The hog dog is the ultimate vessel for delicious toppings. Cooks across the world have come up with some enticing combinations. Today I’m looking at some marvelous hot dog recipes for your Memorial Day weekend.
Hot dogs have been covered a lot recently on this website. I can’t help it! They are probably my favorite summer time guilty pleasure. Whether its plain with mustard or loaded with toppings, you just can’t beat a good hot dog.
Chicago Dog
The Chicago dog is probably one of the most famous in the US. The windy city is proud of their namesake dog, and for good reason! This delicious dog is packed with veggies and pickled goodness that will hit all of your taste buds.
Chicago dogs are said to be “dragged through the garden.” The description comes from the fact that there are so many vegetable toppings on the dog. A typical Chicago dog is topped with mustard, neon green sweet relish, white onions, tomato slices, sport peppers, celery salt, and of course a pickle spear.
Aside from the toppings, what sets a Chicago dog apart from the competition is the bun. This dog uses a poppy seed bun in place of a normal hot dog bun.
The mountain of toppings come together nicely and really make a Chicago dog filling. The celery salt is such a wonderful addition, and something I have transferred to other dogs. If you ever get the chance to try a real Chicago dog, don’t pass it up!
New York Dog
New York is possibly the hot dog capital of the world. The city is famous for its multiple hot dog street vendors and famous hot dog shops. In a city full of hot dogs, is there one dog that stands above the rest? It turns out there is!
The big apple’s signature hot dog is topped with brown mustard, onion relish, and sauerkraut. If you’ve never tried brown mustard, you are in for a treat. It is a delectable condiment that is also pairs well with multiple sandwiches.
Sauerkraut is a classic topping for hot dogs and sausages. You can’t go wrong with this fantastic fermented topping.
The key and the kicker to these dogs is the onion relish. The New York onion sauce is a unique and wonderful addition to the hot dog landscape. Spiced with chili powder and cinnamon, this sauce will have you coming back for more.
Slaw Dog
I couldn’t talk about hot dog recipes without mentioning the South’s very own slaw dog. These heavily topped dogs first appeared in West Virginia in the 1920s. They became popular as the economy tanked during the Great Depression because hot dogs and cabbage were cheap.
A typical slaw dog is topped with mustard, hot dog chili, and coleslaw. You’re probably noticing a trend with the mustard at this point. It is far and away the most popular hot dog condiment in the US, and possibly the world.
Although its called a slaw dog, the chili is key. A good homemade chili can take this dog from a 10 to an 11. You need a well spiced, flavorful chili to make this dog pop.
The coleslaw needs to be of the creamy variety to counter the spiciness of the chili. Creamy coleslaw is a Southern favorite, but you got to be careful about going overboard with the mayo! Another popular hot dog condiment is key to amazing coleslaw, and that is sweet relish.
These dogs can be hard to pull off because you essentially have to make two separate dishes just to top the dog. If the chili and the coleslaw are not up to par, your dog will suffer.
Sonoran Dog
The Sonoran dog is a more recent creation in the hot dog universe, jumping onto the scene in the 1980s in the Mexican state of Sonora. While the Sonoran dog strays from what most on the East coast would consider a traditional hot dog, there is no way I couldn’t include a bacon wrapped hot dog on the list!
The Sonoran dog starts with a layer of refried beans on the bottom. Top that with a mouthwatering bacon wrapped hot dog. The toppings flow from there, including tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, avocados, and zesty mayo. And of course, don’t forget the mustard!
A traditional Sonoran dog comes on a bolillo style bun. If you can’t get your hands on one, a regular hot dog bun will be fine.
The bacon wrapped hot dog is the star of the show here. When you pair a good dog with some quality bacon, how can you go wrong? The combination of jalapenos, tomatoes, and onion is delightful. The refried beans provide a nice backdrop for all of these flavors.
Chili Dog
Last but not least, we have the chili dog. Its similar to the slaw dog, but without the slaw. Chili dogs are popular across the country, though they will vary from region to region. Some chili dogs will have a meat sauce, while some will not.
My favorite type of chili dog is topped with mustard, meat sauce, chopped onions, pickled jalapenos, and hot sauce. A word of warning, this dog is spicy! Keep a cool drink handy if you want to tackle this fiery dog. You can tone down the heat with a milder chili and nix the hog sauce if you prefer.
As with the slaw dog, the chili is key to making this dog great. Without a great chili, this dog becomes a bootleg sloppy joe. Fortunately, I have a great homemade chili recipe that is both simple and appetizing. When make this recipe for hot dogs, I disregard the kidney beans.
Favorite Hot Dog Recipes
Picking a favorite hot dog recipe is like choosing your favorite child. It feels sacrilegious. If I were forced to choose, it would come down to a battle between the Chicago dog and the chili dog. The chili dog is probably my absolute favorite in a one time setting, but I enjoy the Chicago dogs more often because they are not as heavy as a chili dog. This is tough!
Well, that’s my opinion, but I want to know what YOU think! Leave a comment down below and let me know what your favorite hot dog recipes are. If its not mentioned in this list, write it down! The quest for amazing hot dogs never ends.
