A true taste of the Windy City, Chicago-style hot dogs are as iconic as deep-dish pizza. Built on a poppyseed bun and piled high with vibrant toppings like tangy mustard, sweet relish, crisp onions, juicy tomatoes, a pickle spear, spicy sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt, this hot dog is all about bold flavor and tradition.
🍅 The Ingredients
The magic of a true Chicago-style hot dog comes from its classic lineup of ingredients: an all-beef frank, a soft poppyseed bun, yellow mustard, bright green relish, chopped onions, juicy tomato wedges, a crunchy pickle spear, spicy sport peppers, and a sprinkle of celery salt.
To capture that authentic Windy City flavor, you can even order many of the key ingredients straight from where it all began—Vienna Beef.
A Chicago Legend
The Chicago-style hot dog first appeared during the Great Depression, when vendors like Fluky’s sold hearty “Depression sandwiches” for just a nickel. These all-beef hot dogs were served in poppyseed buns and loaded with fresh toppings, creating an affordable, filling meal.
Over time, the recipe evolved into the classic we know today: mustard, relish, onions, tomato, pickle spear, sport peppers, and celery salt. Vienna Beef, founded in 1893, supplied the all-beef franks that became the standard.
👩🏼🍳 How To Make Chicago-Style Hot Dogs
- Step 1: Griddle, grill, boil, or steam the natural-casing beef hot dogs until cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Step 2: Steam the poppyseed buns until soft, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Step 3: Place the cooked dog in the steamed bun and add a zig-zag of yellow mustard, then top with green relish.
- Step 4: Next, sprinkle on chopped onions and nestle two tomato wedges next to the dog inside the bun.
- Step 5: On the opposite side of the tomatoes, nestle a dill pickle spear next to the dog, and then top with two sport peppers.
- Step 6: Finally, sprinkle celery salt over the top of the hot dog concoction.
Expert Tip
If you live outside the Chicago metro area, finding some of the key ingredients can be difficult. You can order a Natural Casing Chicago-Style Hot Dog Kit directly from Vienna Beef (click the link).
🙋🏽♂️ Frequently Asked Questions
A Chicago-style hot dog stands out because of its signature toppings: yellow mustard, bright green relish, chopped onions, tomato wedges, a pickle spear, sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt—all served on a poppyseed bun with an all-beef frank.
Traditionally, the frank is steamed or simmered, but grilling or griddling is also popular and adds additional flavor. All methods work as long as you use a high-quality all-beef hot dog.
In Chicago tradition, ketchup is considered a big no-no because it overwhelms the balance of flavors from the fresh toppings. If you like ketchup, you can add it at home—but purists will tell you it’s not authentic!
Most toppings can be found at your local grocery store, but for the most authentic taste, you can order key ingredients—like the all-beef franks and poppy seed buns—from Vienna Beef, the company that helped popularize the style.
🌭 More Awesome Ways to May Hot Dogs!
Ready to make the best hot dog this side of, well, Chicago? Go for it!
And when you do, be sure to take a photo of it, post it on Instagram, and tag @HowToFeedaLoon and hashtag @HowToFeedaLoon!
Chicago-Style Hot Dog
Video
Equipment
- griddle, grill, steamer, or pot of boiling water
Ingredients
- 8 beef frankfurters natural casing
- 8 poppyseed hot dog buns
- yellow mustard
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 16 tomato wedges
- 8 Kosher dill pickle spears
- 16 sport peppers
- celery salt
Instructions
- Cook the hot dogs in boiling water, on a griddle, grill, or in a steamer. About 5 minutes.8 beef frankfurters
- Steam the buns for 1 minute.8 poppyseed hot dog buns
- Place the dogs in the buns, and then add the toppings in this order: Mustard, onions, tomato wedges (on one side), pickle spear (on the other side), peppers, and topped with a dash of celery salt. Serve at once!yellow mustard, 1 cup chopped onions, 16 tomato wedges, 8 Kosher dill pickle spears, 16 sport peppers, celery salt
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