12 Hot Dogs That Use the Highest Quality Ingredients

Hot dogs are the perfect summer staple, especially for the big holidays like July 4th. However, these dogs sometimes get a bad rap because they're traditionally made with processed red meat and are high in sodium and saturated fat—two nutrients linked to poor health when consumed in excess. Fortunately, this doesn't mean you have to shun frankfurters this barbecue season because some brands are making healthier hot dogs you can enjoy without derailing your health goals.

If you plan to grill up some store-bought hot dogs this summer, you may want to know which brands are your best bet from a nutritional standpoint.

How to choose the best hot dog at the grocery store

Before throwing any pack of hot dogs into your cart, Jaime Windrow, RD, LDN, a registered dietitian with Top Nutrition Coaching, shares what you should look for on labels to get the highest-quality, healthy hot dog you can buy at the grocery store.

• Uncured and free of artificial preservatives: Look for hot dogs that leave out synthetic preservatives like sodium phosphate, sodium nitrite, and sodium nitrate, as research has found a link between these preservatives and an increased risk of cancer.
• Whole meats vs. mechanically processed ingredients: Read the ingredients list and look for products that contain whole beef, turkey, or chicken. Avoid those with mechanically processed and separated meats.
• Short ingredient list: Choose a hot dog with a short ingredient list. Higher-quality hot dogs will have minimal ingredients and will mostly contain ingredients you are familiar with.
• Lower saturated fat: Ideally, choose a hot dog with less than 4 grams of saturated fat. Consuming too much saturated fat can increase your risk of heart disease and other heart complications, which is why the American Heart Association recommends limiting your daily consumption to around 13 grams.
• Lower sodium: Choose a hot dog with less than 500 milligrams of sodium per serving (and look at the total fat content—often, 'light' hot dogs are higher in sodium, meaning they're not necessarily more nutritious). Consuming too much sodium in your diet can increase your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease, which is why the FDA recommends limiting your daily consumption to no more than 2,300 milligrams.
• Regular vs. jumbo- or ballpark-sized: Try to avoid buying oversized hot dogs, as they'll likely have more of the nutrients you don't want (i.e., sodium and saturated fat).

Keep reading to find the best hot dogs with the highest-quality ingredients for your next barbecue. And next, check out 6 Healthiest Hot Dog Buns—3 To Avoid.

Whole Foods 365: Uncured Beef Hot Dogs

These Uncured Beef Hot Dogs from Whole Foods are a great choice when you're looking for healthier, higher-quality hot dogs. They have a bit more sodium than we'd aim for (we try to keep it at 500 milligrams or less), but the other benefits are worth noting. For instance, these beef dogs are made with simple ingredients like beef, vinegar, spices, celery powder, and cane sugar, and they're completely void of synthetic preservatives such as nitrites and nitrates.

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Applegate Organics: The Great Organic Uncured Chicken Hot Dog

Applegate Organics' Uncured Chicken Hot Dogs are uncured and low in saturated fat, which is why they are recommended by Windrow. Plus, one hot dog contains 7 grams of protein for just 70 calories. Sandwich one of these poultry hot dogs between a whole-grain bun and top with mustard and sauerkraut for a tasty lunch that's guaranteed to be a hit.

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Nathan's Famous: All Natural Uncured Beef Franks

You may know Nathan's hot dogs from their restaurants, but you can also buy their beef franks in most grocery stores. We wouldn't recommend their regular hot dogs because they're higher in sodium and contain phosphates and nitrites, but their All Natural Uncured Beef Franks made our list because they stay within the recommended sodium limit and are free of artificial preservatives.

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Trader Joe's: Organic Uncured Beef Hot Dogs

These Trader Joe's Organic Uncured Beef Hot Dogs are a safe choice for people avoiding artificial preservatives, as they're made with only natural, organic ingredients like ginger, nutmeg, red pepper flakes, garlic, vinegar, celery powder, and grass-fed beef. Another benefit of these beef franks is that they're relatively low in sodium, with only 400 milligrams, and contain only 4.5 grams of saturated fat.

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Applegate Naturals: The Do Good Dog Uncured Beef Hot Dog

If you're looking for the closest thing to a stadium-style hot dog, Windrow recommends Applegate Naturals' Uncured Beef Hot Dogs. They're plump, juicy, and delicious—plus, they're made with grass-fed, regeneratively sourced beef and a blend of spices. We also love that these healthy hot dogs are sugar-free and cook up in just five minutes.

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Fork in the Road: Honest Dogs

We love the natural ingredients in these hot dogs by Fork in the Road. Made with beef, onion, garlic, mustard, vinegar, and other natural flavors, you can have peace of mind eating these pasture-raised beef franks, knowing there are no phosphates, nitrites, or nitrates. These have a little more saturated fat and sodium than our recommended limit, but the ingredients make this choice worth it.

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Organic Valley: Uncured Pasture-Raised Turkey Hot Dogs

Windrow recommends these Organic Valley Turkey Hot Dogs because they check all the boxes: They're organic, uncured, made from humanely pasture-raised turkeys, and are lower in sodium than most frankfurters. Plus, the ingredient list is super minimal—aside from turkey, this summertime staple contains only a blend of spices—so feel free to throw a couple on the grill alongside some corn on the cob and skewered veggies for lunch.

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Organic Valley: Uncured Grass-Fed Beef Hot Dogs

Another pick from Organic Valley recommended by Windrow, these grass-fed beef hot dogs are equally delicious and nutritious. The hardwood-smoked beef is simply spiced with garlic and onion powder. These are made without antibiotics, synthetic hormones, or pesticides, and they boast a minimal ingredient list, so you can feel good about feeding them to your family.

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Field Roast: Signature Stadium Plant-Based Hot Dog

Field Roast hot dogs are a plant-based, flavorful alternative to traditional beef hot dogs. And believe it or not, they look and cook like the real thing! Windrow recommends these better-for-you vegan hot dogs because they contain just 310 milligrams of sodium and less than 1 gram of saturated fat. One dog has 5 grams of plant protein from peas and fava beans.

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Niman Ranch: Uncured Pork & Beef Franks

If you're on the hunt for a healthy hot dog made with the traditional beef and pork combo, Windrow recommends these from Niman Ranch, a company that sources its meat only from small, independent U.S. family farmers and ranchers who raise their livestock humanely and sustainably. These frankfurters are uncured and clock in under Windrow's suggested sodium and saturated fat limits, so feel free to grab a pack and get grilling.

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Hebrew National: All Natural Uncured Beef Hot Dogs

These Hebrew National Hot Dogs deliver that classic frankfurter flavor you know and love minus all the stuff you don't. There are no added nitrates or nitrites, and these links have less than 500 milligrams of sodium and 5 grams of saturated fat per serving, fitting Windrow's nutritional parameters. Plus, we love that these are widely available in many grocery stores.

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Niman Ranch: Uncured Beef Franks

These Niman Ranch Fearless Uncured Beef Franks are really beefy, coming in at 170 calories and 12 grams of protein. Admittedly, they contain 5 grams of saturated fat and 630 milligrams of sodium, so they don't fit Windrow's nutritional criteria to a T. "These are much larger than the Organic Valley and Applegate dogs, hence the fat sodium being higher," Windrow notes. However, their minimal ingredient list and the fact that they're uncured and have no MSG, fillers, or byproducts still make these a better choice.