Trying to serve your kids an at least semi-well rounded meal? Here are the best side dishes to serve with hot dogs for kids!
If your kids are much like mine, when I ask them what they want to eat, they will yell back either CHICKEN NUGGETS or MAC N CHEESE!
The basics are king around here.
However, a hot dog is not a whole meal (usually).
I serve my 2 and 4 year olds in these divided silicone plates so they get 1 "main dish" and 2 sides.
One of our sides is always cut up fruit: berries, sliced apples, sauteed apples, sliced banana, mandarin oranges, something like that.
The second side is what is up in the air. For breakfast, it's a yogurt pouch. For lunch, it's either goldfish or chex mix. For dinner, I try for more of a side dish.
But, if you are like me, when it's time to make food your brain goes completely blank as to what to cook.
If you are wondering what to eat with hot dogs, there are loads of possibilities!
Below I am rounding up my best ideas of what to serve with hot dogs. I will round up a general list of ideas and then keep scrolling to links to actual recipes for some great ones!
The best side dishes to serve with hot dogs for kids
Here are my general favorite sides with hot dogs.
- Cut fruit
- Bacon
- Fries - my kids actually prefer sweet potato fries
- Tots
- Chex mix, pretzels, chips
- Veggie sticks
- Cheese stick or babybel cheese
- Baked carrots
- Green peas (I make frozen ones in the microwave, and add butter)
- Potatoes any way - mashed potato, smashed, baked
- Mac n cheese
- Corn (on the cobb or canned)
- Pickles
- Applesauce
If you are wondering what goes with hot dogs for adults, consider:
- Cole slaw
- Baked beans
- Chili
- Green salad
- Green beans
- Grain salad like cous cous, quinoa, etc
- Broccoli
- Sautéed spinach
- Brussel sprouts
(And if your kids will eat those things, more power to you! Mine will not.)
Here are some mouth watering recipes for hot dog sides!
The best sides to serve with hot dogs for kids
Serving hot dogs for dinner? Here are a TON of side ideas that your kids will gobble up!
Just one ingredient and you have delicious homemade French fries Better than take out. A budget friendly side dish or snack for the whole family.
Baked beans are a sweet and savory side dish that pair perfectly with hot dogs, and their delicious flavor is sure to be a hit with kids!
Kiddos love the sweet creamy flavor of this Hawaiian Macaroni Salad! As a bonus it's easy to make, using mostly pantry ingredients!
A fun and healthier spin of french fries, smashed potatoes in the air fryer bring a fun crisp on the outside and tender center.
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is a meal in itself! It is refreshing with a delicious, creamy ranch dressing, making it a summer staple for outdoor picnics and parties.
Baked Zucchini Fries are a fun, delicious, and much healthier alternative to fried potatoes and a perfect side dish or snack recipe. Super easy to make, thinly sliced zucchini is coated in flour, dipped in egg, and covered in a crunchy panko breadcrumb and parmesan mixture before being baked in the oven until tender on the inside and crunchy on the outside.
Turn a bag of frozen potato waffles into a delicious nacho snack! Load them up with all your favorite toppings, delicious served with hot dogs!
This creamy slaw made with grated cheese is always popular with kids! Taking just 10 minutes to make, it is a delicious side to hot dogs!
Add some color and healthy vitamins with these fun air fryer mini peppers to your hot dog meal! Quick and easy to make in just 20 minutes.
A fun side salad without any veggies will make the kids happy! Our Cherry Fluff Salad uses fruit for a sweet side dish that can also be a light dessert.
Making air fryer carrots is fast, easy, and truly delicious. Make them sweet or savory and serve them with just about anything.
Cheesy Potato Cups are made in a muffin tin and kids go crazy for them!! They're the perfect size for children and be prepared to serve second helpings!
Crispy and full of flavor, these onion rings are sure to be a hit! Plus, this recipe shares simple instructions for reheating them in the air fryer for a simple side dish on a busy night.
The best way to make crispy tater tots is in the air fryer. A delicious side for hot dogs, tater tots are always kid-approved!
These broccoli "coins" are fun finger foods - perfect with hot dogs! And you get some really fun, random shapes, too – a lot of cute kid-allure to get your kiddos eating some more veggies!
Packed with healthy goodness, this sweet potato tater tots recipe is easy to make and perfect to serve as an appetizer, side or snack.
Air Fryer Pickles are a fun side dish kids will love. These crispy pickle slices have a salty and tangy flavor that's been air fried to a perfect golden brown.
See all of my favorite kids side dishes:
- The best side dishes to serve with pizza for kids
- Healthy sides for pizza
- The best side dishes to serve with mac and cheese for kids
- The best side dishes to serve with chicken nuggets for kids
- What to serve with chicken nuggets for adults
- The best side dishes to serve with cheeseburgers for kids
- The best side dishes to serve with pulled pork for kids
- The best side dishes to serve with tacos for kids
- The best side dishes to serve with hot dogs for kids
- The best side dishes to serve with fish sticks for kids
- The best side dishes to serve with chicken wings for kids
- The best side dishes to serve with chicken burgers for kids
- The best side dishes to serve with pasta for kids
- The best side dishes to serve with spaghetti for kids
- The best breakfast side dishes for kids
Free printable side dish planner!
Make sure to download our free printable side dish planner! This checklist gives you ideas for side dishes for your kids every day of the week!
What's your favorite hot dog side dish?
Thanks for reading!
Hey there, I'm Morgan, the creative mind behind CelebratingWithKids.com! As a parent of two lively little ones, I've made it my mission to turn ordinary days into extraordinary adventures, sharing playful activities, thoughtful toy reviews, and delightful printables to help families celebrate every moment together. 🎉👨👩👧👦🎈
