I Tried Grocery Store Corn Dogs: Ranking and Review

I grew up on this brand, so I was hoping the taste would be as good as I’d remembered.

The package came with six corn dogs, and cost me $5.70, or $0.95 per stick. Each hot dog is made with a blend of turkey, chicken, and pork.

After taking a bite, I found that these hot dogs had a slightly bitter aftertaste. The flavor lingered and left an impact — kind of like caraway, that sharp, earthy spice often found in rye bread.

The breading had a noticeable crunch on the outside, but was fairly thin. However, I did appreciate that the cornbread batter was made with real honey.

Like the State Fair version, the Market Pantry corn dogs have a cornmeal batter that’s made with real honey.

The box came with 16 pieces and cost me $7, or $0.44 per stick, offering a pretty affordable option. The meat is made with a blend of chicken, pork, and beef.

The hot dog’s flavor was light and smokey, but lacked any herbal notes. When I took a bite, I also noticed the meat had a slightly unappetizing, almost gray color.

There was less of a honey taste to the coating than the other options I tried, though it still delivered a satisfying crunch on the outside. Ultimately, though, the color threw me off and I wish it had more flavor.

I bought a box of 16 Crav’n Flavor corn dogs for $11, or about $0.70 per stick.

The franks are made with chicken and coated in a honey batter.

If you told me the Crav’n Flavor brand was made in the same factory as the Market Pantry corn dogs, I would absolutely believe you.

The hot dog itself was less smokey, but the look, breading, and texture was exactly the same as the previous option. Still, I wasn’t blown away.

Applegate Naturals offers a gluten-free corn dog made with turkey franks and a cornmeal coating.

However, they were a bit pricey at $8.90 for four, or $2.22 per piece.

Before I even realized it was a gluten-free option, I noticed the cornbread coating had a slightly mealy texture, which was actually quite enjoyable. The breading was a little too salty for my taste, but it had a nice, satisfying crunch to it.

The hot dog itself was juicy, but the higher price makes it an occasional treat rather than something I’d buy regularly.

Aldi’s Bremer-brand corn dogs are made with chicken franks, and the packaging highlights a “honey-flavored, crunchy batter.”

A box came with six corn dogs for $3.58, or about $0.60 per stick.

These were, surprisingly, some of my favorite corn dogs. Although Aldi is known for making affordable alternatives to popular staples, I don’t usually expect them to outshine the competition.

In this case, the chicken franks were juicy and the breading was noticeably less salty than the other options. The coating was slightly mealy but offered a satisfying crunch.

MorningStar Farms offers a plant-based corn dog, which is designed to replicate the taste and texture of a traditional meat hot dog.

These are a solid option for vegans or anyone looking to cut back on meat without sacrificing on taste. I bought a box of four for $4.60, or $1.15 per stick.

I understand the irony of choosing a vegan option as my favorite corn dog, but it truly stood out as the best.

The “meat” had a gorgeous red color and was incredibly tender, well-seasoned, and carried a hint of smokiness. The cornbread coating was thicker than the others, and was sweet without being mealy. I thought it added a satisfying contrast to the savory filling.

Out of all the brands I tried, MorningStar Farms is the one I’d be most likely to come back to.