J Dawgs Sauce (Copycat)
Here in Utah, J. Dawgs is basically a religion! Their hot dogs are THAT good. The sweet, tangy, smoky sauce? Life-changing! Make this copycat J Dawgs sauce at home and you’ll never look at ketchup the same way again.
Reasons You’ll Lick the Spoon
Sweet & Smoky Magic: The perfect balance of sweet and smoky flavor goes so well with salty, savory hot dogs!
Versatile Drizzle: This sauce is not just for hot dogs. You can slather it on burgers, sandwiches, or even grilled veggies.
Game Day Glory: Be the master tailgater or game day party host with the BEST hot dogs (jdawgs) on the block.
J Dawgs Special Sauce Ingredients
Switch Up the BBQ Sauce: We used Sweet Baby Ray’s, but feel free to use your favorite (just steer clear of mustard-based sauces).
Paprika Pick: Smoked paprika will give a deeper, smoky flavor, while regular paprika keeps it mild and sweet.
Turn Up the Heat: Add a pinch or two of cayenne pepper if you like a little kick!
How to Make Copycat J Dawgs Sauce
J Dawgs started out as a tiny little shaw right outside BYU’s campus. The lines got longer and longer, and now the obsession has blown up across Utah. With just a few pantry staples, you can make their famous jdawg sauce at home!
Combine Ingredients and Heat: Combine ketchup, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, until boiling.
Simmer, Cool, and Enjoy: Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the sauce simmer for 3-4 minutes, until all the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
The Complete J Dawgs Experience
Making J Dawgs hot dogs at home comes down to the little extras, like perfectly toasted buns, signature grill marks, and must-have toppings. Here’s how to nail it:
Type of Dog: For the full J. Dawgs experience, use all-beef hot dogs (I love the jumbo Costco ones). Or try a Polish dog for a spicier kick!
Toast the Hot Dog Buns: Melt a little butter in a skillet over medium heat, place your buns facedown, and cook until golden and crisp to your liking.
Score for Style: Add criss-cross cuts to your hot dogs before grilling for that classic J. Dawgs signature look (a hot dog hack I swear by!). I love using this handy tool.
Topping Ideas: The traditional lineup is chopped onions, sauerkraut, banana peppers, jalapeños, and pickles, but honestly, anything goes. Or keep it simple and let the J Dawgs sauce shine all on its own.
J. Dawgs Special Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Store leftover J.Dawg’s sauce in an airtight container or bottle in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.