Whether you are camping, grilling, or just a hot dog fan – these are 2 hot dog hacks you need! First, a way to cook hot dogs that is super simple but everyone needs. Second, a creative EASY Paleo, gluten-free + dairy-free bun that you will want for any hot dog occasion.

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Hot Dog Hack #1 – The Spiral Cut

You can elevate your hot dog game by simply pulling out a butter or pairing knife and making some simple cuts. Two ways you can do this:

Make diagonal cuts on both sides of the hot dog. Be careful not to cut all the way through the hot dog.
Make a spiral cut all the way around from the top of the hot dog to the bottom. Again, be careful not to cut through the hot dog. This creates more of a cool cut, but can be more challenging. Most of my boys just do the diagonal cut method above.

The cuts create more crispy bits and help the hot dog cook faster. But, really we are just here for the extra crispy edges it creates! See photo below – creates the most amazing texture! Once we started, we couldn’t go back and do it any other way.

Hot Dog Hack #2 – The EASY Paleo Bun

A big challenge when we went gluten-free as a family was the gluten-free bread is often dry and expensive. And I couldn’t find any local options for Paleo breads at all. So, it got extra tricky when it came to gluten-free + Paleo hot dog buns!

Our solution? Ditch the bun, embrace the pancake!

Seriously, my Paleo “Buttermilk” Pancakes are awesome – soft texture, not dry, and flexible. And you wrap a 4-5″ pancake around a hot dog and it serves really nicely as a BUN.

Plus, my Paleo “Buttermilk” Pancakes freeze great – make a big batch, freeze in a single layer, then freeze in a large sealed container for up to 3 months. Pull the pancakes out as needed, thawing before using.

It’s been our Paleo bun solution for years! Budget friendly and way better texture!

Our Favorite Hot Dog Condiments

A lot of condiments have dairy, gluten, or a lot of added sugars. You can easily make your own gluten-free + dairy-free condiments! Here are our favorites, all of which are gluten-free + dairy-free, with Whole30 + Paleo options!

Our Favorite Hot Dog Side Dishes

Whether you are going to a BBQ, potluck, grilling at home, or camping, any delicious hot dog needs awesome side dishes to go with it. Here are our favorites, all of which are gluten-free + dairy-free.