11 hours ago 2

Grilling this summer? Round hot dog patties are the latest BBQ craze — and they're on sale

Here's a debate I have with my friends every summer: Is a hot dog a sandwich? No? Well, does your answer change if the hot dog is in the shape of a hamburger patty and served on a bun? Yes, it's a thing and it's destined to be the talk of your Memorial Day barbecue. Rastelli's hot dog patties are essentially flat frankfurters, and they're either genius or gross — depending on who you ask. If you want to try this novelty delicacy for yourself (and I highly suggest you do), they're currently on sale at QVC leading up to the holiday weekend.

Just look at all the mustard you can pile on to these babies. Oh, and you now only have to purchase one type of bun — the benefits of the legendary round are endless.

$44 at QVC

Why is this a good deal? 💰

Sure, they're a little pricier than your average hot dog, but you can get a 12-pack or 24-pack at QVC for 20% off. Right now, the 12-pack is on sale for $44, while the 24-pack is down to $70, as part of the retailer's National BBQ Month sale. Oh yeah, and shipping is free.

New to QVC? Score an extra $15 off your first $35 order with code HELLO15. And if you don't want to pay it all in one go, take advantage of QVC's Easy Pay offer and have your items ship right away, while you pay for them in interest-free monthly installments.

Why do I need these? 🤔

Rastelli's, a New Jersey-based butcher, launched its famous hot dog patties a few years ago. It claims that the flatter surface is better at holding condiments and the outer, scalloped ridges allow for more caramelization on the grill — all of which is true. I can't tell you how many times I've piled on the hot dog toppings only for half of them to fall out of the bun by the time I'm done eating. But with a burger bun, it's a lot easier to hold your sandwich (er, hot dog?) together.

“We set out to improve the hot dog,” Rastelli’s told Fox News in 2021 when these babies first went viral. “Like many people, our customers were accustomed to slicing their hot dog down the middle before grilling to increase surface area for caramelization and flavor — so when the really busy moms and dads asked if we had any pre-sliced hot dogs, we started thinking.”

Now, you may want to compare the hot dog patties to bologna, which is essentially thinly sliced hot dog meat. But these hot dog rounds are made with beef and all-white meat chicken breast, and they're free from added hormones, steroids, nitrates, nitrites, artificial preservatives, MSG, trans fats and gluten, the brand says.

The hot dogs come fully cooked, but vacuum-sealed in packs of four and frozen with a bit of dry ice. You can toss them on the grill or air-fry them at 400°F for six minutes. However, if you want to try them, you should move quickly. Last summer, they sold out!

What reviewers say 💬

Hot dog rounds are the perfect cookout dish for freaking out your family and friends — and then impressing them upon their first bite. One reviewer even called them the "best hot dog ever."

Pros 👍

"They taste like the old-fashioned dogs from my youth! Flavorful, without the overly salty taste of today's grocery store dogs," a five-star reviewer wrote.

This home chef agreed: "The quality of the meat is amazing. The unique patty shape makes it easy to serve either with burger buns or rye bread (my favorite). Don't be fooled by the shape. These are 100% hot dogs."

Some super fans have been buying them on repeat. Said one: "We've ordered these round dogs several times and they're delicious! They are dense and chewy, but it's a nice texture. They are very tasty and juicy, too. We plan to keep ordering these because we love them and enjoy eating them on a freshly baked brioche round bun."

"This is the way to my hubby's heart!" exclaimed a happy purchaser. "He thinks these are just the best thing ever. I bought them once and he loved them, so when we ran out, I purchased more for him. I love them as well."

You'll also save money on hot dog buns since the goods don't need their own bread holders. "No longer do you have to have two different buns for your hamburger and hot dog cookouts. Great taste," commented a buyer.

Cons 👎

Just a heads up, not everyone's a fan. But of course, it all comes down to your personal preferences.

"We were curious, so we had to try the round hot dogs out. ... The quality was good — we just missed the snap of the Vienna-style hot dog casing and the center of the round dog was a little too thick for what we wanted with a grilled hot dog. Fun idea, but not for us," said a reviewer.

Another shopper from last summer said, "I thought it would be fun to try. Turns out we prefer sausage-shaped dogs."

Go big with the 24-pack and save a little money. On sale, they net out to about $2.90 per patty.

$70 at QVC

Not into hot dogs? It's okay! You can round out your summer barbecue with other fan-favorite foods from QVC — think ribs, burgers, desserts and more. They're all on sale!

Rastelli's all-beef burgers are a mix of Black Angus ribeye and chuck beef, and weigh over a quarter of a pound each. They have glowing reviews from QVC shoppers, with one writing that they're "the best steak burgers I’ve ever had. They’re thick, juicy, and the perfect size."

Pair these patties with the butcher's Poppy's Famous Burger Sauce for the ultimate burger. The sauce has lots of fans, too, with some reviewers even admitting to stocking up. "I always purchase several so I will never run out. I have even used it on other foods. It's the best," said one.

$68 at QVC

The burnt ends are arguably the best part of any pork dinner, right, and now you can enjoy them without slaving over a smoker all day. Corky's BBQ slowly smokes a pork shoulder to make its saucy, tender burnt end bites. They come frozen and fully cooked, so all you have to do is heat them in the oven for about 30 minutes at 350°F.

"I decided to give these a try and I'm so glad I did," said one meat-eater. "The pork pieces are covered in a very delicious barbecue sauce. And they're so simple to prepare: Just thaw the burnt ends, place in a casserole dish, sprinkle with the [included] seasoning and roast for 30 minutes."

$60 at QVC

These ribs are slow-cooked, so they're fall-off-the-bone tender. Not to mention, they're slathered in Memphis-style barbecue sauce. Serve them up with baked beans, corn on the cob, coleslaw and more Southern favorites.

They're also easy to prepare. They come fully cooked, but frozen (and you can keep them in the freezer for up to a year). Just let them thaw, then bake them in the oven at 350°F for 30 minutes and baste them halfway through.

$107 at QVC

Score four pounds of shrimp (92 pieces!) to serve all summer long. The shrimp arrives frozen and uncooked, so you can steam, sear, sauté or grill them to your liking. (FYI, they are cleaned, deveined and come with the tails on.)

"I get these from time to time and thoroughly enjoy them," said one consistent QVC shopper. "Taste like they're fresh from the sea — firm and very flavorful. I usually serve with cocktail sauce or scampi or some other creative sauce. We love them."

$62 at QVC

Don't forget dessert! These sugar cookies from Cheryl's are decorated with patriotic red, white and blue frosting and sprinkles. They remind me of the fluffy, frosted cookies you find at the grocery store on any summer holiday weekend (you know the ones), but they're even better.

If you're not a sugar cookie fan, the pack also comes with four classic chocolate chip and four blueberry cookies.

$44 at QVC

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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