Burgers, and Hot Dogs and Sides, Oh My! Our Cookout Favorites!

With the Fourth of July right around the corner, and summer grilling on the horizon, we asked our staff what they preferred for backyard cookout food. Hamburgers or hot dogs? Favorite sides? Southern potato salad with mustard or New York style with mayo? Here’s what we had to say.

Justin MacDonald

Hot dogs or hamburgers?  Both, obviously.  As far as condiments go, mustard is allowable on hot dogs.  Burgers?  Cheese only.  If you need anything else, your burgers are wrong.

As far as sides go, I don’t need them, I just double up on the entrées.  Until this question, I don’t think I knew people used mayo for potato salad and I hope I never run across it.

Shannon Moore

Hamburger or hot dog? If both are available, I'm usually one each. 

Cheeseburger (only when available and I'm feeling "extra")-ketchup, lettuce, avocado, fried egg, mayo.

Hot dog (again, when ingredients are present)-mac n cheese and baked beans, maybe coleslaw too

Sides: Southern potato salad, BBQ beans, coleslaw, mac n cheese. I enjoy watermelon too as a side, because it is so refreshing.

Matt Fischer

Both are equally delicious.  I choose hotdog for its sheer portability though.  It's convenient with one-handed operation, leaving the other hand open for a beverage, a child, fireworks, a Frisbee, etc.  

For condiments: on the extreme end of the spectrum, bordering on perfection, you have the Chicago Dog. Steamed sesame seed bun, pickle spear, tomato slices, neon green sweet relish, diced onions, sport peppers, celery salt, and optional mustard. If I can’t have that, I will settle for just about any condiment available at the cookout.

My favorite cookout side dish has got to be any type of finger food. Just like my reasoning for choosing the hot dog, I love portability with my food, or the ability to walk by the spread and just grab a little snack.  

Jodi McBride

Hamburgers, because I do not eat any pork products. I add cheese, mustard, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and jalapenos. Sometimes I’ll even put some hot sauce on it.

My favorite cookout side dish really depends on the day. Typically, it is Southern style potato salad, but a little different. There are light to no eggs almost, mustard and with extra vinegar and relish. Idk to call it Alabama style or what.  

Rick Cundiff

Hmm, burgers or dogs? I like both, but if I have to choose, I’ll go with a cheeseburger. My perfect condiments for it are mayo, tomato and onion. For hot dogs, I can get a little adventurous, choosing mayo, ketchup or a more traditional mustard. Even chili and onions when available.

For sides, I’ll go for potato salad – the Southern kind. If it doesn’t have mustard and eggs, well, y’all ain’t from round here, are you? I also enjoy baked beans or coleslaw.

Courtney Cole

Well, I would have to say I prefer hot dogs over burgers. I also think I kind of have to say that. My dad owns Poppy’s Dogs, a hot dog food truck. Haha! But I am particular about it. They have to be the good ones, not the cheap stuff. And all the toppings, chili and cheese, sauerkraut with mustard, or even just ketchup and relish. Not all at once though, obviously. As for side dishes, the loaded baked potato salad from Sam’s Club is my ultimate favorite.