This Bourbon Onion Bacon Dog is sinfully delicious! A perfectly grilled snappy skin hot dog, covered with bourbon caramelized onions and crispy bacon topping is like a burst of flavor and texture in your mouth. A few slices of candied jalapeno adds a layer of heat for the perfect hot dog!
This is your not your average hotdog! No ketchup, no mustard, and no pickle relish here! This is a grown up version packing a punch of flavors adults love.
This amazing hot dog recipe was inspired by my Blue Cheese Burger with Bourbon Caramelized Onions and pairs well with these crispy french fries.
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Ingredients
- Unsalted butter
- Bourbon
- Maple syrup
- Onion
- Crisp cooked bacon
- Hot dogs
- Hot dog rolls
- Candied Jalapeno (optional)
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
This recipe is as easy as caramelizing the onions and air frying the hotdogs! Use pre-cooked bacon for convenience and you can have dinner ready in 20 minutes!
- Step 1: Cook onions in skillet with butter until softened.
- Step 2: Add bourbon and continue to cook until caramelized.
- Step 3: Grill hot dogs (or air fry)
- Step 4: Place hot dog in roll and top with caramelized onion, crispy bacon, and jalapeno slices.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter until bubbly. Add onion slices and cook for 7-10 minutes over medium low heat, until onions soften and begin to brown.
- Add 1 tablespoon of maple syrup and stir into onions. Turn heat up and cook until onions begin to sizzle. Carefully add bourbon to the skillet. Cook and stir onions for 1 minute while the bourbon cooks down and glazes the onions. Remove from heat.
- Grill or air fry hot dogs according to package directions.
- Serve bourbon caramelized onions over hot dogs in buns and sprinkle with bacon and jalapeno slices (if using).
Hint: Caramelized onions can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge up to 3 days. They can also be placed in the freezer for long term storage up to 3 months. Just thaw and warm before using.
Substitutions
Make this recipe lower carb by making a keto bun shaped like a hot dog roll.
- Syrup swap - brown sugar can be used in place of the maple syrup.
- Make it vegetarian - substitute plant-based bacon and plant-based hot dogs (affiliate links).
- Meat swap - substitute chicken sausage links or use your favorite hot dog.
Love fancy hot dogs? You might also want to try this Thai Hot Dog recipe!
Variations
Giving the visitor ideas on how they can change this recipe to better suit their dinner guests, or their cultural cuisine, is a great way to increase the chances they make the recipe.
- Spicy - stir a teaspoon or two of gochujang paste into the onions for a Korean flair.
- Deluxe - use jumbo hot dogs for hearty appetites.
- Jalapeno crunch - use french fried jalapeno pieces (affiliate link) instead of crispy bacon or jalapeno slices.
Equipment
A good heavy duty skillet is essential for making caramelized onions. I love to use my cast iron skillet (affiliate link) for even heat distribution, but a heavy bottomed staniless steel skillet works great as well.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge 3-4 days.
Top tip
If serving a crowd, be sure to double the onion recipe and store the cooked hot dogs on low in a crock pot to keep them warm.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:
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📖 Recipe
Bourbon Onion Bacon Dog
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon bourbon
- 1 large large onion sliced
- 4 slices cooked bacon crumbled (optional)
- 4 hot dogs
- 4 hot dog buns
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter until bubbly. Add onion slices and cook for 7-10 minutes over medium low heat, until onions soften and begin to brown.
- Add 1 tablespoon of maple syrup and stir into onions. Turn heat up and cook until onions begin to sizzle. Carefully add bourbon to the skillet. Cook and stir onions for 1 minute while the bourbon cooks down and glazes the onions. Remove from heat.
- Grill or air fry hot dogs according to package directions.
- Serve bourbon caramelized onions over hot dogs in buns and sprinkle with bacon and jalapeno slices (if using).
LIL says
l love cooking with Bourbon the onions are good on hamburgers l a;lso love Bourbon with Salmon
Debi E. says
I'm trying this tonight. But have a question. The directions call for maple syrup but the ingredient list does not ? I do need it yes ? Thanks !
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Yes, you do need it. In the instructions it indicates to stir in 1 tablespoon of maple syrup. Thanks!
Mrs. L says
I'm at work and you have ruined my lunch lol. I must have this! I'll have to wait until this weekend to try this but bacon? Works for me!
Rachel@yourtablecloth.com says
Thank you so much for this recipe! Can’t wait try these flavors on a good hot dog
Eileen says
My husband would think he'd died and gone to heaven if I made these dogs for him. Can't wait to try this recipe.
Cindys Recipes and Writings says
Never tried making a bourbon glaze but I need to fix that soon! Awesome doggie idea!
Patti says
I have been loving the combination of sweet and heat since I tried Szechuan Chicken in the eight grade. Can't wait try these flavors on a good hot dog.
Lauren @ Sew You Think You Can Cook says
Seriously, those onions!! Love the idea of deglazing with bourbon. Definitely a grown-up hot dog anyone would love.
Renee @ReneesKitchenAdventures says
I'm not much of a hot dog eater, but I could make an exception for these!
Monica says
Anything with caramelized onions is awesome in my book. I'm with you - good quality hot dogs are a must. This is one gorgeous hotdog. Steve will go crazy over this....
Liz says
Bourbon, bacon and butter???! These could be the best hot dogs yet!!!
Claudia says
These look terrific