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.

Someone squeezing J Dawgs sauce on a hot dog. - 1

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 , or sandwiches. My kids love to dip their mini corn dogs in it!
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

Overhead shot of labeled ingredients. - 2

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.

All of the sauce ingredients combined into a pot and simmering on the stove. - 3

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.

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Equipment

1 small saucepan

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ ½ cup ketchup
▢ ½ cup packed brown sugar
▢ ¼ cup barbecue sauce
▢ 2 tablespoons honey
▢ 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
▢ ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
▢ ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
▢ salt to taste
▢ ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

Combine ½ cup ketchup , ½ cup packed brown sugar , ¼ cup barbecue sauce , 2 tablespoons honey , 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar , 1 teaspoon onion powder , ¼ teaspoon garlic powder , and ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, until boiling.
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 the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Small bowl of J Dawgs sauce with a spoon. - 4

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