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The Best No-Cook, No-Dishes (Yes, Really!) Summer Meal

Meghan Splawn
Meghan Splawn
Meghan was the Food Editor for Kitchn's Skills content. She's a master of everyday baking, family cooking, and harnessing good light. Meghan approaches food with an eye towards budgeting — both time and money — and having fun. Meghan has a baking and pastry degree, and spent the first 10 years of her career as part of Alton Brown's culinary team. She co-hosts a weekly podcast about food and family called Didn't I Just Feed You.
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published Jun 17, 2021
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An easy, grill-friendly snack dinner for celebrating summer.

Serves6 to 8

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A tray of hot dogs sits on a picnic blanket. On the tray are hot dogs in hot buns, a bowl of ground beef, cheese, jalapeños, tomatoes, relish, watermelon, and grilled rice crisps.
Credit: Meghan Splawn

Easy to cook and beloved by kids, hot dogs are all too often passed over by the adults at cookouts. But hot dogs can make an exciting dinner for the whole family with just a little bit of planning and a few fun upgrades. This family snack board combines two grill-friendly recipes with store-bought basics for the ultimate backyard dinner. Serve it to celebrate the start of summer, the Fourth of July, camping at home, or just a really good Tuesday night.

Credit: Meghan Splawn

A Fun Hot Dog Snack Board for Backyard Hangs

Building grilled hot dogs into a snack board doesn’t take a ton of effort, but it does require a bit of prep since you’ll make chili for chili dogs and mix up Rice Krispies treats. That said, you can shortcut either by grabbing canned chili or pre-made treats.

Actual cooking at the grill will take 10 minutes, and if everyone grazes straight from the board, you’ll have very few dishes to clean up afterwards (condiment bowls not withstanding). Plus, you could skip the chili altogether and opt for other hot dog toppings instead. Choose a single fresh fruit or vegetable to fill out the board with minimal extra effort.

  • Easy homemade snacks: Chili Dogs
  • Store-bought condiments and snacks: Relish, ketchup, mustard, pickled jalapeños, chopped onions, potato chips, watermelon or fruit salad
  • Special treats: Grilled Rice Krispies Treats

Building the snack board: Before firing up the grill, make a batch of Rice Krispies treats and chill them in the fridge while you prepare the chili for the chili dogs. Cut the watermelon, tomatoes, and onions for the platter. Grill the Rice Krispies treats before grilling the hot dogs. Serve the hot dogs with chili, cheese, and chopped onions on the side.

Another backyard snack board we love: Make This Snack Board with Pizza Pinwheels, Raisinets, and, Yes, Vegetables

Check out more Family Snack Boards for an easy way to minimize cooking and dishwashing and make family meals fun! This series will give you snack board meal ideas that rely on just one or two simple recipes and utilize store-bought favorites to fill out the board.

Hot Dog Snack Board for the Ultimate Backyard Picnic

An easy, grill-friendly snack dinner for celebrating summer.

Serves 6 to 8

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Before firing up the grill, make a batch of rice krispies treats and chill them in the fridge while you prepare the chili for the chili dogs.

  2. Make the chili for the chili dogs. Cut the watermelon, tomatoes, and onions for the platter.

  3. Grill the rice krispies treats before grilling the hots dogs. Serve the hots dog with chili, cheese, and chopped onions on the side.

This post originally ran on Kitchn. See it there: This Backyard Picnic Snack Board Is Filled with Hot Dogs and Rice Krispies Treats