13 Grocery Store Hot Dog Brands, Ranked Worst To Best

Hot dogs spark joyful childhood memories, conjure up the sounds of ball games, BBQs, and pool parties, or provide a taste of comfort alongside baked beans or macaroni and cheese. But no matter what a hot dog means to you, it's clear we're passionate about them.

Nostalgia led this writer to think of Mug 'N Muffin, the quaint, hole-in-the-wall restaurant chain well-known around Massachusetts in the '70s and '80s where hot dogs were my go-to choice on the menu. And to this day, they remain the best hot dogs I've ever had. But perhaps that's the memories speaking.

We went on the hunt for the best grocery store hot dog brands and ranked them from worst to best by putting more than a dozen popular brands to the test. It came down to more than just taste, bite, and appeal, however. We compared ingredients, price, value, and preservation method, and considered the most important thing of all — did we want to keep eating it?

To keep things simple, we heated the hot dogs in the oven, covered, at 350 F for 15 minutes. We listed and numbered the brands and placed them in a roasting dish in the same order. But since we didn't memorize which brand was what number, it became a slight blind taste testing.

Hofmann German Brand hot dogs are made from pork, beef, and veal, and feature a lamb casing. Of all the brands we tried, Hofmann hot dogs had the best classic snap expected of a good hot dog. And even though these hot dogs were plump and meaty, they were a little dry and too chewy. The meat had very little flavor to it and barely even registered a noticeable scent. We were rather disappointed but also realized these hot dogs may do better grilled since open flame enhances just about any food.

Hofmann hot dogs come fully cooked and cured, and the information on the package boasts that there are no added MSG, artificial colors, or flavors. But the ingredient list does state these hot dogs are made with sweeteners: dextrose and corn syrup. And though Hofmann dogs are a good size, we don't think they're worth the price of more than $1 per dog — $6.79 for a six-pack.

Sahlen's Smokehouse Original hot dogs are created with pork and beef and made with a collagen casing. Considered fully cooked and cured, these hot dogs rank at the top for the longest hot dog we found on the grocery store shelves. But though they were the longest, they were not the tastiest — nor did they have the best chew. We found the casing to be tough to bite through, while the inside was somewhat mushy, and we weren't too crazy about the flavor either.

That said, Sahlen's hot dogs were better than Hofmann at the same price of $6.79. But like the Hofmann, Stahl-Meyer, and Gwaltney brands, the package had to be opened with a knife or pair of scissors. We're not a fan of this method even if the hot dogs have been sealed airtight. Somehow, there always seems to be a hot dog casualty. Not helping rank this hot dog any higher, the ingredient list includes three different types of sweeteners: corn syrup, dextrose, and sugar, and they also contain soy and corn.

Boar's Head, a well-known brand in the world of deli meats, was expected to rank a lot higher than it did with its hot dogs given the brand's reputation. Made from uncured beef and only six more added ingredients, these hot dogs have the cleanest ingredient list of all the grocery store hot dog brands we tried. Unfortunately, we thought they were lacking in good hot dog flavor since the smoky currents were overpowering. And though we might look past the slightly too-smoky taste, the skin was tough and the inside dense and somewhat dry, creating a rather chewy bite we don't want our hot dogs to have.

We're still a big fan of the ingredient list and since there are so many different ways to cook hot dogs, there's always a chance a different cooking method other than the oven might create a more flavorful and juicier dog. Boar's Head beef hot dogs are the best choice for anyone who requires minimal ingredients without any sweeteners. Pair these hot dogs with other ingredients and they could be worthy of the hefty price tag of $8.19 for an eight-pack.

Oscar Mayer may have a way with bologna but does the brand have a way with hot dogs? Not surprisingly, yes. This package of hot dogs is easy to open by peeling the liner back, which is always a plus. Made with uncured beef, Oscar Mayer hot dogs don't really have a snappy bite and they have a much softer chew than most good hot dogs. But they still deserve a top spot because they look, smell, and taste like hot dogs. They're pretty good value at $7.09 for an eight-pack as well. 

Oscar Mayer beef hot dogs have a smoky background to the meat but it's balanced and not too strong. The dogs have an almost BBQ-ish flavor with a fruity wood-smoke aroma. We did find these hot dogs to be a little too sweet for us (which could be a positive if that's what you like) as the ingredient list states the hot dogs contain the sweetener dextrose. An overall solid choice for your hot dog wants.

Ball Park Grillmaster Beef hot dogs are created with all beef, are uncured, and pack a lot of flavor in each bite. Perhaps it's the robust amount of fat that gives these dogs their super plump nature and hearty hot dog flavor. We found them to have the right balance of smokiness, although maybe on the side of a little too much, with a slightly spicy aftertaste. However, if you're enjoying these hot dogs with other ingredients, then the smoke or spicy background may blend well without being too much.

Also giving it more points is the fact the Ball Park package peels open for easier access to the hot dogs, which feature a good bite and tender chew. But knocking it down a step or two in our ranking is the addition of corn syrup to the ingredient list, even if we didn't think they were too sweet. We'd eat these again. They're one of the more expensive options at $6.59 for 5 hot dogs.

One of our runners-up for the best grocery store hot dog brands, but neck-and-neck with Publix and Ball Park, Sabrett serves up a true beef hot dog that has the desired pop and punch most people look for in a hot dog. Fully cooked and made with all beef, these skinless hot dogs look, smell, chew, and taste like a hot dog ought to. They're not too heavy with the smoke, they sport a rich, tangy beef flavor, and these dogs feature a juicy bite. They're also one of the most affordable hot dog options at $6.09 for eight.

Sabrett surprised us with zero carbohydrates but though there are no added sugars to increase the carb count, the ingredient list does still have the sweetener sorbitol. Aside from the added sweetener, Sabrett hot dogs only had one other downside that we noticed. Maybe it's because these dogs are skinless, but the bite, while snappy, was on the tougher end of the spectrum, which led to a chewier mouthfeel. The meat was more reminiscent of minced meat instead of compressed meat.