Chicago Style Hot Dogs
A Regional Icon
Chicago Style Hot Dogs are a culinary classic. They also happen to cause the most controversy when it comes to my followers.
A typical Chicago Style Hot Dog is made with an all beef hot dog, usually from the local Chicago brand Vienna Beef. The hot dog is either steamed or boiled then served on a S. Rosens Mary Ann, Poppy Seed Bun.
What are the Chicago Style Hot Dog Toppings?
Chicago Style Hot Dogs are topped with yellow mustard, onions, tomatoes, sport peppers, neon relish, celery salt, and a pickle. These toppings are almost universally agreed on throughout the Chicagoland Kingdom.
The controversy comes from the people who disagree on the brand of hot dogs, as well as if they are steamed, boiled or grilled. There may also be some contention about the variety of pickle but otherwise the toppings question is pretty much settled.
No Ketchup
The controversy also comes from the very passionate people who make a huge issue with anyone from Chicago eating a hot dog with ketchup.
While you would not ask for a specific Chicago Style Hot Dog with ketchup, you can ask for a hot dog with ketchup within the city limits of Chicago without going to jail. It’s true, you can even check the laws of Chicago if you don’t believe me.
I myself grew up ordering hot dogs from my local hot dog stand, Nicky’s On Archer, with ketchup and onion only. I always say that the only people who pretend this no ketchup thing is a bigger issue than it is are suburbanites who don’t actually live in Chicago, but want to assert themselves as pseudo Chicagoans.
The Chicago Way
That being said, I would agree that you should not ask for ketchup on a specific Chicago Style hot dog, although I don’t think anyone will ask you to leave their establishment if you did.
When I posted this hot dog to my Facebook page, I was very surprised that so many people did not know what a Chicago Style Hot Dog was. Therefore I wrote up a “recipe” for it below that is printable. In the next few paragraphs I will explain each ingredient and link where to buy.
I would like to be clear that I am not being paid by any of these brands to share this. I am just letting you know where you can buy the items to make yourself an authentic Chicago hot dog.
The Hot Dog
Now most people will tell you that you must have a Vienna Beef Hot Dog. I do love Vienna Beef and all their products, but I grew up eating Oscar Meyer All beef hot dogs. Therefore this is what I buy.
Vienna beef does sell a Hot Dog Kit for $54.95 that you can order by mail. I also know they’re sold all over the country.
You can find their products by using this retail locator. Fun fact, the Aldi all beef hot dogs are made by Vienna Beef as well under the Aldi label.
The Bun
The bun is also important. Most Chicago hot dog stands use a steamed S. Rosens Mary Ann Poppy Seed bun.
Here is a cute story about who is Mary Ann.
I use a metal, collapsible veggie steamer to steam my buns at home. You can find these in any kitchen store or on Amazon. You can also use any poppy seed bun. I will also link S. Rosens Store Locator and they also sell online.
Chicago Style Relish
You will mostly find this neon green relish in Chicago. There is not much taste difference of this relish from others, in my opinion.
Vienna adds blue food coloring to it to make it “neon.” You can check their website for more info about the neon relish.
I will say this brand is less sweet then others I have had. It is also more cucumber-like which I love.
Vienna does sell their condiments on their site, as well as Amazon. They also have a store locator on their site as to where they sell nationally.
Sport Peppers
These are a must for me. Sport peppers are small, dense peppers that are tangy and slightly hot, but not burn your mouth hot.
To me, they have more of a pickled taste than heat. I like to bite the end off of one of the peppers and drip the juices along the dog. I know that Vienna sells a four pack of the peppers, relish, mustard, and the celery salt online for mail order that I think is cheaper than Amazon.
Celery Salt
As if the hot dog wasn’t salty enough! A good sprinkle of celery salt on the tomatoes, pickle, and onions is a MUST! I also think celery salt is the most underrated seasoning out there.
I use it on everything! Especially tuna salad and egg salad and deviled eggs.
The Pickles
The only pickles I use for my dogs are Claussen. They are in the refrigerator section of the grocery store.
They are always crisp and salty and perfect. I cut these in half lengthwise for my hot dogs.
Chicago Style Hot Dogs
These classic Chicago style hot dogs are a culinary delight. Typically made with an all beef hot dog, poppy seed bun, mustard, and several other unique toppings, this hot dog is both a snack and a salad.
Ingredients
- 1 package of all Beef Hot Dogs, many people use Vienna Beef brand (more information in the blog post, along with links)
- 1 package of Poppy Seed Hot Dog Buns, many people use S. Rosens brand "Mary Ann Buns" (more information in the blog post along with links)
- Yellow Mustard
- Celery Salt
- Sport Peppers (more info in the blog post)
- Chicago "neon" Relish (more info in the blog post)
- Dill Pickle Spear
- Sliced Tomatoes
- Finely Diced White Onions
Instructions
- Add your hot dogs to a pot with water. They should be just covered with water, bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Place the lid on the pot, simmer for about ten minutes.
- In a skillet add about 1 inch of water, a veggie steamer basket (info in blog post) place your hot dog in the basket. Bring the water to a low boil, reduce heat so the water is not rapidly boiling onto the buns, place the lid on and steam about 5 minutes or until the buns are soft.
- Add your hot dogs to the bun, add a squirt of mustard along one side, add the onions and tomatoes and sprinkle those with a little bit of the celery salt.
- Add your green relish along one side of the dog.
- Top with two or three sport peppers. I like to drip a little of the sport pepper juice along the whole top of the dog.
- I slice a dill pickle spear in half, lengthwise and top the dog, add a little tiny bit of celery salt to the pickle.
More Hot Dogs
If you like this recipe you should try my other recipe for Hot Dogs or my not as authentic, but even more adorable, Mini Chicago Dogs.
