If you’re craving an iconic Windy City treat, our Chicago hot dog recipe is exactly what you need! This legendary dish, piled high with all the classic toppings from tangy mustard to the essential pickle spear, is a must-try for any hot dog enthusiast. Get ready to taste the authentic flavors of Chicago right in your own kitchen with this easy and delicious recipe.
Try serving these delicious hot dogs with homemade pickles, pickle relish, and a side of pasta salad!
Why You’ll Love This Chicago Style Hot Dog
- Authentic Taste: Experience the iconic flavors of Chicago right at home, without needing to travel.
- Easy to Prepare: With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, it’s an easy recipe that even beginners can master
- Perfect for Summer: Great for grilling season, it’s an ideal summer dish that fits well with outdoor dining.
The Chicago dog, also known as the Chicago-style hot dog, is a beloved creation with a rich history tied to the city’s cultural and immigrant heritage. This iconic hot dog traces its roots back to the early 20th century, particularly during the Great Depression. Hot dog stands became popular as affordable and hearty meals for working-class Chicagoans.
The distinctive Chicago dog emerged as vendors began to add a variety of toppings to their hot dogs to enhance flavor and make them more filling. The combination of ingredients—yellow mustard, bright green relish, fresh chopped onions, juicy tomato wedges, a dill pickle spear, spicy sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt, all nestled in a steamed poppy seed bun—created a unique, flavorful, and visually appealing hot dog.
The Chicago dog reflects the city’s diverse cultural influences and its history of innovation in street food. Today, it remains a symbol of Chicago’s vibrant food scene and a must-try for locals and visitors alike.
Ingredients You’ll Need
chicago dog ingredients
- Poppy Seed Buns: I found that poppy seed buns were difficult to find in my area. Fear not! I tested a few versions and created a quick hack to make your own (see next section for details).
- Hot Dogs: Traditionally, a Chicago dog is made with an all-beef hot dog. The most commonly used brands for an authentic Chicago-style hot dog are: Vienna Beef or Red Hot Chicago. We find it more common to find Nathan’s in our store which is my go-to.
- Celery Salt: It adds a subtle salty seasoning that brings out the flavors of the hot dog and toppings without overpowering them.
- Mustard: For an authentic Chicago dog, yellow mustard is the best choice.
- Pickle and Relish: The neon green sweet pickle relish is a classic component of the Chicago dog, providing the authentic taste and appearance. That being said, I used a sweet relish to replace since it was again one of those ingredients that is tricky to find.
- Tomato, White Onion, and Sport Peppers: Sport peppers are small, green, pickled chili peppers that have a tangy, vinegary flavor due to the pickling process, and they add a spicy kick to the hot dog. The heat level is moderate, providing a nice balance without being overwhelmingly hot.
Poppy Seed Hot Dog Buns
Finding authentic poppy seed hot dog buns can be tricky when you’re not a local, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying a classic Chicago hot dog! With this easy method, you can transform plain hot dog buns into delicious poppy seed buns right at home. Just a few simple steps and you’ll be ready to savor the iconic flavors of the Windy City.
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Prepare the Buns: Place your plain hot dog buns on a baking sheet opened and inside down.
- Brush with Butter: Using a pastry brush, generously brush the tops of each hot dog bun with the melted butter.
- Sprinkle with Poppy Seeds: Evenly sprinkle the poppy seeds over the buttered tops of the hot dog buns.
- Bake the Buns: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the buns are slightly toasted and the poppy seeds are set.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the buns from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before serving.
Enjoy your homemade poppy seed hot dog buns!
Chicago Dog Recipe
- Preheat the Grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
- Grill the Hot Dogs: Place the all-beef hot dogs on the preheated grill. Grill the hot dogs for about 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until they are evenly charred and heated through.
- Prepare the Buns: While the hot dogs are grilling, lightly steam the poppy seed buns. You can do this by placing them in a steamer basket over boiling water for about 1-2 minutes, or by microwaving them wrapped in a damp paper towel for about 10-15 seconds.
- Assemble the Hot Dogs: Place a grilled hot dog in each steamed poppy seed bun.
- Add the Toppings: Squeeze a line of yellow mustard along one side of the hot dog. Spoon a generous amount of neon green sweet pickle relish along the other side of the hot dog. Sprinkle finely chopped white onion over the relish. Place 2-3 tomato slices or wedges on one side of the hot dog. Add a dill pickle slice or spear on the opposite side of the tomatoes. Place 2-3 sport peppers on top of the hot dog.
- Season: Finish by sprinkling a dash of celery salt over the entire hot dog.
- Serve: Serve the grilled Chicago-style hot dogs immediately and enjoy!
Helpful Tools
These tools will help streamline the preparation and assembly process, making it easier to create delicious hot dogs.
- Tongs: (affiliate) Long-handled tongs for safely turning and handling the hot dogs on the grill.
- Steamer Basket: (affiliate) For steaming the poppy seed buns, keeping them soft and warm.
- Microwave: (affiliate) An alternative to steaming buns if you wrap them in a damp paper towel.
- Cutting Board: (affiliate) A sturdy surface for chopping the onions, tomatoes, and slicing the pickles.
- Chef’s Knife: (affiliate) A sharp knife for finely chopping the onions and slicing the tomatoes and pickles.
Expert Recipe Tips:
- Choose Quality Hot Dogs: Use high-quality, all-beef hot dogs like Vienna Beef for the most authentic and flavorful experience.
- Preheat the Grill: Ensure your grill is fully preheated to medium-high heat before adding the hot dogs. This helps achieve even cooking and those desirable grill marks.
- Rotate for Even Cooking: Turn the hot dogs frequently while grilling to ensure they cook evenly and develop a nice char without burning.
- Chop Toppings Finely: Finely chop the white onions and make sure the tomato wedges or slices are thin. This ensures they fit well on the hot dog and distribute evenly in each bite.
- Add Celery Salt Last: Sprinkle celery salt as the final touch. It enhances the overall flavor without overpowering the other ingredients.
- Serve Immediately: Chicago dogs are best enjoyed fresh off the grill, with the buns still warm and the toppings fresh.
Recipe FAQs
While you can use regular hot dogs, all-beef hot dogs are recommended for an authentic Chicago-style flavor. Brands like Vienna Beef are traditional and provide the best taste.
Neon green sweet pickle relish can be found at most grocery stores, especially those with a good selection of condiments. You can also order it online from specialty retailers or directly from brands like Vienna Beef.
Yes, you can use an indoor grill, grill pan, or even a regular frying pan on the stovetop to grill the hot dogs. Just make sure to turn them frequently for even cooking.
Yes, you can chop the onions, slice the tomatoes, and prepare the other toppings ahead of time. Store them in separate containers in the refrigerator until you’re ready to assemble the hot dogs.
Store leftover grilled hot dogs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep the toppings in separate containers to maintain their freshness. Reheat the hot dogs on the grill or in the microwave before serving.
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Chicago Hot Dog Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 poppy seed buns*
- 4 all beef hot dogs
- 2 pinch celery salt
- mustard
- pickle relish neon green or sweet
- tomato
- white onion
- sprot peppers
Instructions
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
- Place the all-beef hot dogs on the preheated grill. Grill the hot dogs for about 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until they are evenly charred and heated through.
- While the hot dogs are grilling, lightly steam the poppy seed buns. You can do this by placing them in a steamer basket over boiling water for about 1-2 minutes, or by microwaving them wrapped in a damp paper towel for about 10-15 seconds.
- Place a grilled hot dog in each steamed poppy seed bun.
- Squeeze a line of yellow mustard along one side of the hot dog. Spoon a generous amount of neon green sweet pickle relish along the other side of the hot dog. Sprinkle finely chopped white onion over the relish. Place 2-3 tomato slices or wedges on one side of the hot dog. Add a dill pickle slice or spear on the opposite side of the tomatoes. Place 2-3 sport peppers on top of the hot dog.
- Finish by sprinkling a dash of celery salt over the entire hot dog.
- Serve the grilled Chicago-style hot dogs immediately and enjoy!
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Comments & Reviews
Jesseca says
Our new favorite hot dog flavor!