A Seattle Dog is a hot dog like no other, layered with grilled onions and a generous smear of cream cheese. This Traeger Seattle Dog is possibly my favorite way to eat a hot dog. It’s a backyard staple that gives you big flavor without much fuss. Perfect for game days, cookouts, or a quick weeknight dinner, our recipe takes just a few ingredients and a little patience.
Traeger Seattle Dogs
It is hard to beat a good hot dog, and these Seattle dogs cooked on the Traeger take it to a whole new level.
Usually when people think of Seattle, they think of fresh seafood, clam chowder, and fish and chips. Then you go to your first game or concert at Century Link or T-Mobile, and surrounding the venues are street vendors, many of which will be selling their own take on all kinds of classic hot dogs.
If you’re lucky enough to find one selling the famous, Seattle dogs. Don’t skip it. It is 100% worth the hype.
We incorporated some lightly smoked cream cheese into the mix, and also used our Slot Dog maker on these franks so that all that surface area had a chance to get as much wood fire as possible, and it makes an incredible canvas for these non-traditional toppings.
Traditionally Seattle dogs are served with grilled onions, but we were hungry this day and skipped that part. Next time I’ll be making a batch of our Smoked Caramelized Onions to top them.
Usually I’m a ketchup and mustard girl, myself, but Seattle Dogs have me seriously considering my life choices.
If you need a great appetizer, try this Tortilla Dogs sometimes, too. They are a corndog’s cousin, and are delicious!
Why You’ll Love This Dish
- Bold flavor – The smoked hot dogs and grilled cream cheese create deep, savory layers.
- Simple ingredients – Only five items needed, with room to tweak based on preference.
- Great for groups – Easy to scale and assemble for parties or backyard gatherings.
- Unique twist – Cream cheese on a hot dog is unexpected and works beautifully.
Try our original Traeger Grilled Hot Dogs!
Grilled Seattle Dogs Shopping List
Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here’s the list of items you’ll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Ingredients
- Beef Hot Dogs – Full-flavored and perfect for holding up to the smoke and bold toppings. A great alternative would be a Smoked Sausage or Brat.
- Hot Dog Buns – Soft, slightly sweet buns that toast well and hold everything in place.
- Cream Cheese – Smoked on the grill until warm and spreadable, it brings richness and tang.
- Onion, finely diced – Sharp, fresh flavor that cuts through the creaminess and adds texture.
- Jalapeño Pepper, sliced – Fresh heat that lifts the whole dish and adds color contrast.
If you have leftover Smoked Cream Cheese, it would be perfect on these hot dogs!
Hot Dog Burnt Ends are a great appetizer!
How To Make Smoked Seattle Dogs
This is just the overview so you can see what you’re actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.
- Preheat the Traeger to 325°F and place the brick of cream cheese in foil on the grill.
- Grill the cream cheese for 20 minutes while you add the hot dogs to the grates.
- Remove cream cheese, increase the heat to 400°F, and continue cooking the hot dogs until charred.
- Toast the buns on the grill for the last 5 minutes of cooking.
- Assemble with a slice of cream cheese in each bun, followed by the hot dog, onions, and jalapeños.
My Pellet Grill Slot Dog is always a hit!
FAQ
How should I store leftovers?
Wrap the assembled hot dogs individually in foil and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Keep toppings and buns separate if storing components.
Can I reheat these?
Yes! Just wrap in foil and warm on the grill or in a 350°F oven for 10–12 minutes. Microwaving works, too, but may soften the buns more than desired.
Can I prep anything ahead?
Dice onions and slice jalapeños up to 2 days ahead. You can also pre-slice the cream cheese and refrigerate it until ready to grill.
Can I use other toppings?
Absolutely. Grilled peppers, sauerkraut, or pickled onions all work well here. You can also use flavored cream cheese if you’re feeling creative.
My kids love our Traeger No-Bean Chili Dogs!
Serve This With…
- Classic Potato Salad or Creamy Coleslaw
- Pickle spears or dill chips
- Smoked Baked Beans
- Grilled Elote
Traeger Seattle Dog
What I Use
Ingredients
- 8 beef hot dogs
- 8 hot dog buns
- 1 brick cream cheese
- 1 onion finely diced
- 1 jalapeño pepper sliced
Instructions
- Preheat your Traeger to 325°F.
- Use the Slot Dog to slice the hot dogs, if desired. Otherwise, just put the whole hot dogs on the grill. Put the cream cheese into a piece of foil and place it onto the grill with the hot dogs. Season with some of your favorite BBQ rub, if desired.
- Cook the cream cheese on the grill for about 20 minutes. Remove from the grill and let cool. Turn the heat on the grill up to 400°F and continue cooking the hot dogs until they get some nice char to them. Roll or flip a few times during the cooking process.
- Toast the buns on the grill during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
- Slice the cream cheese into 8 long slices and place into the buns.
- Top with the hot dogs, diced onions, and sliced jalapeños.
- Serve hot.