Grilled Hot Dog BBQ Pizza

Jake and I went to a picnic for the local PanCAN affiliate, and we took hot dogs.  Lots and lots of hot dogs.  And the turnout was… eehhh… not so great.  So, needless to say, we had a bunch left over and I have spent the past week trying to figure out how to cook them in different and interesting ways.  There are only so many meals in a row that you can open up the Hebrew National bag and throw a dog on a bun with ketchup and relish, right?  So, that’s how this pizza was born.

Normally, I stay away from the grill and let Jake live in peace, but this time I was determined to cook on the grill.  And then I broke the darn thing.  Or so I thought.  As it turned out, it ran out of gas, but I was dreading having to go inside and let Jake know that the one time I ventured outside I broke the grill.  He switched out the gas tank and all was well.  Until I spilled BBQ sauce on the grates and it dripped inside.  I guess that’s bad.  I don’t know.  But from that point on I had a grilling chaperone.

I will probably never be allowed near the grill unsupervised again, but all was well as soon as Jake tasted the pizza.  He loved it!  And at least I remembered to turn it off and turn the gas off when everything was said and done.  This house isn’t going to blow up on my watch. 

If you know of any other creative hot dog recipes let me know.  There is a whole Costco-sized stash in the freezer just waiting to be defrosted! 

Grilled Hot Dog BBQ Pizza

1 package raw pizza dough (or a pre-cooked one would probably work ok – just skip the part about cooking the dough)
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
2 hot dogs, thinly sliced
2 cups cheddar cheese
5 slices of cooked bacon, diced

Let the dough come to room temperature so that it is easier to handle (I usually leave it on the counter for an hour, but it doesn’t really need that much time) and preheat the grill.  Spray either the grill grates or aluminum foil/veggie try with grill-safe cooking spray (depending on how brave you are feeling).  Place the dough either directly onto the grill or onto the foil and let it cook for about 3 minutes on each side.  Then, right on the grill, spread the BBQ sauce across the dough, and add the hot dogs, cheese, and bacon.  Close the grill and let it cook until everything is melted and bubbly, about 5-7 minutes.  Remove from the heat, let it cool for a couple of minutes, and then eat warm.  It is also good cold the next day if you are into that kind of thing.