs are all you need to create something that tastes like summer fairs, childhood cookouts, and cozy weekend lunches rolled into one.

Whether you’re feeding kids, sharing a casual meal with friends, or just craving something nostalgic and delicious, these grilled cheese dogs hit the spot every single time. They’re easy, they’re satisfying, and they’re the kind of recipe you’ll want to tuck away for those nights when comfort food is calling your name.

 

Every Friday night when I was growing up my mother would cook us hotdogs for supper. Mom made the best hotdogs. She would slit the wieners almost all the way through and opening them up like a book. These would be placed cut side down on an electric grill that she had and they would be carefully toasted until golden brown on both sides. 

She used the soft-sided, top-cut buns and those would be buttered and toasted on both sides as well. The two together . . .  those crisp buttery buns and those golden crusty franks . . . were heaven on earth. I think that extra addition of love that she added made them even tastier.

I saw this recipe on All Recipes and decided to give them a go. I did cut the amounts in half and I made them my own way. But for the most part I did as they did and I had no problems to speak of. I do recommend you use a quality large frankfurter and not the regular sized ones for the best results, especially if you score them as per the recipe suggestion.  I used regular sized ones first and they shrunk to half the size.

I have never been one for enjoying tomato ketchup on my hotdogs, just mustard, sometimes relish . . . and chopped raw onion. There was just enough cheese and garlic butter in these. I didn't brush any garlic butter on the franks themselves. I felt they held enough fat without adding more.

I think you could add some crispy salad onions (French's or Durkee's) for an additional layer of flavor, but all told these were pretty tasty as they were. A nice once-in-a-blue-moon treat as my daughter would say.  We enjoyed with some cheeky potato chips on the side.

 

INGREDIENTS NEEDED

TO MAKE

GARLIC BUTTER GRILLED CHEESE DOGS

Simple. Simple. Simple.

• 1/4 cup (60g) garlic butter, softened (see notes)
• 4 hot dogs
• 4 hot dog buns
• 1 cup (115g) grated cheddar cheese

 

NOTES ON INGREDIENTS

• I made my own garlic butter. I tell you how in the recipe notes. You can use a readymade garlic butter if you wish, but be aware that they use margarine and vegetable oils to make them.
• I used all beef juicy jumbo frankfurters. I actually used regular hot dogs first and I am not sure what they are doing these days when they make frankfurters, but they shriveled up into nothing. I discarded them and moved to the juicy jumbos. A good quality frank is a must. When it comes to frankfurters/wieners, you get what you pay for.
• Use a good sturdy bun, but a fresh one. You do not want them to tear apart while you are heating them up, grilling them, or eating them.
• I used strong cheddar cheese and I grated my own. I used a mix of white and orange, just what I had left in my cheese drawer.

 

HOW TO MAKE

GARLIC BUTTER GRILLED CHEESE DOGS

These are not all that difficult to make.

1. Score your hotdogs and cook on a grill, according to your desired preference. (We like ours well done, with crispy skins. You may like yours done to a lesser degree. The original recipe recommended cooking them in an oven, but I felt that a grill gave me more control in that I could flip them, etc.)
2. While the dogs are cooking, open out your hot dog buns and spread each with a portion of the garlic butter on the cut sides. (Be careful not to tear them through the whole way. You want both sides to stay attached to each other.)
3. Place into a large skillet and toast butter side down over medium heat until golden brown. Remove from the skillet. Turn off the heat from the burner. (The pan will retain enough of the heat to melt the cheese without it scorching or burning.)
4. Working with one bun at a time, place 1/4 of the cheese into the hot skillet. Place one bun, toasted side down on top of the cheese. Leave until the cheese melts. (Don't let the cheese brown.)
5. Using a spatula, carefully remove and then repeat with the remaining buns and cheese. (It helps to use a non-stick pan.)
6. Insert the grilled hot dogs into the buns and serve immediately with your favorite condiments. (We enjoyed a honey mustard sauce and chopped red onions.)

 

HINTS AND TIPS FOR SUCCESS

Score the hot dogs for more flavor 

 Scoring helps them brown more evenly and gives the garlic butter a place to cling, boosting that savory flavor. 

Use softened, not melted, garlic butter 

Softened butter brushes on smoothly and clings to the buns and dogs without soaking in too fast. Melted butter tends to run off and pool. 

Toast the buns slowly for maximum golden color 

The recipe calls for skillet-toasting the buns until golden brown . Medium heat gives you control — too hot and they scorch before crisping. 

Choose a cheese that melts beautifully 

 The skillet cheese technique is the star of this recipe. A melty cheese like mozzarella, Monterey Jack, or a cheddar works best. 

Let the cheese fully melt before lifting the bun 

Waiting until the cheese is fully melted and releasing naturally makes a big difference.

 

 Don’t rush the “cheese blanket” step 

 When you lay the bun face-down on the cheese, leave it undisturbed until the cheese melts and adheres properly . Movement = sticking. Bake the buns instead if you prefer less mess.

Cheese is at its best when warm and stretchy 

Try different cheeses for fun variations Sharp cheddar, Italian blends, smoked provolone — each gives a different personality. 

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT KIND OF HOT DOG BUNS ARE BEST?

You can use any type of hotdog buns that are available and that you enjoy. Make sure that your buns are fresh and large enough to hold the frankfurters you have chosen.

WHAT KIND OF HOT DOGS/FRANKFURTERS ARE BEST?

We prefer all-beef frankfurters.  I used large ones this time, called Juicy Jumbos.  I would also recommend Kirkland all-beef frankfurters.  Use a good quality frankfurter.

WHAT KIND OF CHEESE DO YOU RECOMMEND?

I do like to grate my own cheese and I recommend a strong/sharp cheddar to give you the most flavor.

CAN THESE BE MADE AHEAD OF TIME?

I do not recommend making these ahead of time.

CAN THIS RECIPE BE DOUBLED?

Absolutely.  You can make as many of these as you wish by doubling or tripling the ingredients needed if you are feeding a crowd.

DO YOU NEED TO COOK THE FRANKFURTERS ON A GRILL? 

No, you can pan fry them, or cook them in the oven. It's up to you. 

WHAT TOPPINGS DO YOU SUGGEST?

I drizzled mine with honey mustard sauce and added some chopped red onions. You can use any hot dog toppings which you enjoy. Ketchup, mustard, relish, etc.

 

A FEW OTHER HOT DOG RECIPES TO ENJOY

If you are a fan of hot dogs, or frankfurters, you might also enjoy the following options.

CROISSANT HOT DOGS - The gold standard of hot dog extravagance.  Toasted all butter croissants, filled with cheese and frankfurters. The croissants are split, filled with the cheese and toasted in the air fryer until the cheese melts. Top with the grilled hot dogs and your favorite condiments.  Delicious. A rare treat.

BAKED CHILI CHEESE DOGS - This fabulously tasty and hearty recipe goes together in a flash and uses only a few simple ingredients. This family friendly recipe goes down a real treat and is perfect for those days when life gets really busy but you still want to feed your family a delicious meal! They are a real convenience meal, using store cupboard ingredients. 

 

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Yield: 4 Hotdogs

Author: Marie Rayner

Garlic Butter Grilled Cheese Dogs

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 10 MinTotal time: 15 Min

Garlic buns filled with plenty of cheese and a nice all beef dog. Its simple really.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup (60g) garlic butter, softened (see notes)
• 4 hot dogs
• 4 hot dog buns
• 1 cup (115g) grated cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Score your hotdogs and cook on a grill, according to your desired preference.
2. While the dogs are cooking, open out your hot dog buns and spread each with a portion of the garlic butter on the cut sides.
3. Place into a large skillet and toast butter side down over medium heat until golden brown. Remove from the skillet. Turn off the heat from the burner.
4. Working with one bun at a time, place 1/4 of the cheese into the hot skillet. Place one bun, toasted side down on top of the cheese. Leave until the cheese melts.
5. Using a spatula, carefully remove and then repeat with the remaining buns and cheese.
6. Insert the grilled hot dogs into the buns and serve immediately with your favorite condiments.

Notes

To make your own garlic butter, whip the butter together with 1 tsp of garlic powder (not salt) and 1 tsp of parsley flakes.

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