Chicago Style Hot Dog – The Iconic Windy City Street Classic
A Chicago-Style Hot Dog is a classic American street food featuring an all-beef frankfurter in a steamed poppy seed bun, topped with yellow mustard, neon relish, onion, tomato wedges, a pickle spear, sport peppers, and celery salt. Bursting with texture and flavor, it’s a true taste of Chicago heritage—colorful, flavorful, and unforgettable.
Ingredients
- 4 all-beef hot dogs
- 4 poppy seed hot dog buns
- 4 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 4 tablespoons bright green sweet relish
- ½ small onion, finely chopped
- 8 tomato wedges
- 4 dill pickle spears
- 8 sport peppers
- Celery salt, to taste
Instructions
- Steam or simmer the hot dogs until heated through.
- Warm the poppy seed buns by steaming or microwaving them briefly.
- Place each hot dog into a bun.
- Add mustard, then spoon on the relish and chopped onions.
- Arrange two tomato wedges on one side and a pickle spear on the other.
- Top with sport peppers and sprinkle with celery salt.
- Serve immediately—no ketchup!
Notes
- Use Vienna Beef hot dogs for the most authentic Chicago flavour.
- Always steam the buns for a soft texture.
- The relish should be bright green—it’s a Chicago trademark.
- Never add ketchup; it’s considered a culinary sin in Chicago.
- Wrap the hot dog in parchment paper for that classic street-style presentation.