Roast Hot Dogs For A Crackly Skin Without The Grill

Nothing says summer like enjoying a char-grilled hot dog in the backyard complete with your favorite toppings. Sinking your teeth into the crispy casing and tender middle full of flavor and smokiness from the grill, plus a hint of chill from the ketchup or mustard, is about as good as it gets on a sunny afternoon. But what if you crave that sensation in the middle of winter and your outdoor kitchen is closed up for the season, or perhaps it's just too hot or wet or humid outside to fire up the grill? There's actually an easy method to get that crackly skin indoors.

Of all the indoor methods for cooking hot dogs, roasting them in the oven is the closest you will get to that grilled taste and texture. It's also an excellent option for making a bunch of hot dogs at once with very little hands-on time. You won't be standing over the grill flipping dog after dog with a fatigued wrist. You can just pop them in the oven and set a timer.

It's a simple method to get beautifully browned dogs in the oven. Set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil (the dogs will release some juices as they cook). Pop as many as you need on the pan, leaving space between them, and roast them for about 15 minutes until they look caramelized and start to curl a little. For an extra crispy char, you can put them under the broiler for a minute or so.

If a cheesy hot dog is your thing, you can slice about halfway through the dog before you put it into the oven. Remove it after 15 minutes and fill the slice with cheese then put it back in to melt for another minute or two, just keep an eye on it. You could pop the bun in as well if you want it lightly toasted.