Chicago Style Hot Dog

Name: Chicago Style Hot Dog
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Beef
Ingredients: 4 Beef hot dogs; 4 Poppyseed buns; 4 tablespoons yellow mustard; 4 tablespoons pickle relish; 4 tablespoons chopped onions; 8 Tomato wedges; 4 Pickle spears; 8 Sport peppers

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It wouldn’t be summer without a good old-fashioned hot dog! These Chicago Style Hot Dogs are loaded with toppings and fun to eat!

They are a summer must-have!

This is the BEST Chicago hot dog recipe because it’s so easy to make, and every bite is loaded with flavor. The ingredients are simple, but these dogs taste anything but. They taste like (or taste better than) the real thing you would buy at a hot dog stand.

This Chicago dog is light and filling thanks to the fresh cut tomatoes and onions on top. Every bite is packed with the great taste of summer without the need to visit the windy city for a taste or Wrigley field for a Chicago style hot dog.

What Is A Chicago Style Hot Dog?

Typically, a Chicago Hot Dog is made up of a steamed all-beef hot dog that is topped with yellow mustard, relish, fresh onions, tomato wedges, pickles, sport peppers and a dash of celery salt all served in a poppy seed bun. Some refer to this as “dragged through the garden” (or so I’m told).

Ingredients

All Beef Hot Dogs with natural casing
Poppy seeds Buns
Yellow Mustard
Pickle Relish
Onions
Tomato Wedges
Pickle spears
Sport Peppers

For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.

How To Make A Chicago Hot Dog

To start, bring a pot of water to boil, add the hot dogs, reduce the heat, and allow the dogs to simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the dogs from the heat and set them aside.

Place one dog inside a hot dog bun. Poppyseed buns are “authentic” but not always easy to find. Sesame seeds buns will work fine!

And now for the toppings, start with drizzling mustard on the hot dogs, followed by the pickle relish, sliced white onions, tomato wedges, pickle spears, sport peppers, and celery salt.

You want to make sure the tomatoes are nestled into the bun, next to the hot dog. The dill pickle spear rests between the hot dog and the bun (other side). Sprinkle your celery salt and serve!

FAQs

Are Chicago dogs boiled or grilled?

The dogs used are normally boiled instead of grilled. This keeps them soft and tender and adds in a little more flavor because the water up there just tastes better. That said, you can just as easily heat up the grill for a nice char dog taste in every bite.

Why is ketchup not allowed on hot dogs in Chicago?

Look, I’m not going to stop you from adding ketchup, bet then it wouldn’t be a true Chicago Style Hot Dog! These dogs don’t need any ketchup because they already get enough sweetness from the pickle relish. A lot of Chicagoans (people from Chicago) sweat that ketchup throws off of the perfectly balanced flavors that are already present.

What to serve with Chicago dogs

These hotdogs are traditionally from hot dog carts where ordering side dishes isn’t an option therefore it’s perfectly acceptable to eat your Chicago dog as-is without sides. If you do choose to go for some sides, great options include hand-cut french fries, crispy potato chips, and a cold soda.

If You Like These Hot Dogs? Perhaps you should try

These Chicago Dogs are a fun way to kick up your ordinary hot dogs! This classic recipe is always a summertime hit and you don’t even need to leave the house or visit some hot dog stands.

Yield: 4