I’d take one of these grilled cheese hot dogs over a regular grilled hot dog any day of the week! With the combination of crispy and gooey melted cheese, a perfectly griddled beef hot dog, and a buttery soft hot dog bun, these grilled cheese hot dog sandwiches are pure cookout perfection!
If you thought a regular grilled cheese sandwich was good, just wait until you try it combined with a hot dog. This recipe started when one of our viewers requested that we make grilled cheese hot dogs on our griddle cooking YouTube channel, and honestly, I was a bit skeptical at first. How much better could a grilled cheese hot dog be?
Turns out, A LOT better.
My wife refuses to eat hot dogs any other way now. The combination of that buttery, crispy toasted bun with gooey melted cheese and a perfectly scored hot dog is absolutely fantastic. And when you top it all with our famous homemade hot dog chili? Game over.
These grilled cheese hot dogs are perfect for summer cookouts, game day parties, or just a fun weeknight dinner. And the best part? They’re ridiculously easy to make on your Blackstone or any flat top grill.
*And check out some of our other griddle hot dog recipes – like these Sonoran hot dogs and these bacon-wrapped jalapeno popper hot dogs.
What is a Grilled Cheese Hot Dog?
Imagine your favorite classic griddle hot dogs mashed up with a grilled cheese sandwich, served on a buttery bun. As simple as that.
But instead of regular American cheese slices, a popular choice for grilled cheese, this hot dog version is stuffed with freshly shredded sharp cheddar and Monterrey Jack. When the melty cheese comes in contact with the griddle surface, magic happens and you get a cheese crisp of sorts. Even my wife couldn’t stop raving about these, and she is very picky about her hot dogs.
Why We Love these Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs
- Best of both worlds – You get all the comfort of a grilled cheese sandwich combined with the classic taste of a hot dog. It’s like two childhood favorites in one amazing bite.
- Crispy, buttery perfection – The butter on the outside of the bun creates an incredible golden crust that’s addictively crunchy.
- Melty cheese goodness – The cheese gets all melty and gooey on the inside, and some of it even gets crispy on the griddle surface.
- Easy to customize – Use your favorite cheese, add different toppings, or even swap in different sausages for variety.
- Perfect for feeding a crowd – These cook up quickly on the griddle, making them ideal for parties and gatherings.
How to Make Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs
Whether you use a griddle or a stovetop skillet, the process for making this sinful hot dog sandwich is the same. Just follow these steps:
Step 1: Score and cook the hot dogs.
To start, score the hotdogs in a crosshatch pattern. If you have a slot dog tool, you can use that – it basically scores the hot dog for you. But honestly, it’s just another kitchen gadget. I find it easier to just score them by hand with a knife.
Take your knife and score the hot dogs diagonally, making shallow cuts about halfway through. Don’t go all the way through. Then come back in the other direction to create a crosshatch pattern.
Place the hot dogs on the heated griddle and cook until done, rotating every so often so they cook evenly. While these hot dogs cook on the griddle, they’re going to open up a little bit, which gives you more surface area and honestly, they just look cooler.
Step 2: Stuff hot dog buns with shredded cheese.
Here’s where the magic happens. Take your top-sliced hot dog buns and open them up a bit. Stuff them full of shredded cheddar jack cheese – and I mean really pack it in there. You can’t have a grilled cheese hot dog without a lot of cheese!
Step 3: Add the cooked hot dogs to the buns.
Place the cooked hot dogs right in the middle of the cheese-filled buns. Then stuff them down really good so they’re nestled in there. Top with more shredded cheese. The cheese on the top will get nice and crispy, so you’ll have the perfect combo of “cheese crust” and gooey, melty cheese in the center.
Step 4: Toast the grilled cheese hot dogs.
Place the hot dogs with the buns face-side down on the griddle. That’s right, cheese side down! This is going to create that amazing crispy, cheesy crust on the outside.
After placing the buns on the griddle, brush the outside (top) of the buns with melted butter. Some people even like to add a little Italian seasoning to the butter for extra flavor.
Let them cook until the bottom is golden and toasty, about 3-4 minutes. Then carefully flip the buns over so that you don’t loose any of the shredded cheese. Continue to cook on the second (bun) side until the bread is toasted to your liking. Then remove from the griddle and serve immediately with your favorite toppings like yellow mustard, hot dog chili, or diced onions.
*TIP – If you want to try your hand at making your own hot dog chili sauce, then we have a fantastic recipe here: Griddle Hot Dogs with Homemade Chili Sauce – it puts all canned chili to shame!
Recipe Tips
- Pack in the cheese – Don’t be shy with the cheese. You want it stuffed in there so when it melts, you get that gooey, melty center.
- Watch your griddle temp – If your griddle is too hot, the buns will burn before the cheese melts. Medium to medium-low is perfect.
- Use melted butter – Brush the butter on the outside of the buns for even coverage and that perfect golden color.
- Try the Italian version – Use mozzarella cheese with cooked Italian sausage, brush the buns with butter and Italian seasoning, and top with marinara instead of chili. It’s incredible!
You really need top-sliced buns for this recipe to work properly. The top-sliced buns open up like a pocket, which is perfect for stuffing with cheese and the hot dog. Side-sliced buns won’t give you the same effect.
Yes! While we love cheddar jack, you can use any cheese you like. Sharp cheddar, American, pepper jack, or even mozzarella would all work great.
Yes! An outdoor griddle is basically just a large skillet – both are flat cooking surfaces. If you use a skillet, be sure to keep the heat to a medium-low. And you’ll only be able to make two grilled cheese hot dogs at a time.
Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs
Ingredients
- 8 bun-length hot dogs
- 8 top-sliced hot dog buns
- 4 cups shredded cheddar jack cheese or your favorite shredded cheese
- 4 tablespoons butter melted
- optional toppings: hot dog chili, yellow mustard, diced onions, sliced jalapeños
Instructions
- Heat your Blackstone griddle or flat top grill to medium (about 350℉).
- Score the hot dogs by making diagonal cuts about halfway through the hot dog (don't cut all the way through). Turn the hot dog and make diagonal cuts in the opposite direction to create a crosshatch pattern.
- Place the hot dogs on the heated griddle and cook until done, rotating every so often so they cook evenly.
- While the hot dogs are cooking, open the top-sliced hot dog buns and stuff each one generously with shredded cheddar jack cheese, filling the entire pocket.
- Place a cooked hot dog in the center of each cheese-filled bun, pressing it down into the cheese. Add more shredded cheese on top of each hot dog.
- Place the hot dogs in the buns cheese-side down on the griddle (upside down). Brush the outside of each bun generously with melted butter. Cook until the bottom (cheese side) is golden brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Carefully flip the buns over and continue cooking until the cheese is fully melted and the bun is toasted on both sides, about 2-3 more minutes.
- Remove the grilled cheese hot dogs from the griddle and place on serving plates.
- Top each grilled cheese hot dog with your favorite toppings like mustard, diced onions, hot dog chili, and/or jalapeños. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Cheese options: While we used cheddar jack, you can substitute sharp cheddar, American cheese, pepper jack, or mozzarella.
- Bun requirement: Top-sliced hot dog buns are essential for this recipe. Side-sliced buns won’t work as well.
This grilled cheese hot dog recipe is seriously legit. The first bite hits you with that soft, buttery texture on the outside, but then you get the crispy, crackling cheese crust that’s salty and addictive. Combined with a perfectly cooked hot dog and that rich, thick chili sauce, it’s an absolute home run. A viewer requested this recipe and honestly, I couldn’t be more thankful. These are now a regular in our summer rotation!
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