12 Hot Dog Brands That Use The Highest Quality Ingredients

The hot dog. A food that's synonymous with summer, it's perfect for ballparks, beaches, and barbecues. There are hot dogs made with 100% beef, while others use pork, chicken, turkey, or a plant-based version for the vegetarians and vegans in the crowd. There's a hot dog for everyone. Snuggled up in a bun with your favorite toppings, skewered on a stick over a campfire, or sliced up into casseroles or mac and cheese –– there's no wrong way to enjoy a hot dog.

While some people are pretty particular about how to dress a hot dog (for example, ketchup is an absolute no-no in Chicago), more people are likely concerned about the quality of the dogs themselves. After all, hot dogs aren't exactly known as a health food. They are often laden with fat, sodium, nitrates, nitrites, and who knows what else, all stuffed into an animal skin casing. The "mystery meat" myth of hot dogs has plagued sausage purveyors for ages, as they struggle to create wieners that are not only good, but maybe even good for you. From grass-fed beef to an absence of gluten, MSG, and animal by-products, these brands are some of the ones with the highest quality ingredients when it comes to their hot dogs.

Established in New York City in 1905, Boar's Head proudly states on its website that it is committed to high standards and quality products, and it uses the finest cuts of meat. So, with that in mind, you can rest pretty easy knowing that you're getting the good stuff when it comes to these hot dogs. There are a few varieties within the lineup of frankfurters and sausages, including intriguing flavors like Apple Smoked Chicken Sausage and Smoked Andouille Chicken Sausage. But for the truest taste of a barbecue-worthy dog, we turn to the brand's Uncured Beef Frankfurters.

Like all the other products offered by Boar's Head, these franks boast no gluten, artificial colors or flavors, MSG, fillers, or by-products. That means when you're looking to get a meaty dog, what you're getting is actual meat, not the more suspect "meat product" or "mechanically separated meat." Even the list of ingredients is quite short compared to some competitors: beef, water, salt, cultured celery powder, natural flavor, paprika, and sea salt.

A classic hot dog brand that many have come across and raved about, Hebrew National is a pretty solid choice when it comes to firing up the grill. While the brand offers appetizers and deli meats, too, we all know what we're here for: the hot dogs.

Hebrew National offers only beef hot dogs in various forms, all made with 100% kosher beef. All the hot dogs on its website are made with no artificial flavors or colors, fillers, by-products, or gluten, but for the real cream of the crop, we turn to the All Natural Uncured Beef Franks. If you're looking for a quality hot dog with minimal ingredients, this is the winner (or, rather, wiener). In addition to kosher beef and water, these franks contain easy-to-pronounce ingredients like salt, garlic powder, paprika, distilled vinegar powder, and cherry powder, the latter of which is likely used to give the dogs their robust color. Need even more of a reason to try Hebrew National? These hot dogs were once the OG members of Costco's food court, making them a favorite for Julia Child.

Look, if you're after a juicy, snappy hot dog, you're probably not all that concerned about the sodium. That would be a good thing if you're looking to pick up a pack of franks from Nathan's Famous because, while the quality is high, so is the level of salt.

The beloved New York institution has been around since 1916 when it began as a stand on Coney Island. Since then, Nathan's Famous has become an icon, with restaurants as well as products found in your hometown grocery store (plus the famous hot dog eating contest, of course). Right on the label, the brand proudly proclaims that its dogs are made with 100% beef as well as no fillers or by-products, corn syrup, artificial flavors, or artificial colors. For the most minimally processed of all the franks on offer, we suggest turning to the All Natural Uncured Beef Franks (yes, it's the same name as the ones offered by Hebrew National). The ingredient list is simple, with beef and water as the first and second items, respectively, followed by salt, sugar, and various spices. We wouldn't hesitate to throw a pack of these on the grill at our next cookout.

If you're looking to eat well when it comes to hot dogs, you might want to try Wellshire Farms. The company began in 1996 and prides itself on partnering with local farms that humanely raise their animals using a vegetarian diet, with no added antibiotics or growth hormones. All Wellshire Farms products, from bacon to deli meats, and, of course, hot dogs, are made without nitrates or nitrites.

Unlike other brands on this list that have a more extensive product selection, Wellshire Farms offers only two types of hot dogs: Premium Uncured Beef Franks and Sugar Free Grass Fed Beef Franks (the latter of which is also advertised as being paleo-friendly). In addition to the quality beef that the brand prides itself on, both varieties have a short list of ingredients, including water, sea salt, cultured celery powder, and spices. With the minimal list of ingredients, you can opt to keep things simple or upgrade your hot dogs in a variety of creative ways.

You won't get a snappy texture with these grocery store staples, but Ball Park hot dogs remain a classic, thanks to their softness, slight sweetness, and association with summer days spent watching America's greatest pastime.

The brand that became famous for being the sole supplier of hot dogs to the Detroit Tigers since the 1950s proudly states on all its packaging that its dogs are made with 100% meat, be it beef or turkey. In addition, Ball Park dogs contain no by-products, fillers, artificial flavors, or colors. If you're looking for the best of the best within the brand, however, you'll want to snag a pack of Ball Park's Prime Uncured Beef Franks. Are there some chemicals in these dogs? As a slightly more budget friendly option for sale-seeking shoppers, that's to be expected. However, the Prime Uncured Beef Franks are also made with 100% USDA Prime beef –– the USDA's highest quality cut of beef. These franks also contain no nitrates or nitrites, making them a juicy, beefy option for hungry grillers.

From the packaging alone, it's clear that Teton Waters Ranch seeks to assure customers of the quality of its products, loudly stating that they are made with 100% grass-fed beef. The Colorado-based brand proclaims its commitment to animal welfare and humane farming practices throughout its website and points to it as representative of the kind of quality and care that goes into the entire product line.

Like Wellshire Farms, Teton Waters Ranch offers only two kinds of hot dogs: Classic Jumbo Hot Dogs and Bun Length Hot Dogs. Both are made with 100% uncured grass-fed beef and contain no nitrates, nitrites, sugar, or fillers. The rest of the ingredient list is familiar, too, with items like sea salt, vinegar, garlic powder, and onion powder. Even the sodium level for its bun length variety isn't too bad, especially compared to some other options on this list. With such a healthy hot dog on the bun, we could probably get a little crazy when it comes to salty toppings –– think bacon, cheese, chili, crispy fried onions, and more.

Hot dogs get a pretty bad rap for being considered low-quality foods, replete with fillers and chemicals and enough sodium to leave you bloated for days after consumption. Kroger's organic- and natural-focused store brand Simple Truth seeks to change that notion, offering shoppers a high-quality hot dog made with, well, simple ingredients. Hot dogs will probably never be considered a health food, but Simple Truth is certainly giving its best effort.

The brand's uncooked, gluten-free Uncured Beef Hot Dogs boast vegetarian-fed beef and proudly contain no fillers, hormones, or antibiotics. Even the sodium is pretty reasonable –– 370 milligrams for one hot dog. The list of ingredients is likewise appealing, with beef and water taking the top spots, followed by sea salt, spices, flavorings, paprika, celery powder, and cane sugar. In terms of store brands, we think this one's worthy of a try, especially if you can find it on sale at your local Kroger.

We know what you're thinking: "Oscar Mayer hot dogs are high quality? In what universe?" No, we wouldn't dream of pretending that Oscar Mayer –– home of lunch meat staples, scrambled egg kits, and the iconic Wienermobile –– has become a health food brand. However, among its hot dogs –– chock full of varieties stuffed with chili cheese and jalapeños –– there are two outliers of the simpler sort: Oscar Mayer Natural Franks.

Found in both Angus and Turkey options, Oscar Mayer proudly states that these two franks are minimally processed, contain no added nitrates, nitrites, or artificial ingredients, and have a blessedly simple list of recognizable ingredients. In fact, they're quite similar to the higher end options found elsewhere on this list, with items like distilled white vinegar, garlic, and cherry powder. While we can't recommend much else on the Oscar Mayer product list as being high-quality, we feel pretty confident about these two varieties in particular.

Applegate Organics is a brand that proudly proclaims its avoidance of antibiotics in any of its products as well as no artificial flavors, colors, genetically modified additives, MSG, hydrogenated fats, and more. When it comes to high-quality ingredients in hot dogs, the entire lineup is one we feel confident in standing behind.

Applegate Organics uses beef that is 100% grass-fed as well as humanely raised in pastures. The commitment to animal welfare is a huge part of the brand, which was actually founded by a vegetarian. The product line is pretty vast and includes burgers, deli meats, chicken fingers, and more, but let's get to what we're really after: the hot dogs. Applegate Organics offers dogs made with one of three kinds of meat: beef, chicken, or turkey. All are gluten-free, sugar-free, and casein-free and, in the case of the organics line, made with organic ingredients. And that ingredient list is short! In addition to the grass-fed beef (no mention is made of the diets of the animals in the turkey and chicken dogs), it's pretty simple, with ingredients such as vinegar, sea salt, coriander, ginger, and cayenne offering more flavor that the usual dogs on the market.

The title-holders of the oldest hot dog company on this list is Feltman's of Coney Island, which began way back in 1867 in the state where hot dogs are basically the go-to meal of its citizens: New York. In fact, the founder of rival Nathan's Famous actually worked at Feltman's before stepping out on his own, trying to claim that it was the OG in the hot dog world. (While we have our favorite must-watch movies for foodies, we'd watch one about these two duking it out.)

Fast-forward to today, and Feltman's of Coney Island is still going strong, with a commitment to providing a natural hot dog with boardwalk flair. The juicy, snappy dogs are made with 100% beef, zero artificial ingredients, and no added nitrates or nitrites. The ingredients list is simple and the same one used by Charles Feltman since the brand's inception. It contains some interesting, flavorful additions like mustard and turbinado sugar for a more unique taste. The best way to enjoy a Feltman's dog? The original way, with deli-style mustard, sauerkraut, and onions.

True Story Foods –– formerly known as Fork in the Road –– prides itself on offering products with clean ingredients. By this, the brand means ingredients that are of the highest quality and all natural. Even in its hot dogs, you won't find any artificial flavors or colors, MSG, added nitrates or nitrites, or animal by-products.

True Story began as a coalition of family farmers in the Ozark Mountains dedicated to sustainable farming practices and animal welfare. While it offers items like deli meats, bacon, and sausages to customers, there is only one kind of hot dog currently available. The Organic Grass-Fed Uncured Beef Hot Dogs are about as simple as a frank can get. Hey, if you're going to do only one thing, you may as well do it really, really right.

Instead of the vague spices listed among the ingredients by many brands, True Story lets grillers know that they're getting a juicy dog with a serious amount of flavor. In addition to the aforementioned organic grass-fed beef, these gluten-free, sugar-free wieners are made with organic spices such as ginger, red pepper flakes, nutmeg, garlic, paprika, coriander, black pepper, celery, and onion.

Hempler's began in the early 1800s in Germany as a family sausage business. It wasn't until 1928 that Hans Hempler moved to the United States, and in 1934 he began operating his own sausage business.

Expanding from just offering sausages, Hempler's now offers a plethora of bacon, ham, roasts, and, of course, hot dogs. The hot dogs are all made with beef or a blend of pork and beef and contain no fillers, gluten, or MSG. While some of the franks in the brand's lineup have a little something extra going on (like the cream cheese in the Seattle Style Franks –– a topping that's a unique choice for the region), what really impresses us when it comes to quality is the Uncured Wagyu Beef Franks. Made with both natural beef and natural Wagyu beef, these luxurious franks are sweetened with both organic honey and cane sugar. They're prepared using a classic Hempler family recipe. We dare say that these are the brand's top dogs.