Hot Dog Recipes

Use All Beef Hot Dogs

Hot Dogs Are an American Tradition


The Hot Dog Recipes on this page celebrate an all-American tradition - with a twist - or two.

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Americans eat millions of them.


Okay, it's Hot Dog Season!

Hot dogs are still an American favorite, especially during barbecue season. Some people I know say they can't enjoy watching a baseball game without a hot dog! And, of course, we cook them at family cookouts and sports watching events.

The restaurant doesn't serve hot dogs on a regular basis. We do occasionally prepare them as part of the lounge menu when there are special sporting events on TV. (Seahawks and Mariners, Nascar. UW Huskies and WS Cougars). We used to have a professional basketball team …but…

...but the restaurant and I like to serve them in a variety of ways, both at home and at the restaurant. One time we might feature New York Style Hot Dogs; another time we have Chicago Style hot dogs, sometimes chili dogs sell well and so on.

I have experimented with a number of hot dog recipes over the years and have found several that are very much appreciated by the restaurant guests and my family. But there are two important points to understand about serving hot dogs: the quality of the product and what condiments are served with them.



Regional Hot Dog Recipes

In New York City and the area immediately surrounding - it will be served with steamed onions with a pale yellow mustard.

Coney Island hot dogs are usually topped with a spicy meat mixture.

In some parts of Maryland you might find your hot dog split and deep-fried.

In and around Chicago the dogs will probably be layered with yellow mustard, green relish, chopped raw onion, tomato slices and seasoned with a bit of celery salt and served in a poppy seed bun.(Recipe below)

In Atlanta and many parts of the South you might be served a dog topped with cole slaw.

Kansas City has a hot dog recipe that usually calls for sauerkraut and melted Swiss cheese on a sesame seed bun.

In many parts of Texas you can expect the hot dog to be topped with chili, cheese (often Monterrey Jack) and jalapenos or salsa.



Buy Quality Hot Dogs, Please

How about quality? What are hot dogs made of?

Traditional hot dogs are made of beef, pork, veal, chicken or turkey. They are made with or without skins and may contain up to 30 percent fat and 10 percent added water. For vegetarians, there are tofu hot dogs.

  • Beef or all-beef hot dogs contain only beef. No soybean protein or dry milk solid fillers are added.
  • Kosher hot dogs are also all-beef and often are seasoned with garlic.
  • Meat hot dogs are usually a mix of 40 percent pork and 60 percent beef with no fillers.
  • Frankfurters may contain up to 3.5 percent fillers and made from a combination of meats.

  • Hot Dogs and Health

    Are hot dogs bad for your health? Maybe.

    Almost all varieties of hot dogs contain sodium nitrite which some researchers say are carcinogens. Others deny it. Sodium nitrite is a chemical salt used as a preservative and flavor enhancer in hot dogs, wieners, and sausages. It is particularly effective against botulism strains. Some people have reported other health problems from indigestion to sudden drops in blood pressure. And don't automatically think that chicken or turkey hot dogs are lower in fat because it is not always so. I buy only all-beef hot dogs or Kosher hot dogs for use at home and for the restaurant guests in the lounge. I have tried serving turkey or chicken hot dogs but my guests don't want them. Whether you call them hot dogs, red hots, wieners, franks or frankfurters, learn the good, the bad and the ugly, and try some hot dog recipes.



    Hot Dog Recipes

    Chicago-Style Hot Dogs

    Ingredients:

    • 10 all-beef or Kosher hot dogs
    • 10 Poppy Seed hot dog buns
    • Yellow mustard to taste
    • Bright green sweet relish to taste
    • Freshly chopped onions to taste
    • 2 Tomato Slices per hot dog
    • Serrano Sport Peppers, chopped (see note below) to taste
    • Celery salt to taste
    Note: Sport peppers (Capsicum annuum) are small hot peppers that resemble Tabasco peppers, but the Sport pepper is larger, about 1-1/2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. They are medium-hot. This is the popular pepper that is pickled and used on hot dogs (Chicago-style dogs) and sandwiches.

    Instructions:

    • Cook hot dogs on the grill  to 170° F.
    • Place each hot dog in a toasted or oven-warmed poppy seed bun.
    • Pile on the toppings in this order:

                    Mustard

                    Relish

                    Onions

                    Tomatoes

                    Peppers

                    Celery salt

     

    Serve these Chicago-style hot dogs with thin-sliced fried potatoes.


    Creole Hot Dogs and Rice


    Preparation time: 10 minutes. Serves 2.


     

    Ingredients:

    • 1/2 onion, diced
    • 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
    • 2 slices bacon, diced
    • 2 all beef hot dogs, sliced
    • 2 cups cooked rice
    • 1 tomato, diced
    • 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

     

    Instructions:

    • Cook bacon in a heavy nonstick skillet over medium high heat 5-6 minutes or until bacon is slightly crisp
    • Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a bowl and set aside
    • Sauté the onion in the bacon drippings for 4-5 minutes or until onion is softened
    • Stir in seasoning and sliced hot dogs and cook 2 - 2 1/2 minutes
    • Add cooked rice, cooked bacon, and chopped tomato and cook 3 - 4 minutes or until well heated throughout
    • Remove from heat and stir in chopped basil and serve

    Easy Chili Dogs


    Preparation time: 10 minutes. Makes 4 single chili dogs.


    Ingredients:

    • 4 all-beef or Kosher hot dogs
    • 1 pound canned chili without beans
    • 4 hot dog buns split in half lengthwise
    • 1/4 cup onions, chopped


    Instructions:

    • Fry hot dogs in a skillet (I prefer to fry or grill hot dogs but you can boil them if you want)
    • As the hot dogs are cooking, heat the chili in a heavy saucepan over medium high heat stirring frequently until piping hot
    • Reduce heat to low and hold hot until ready to serve stirring occasionally
    • Place hot dogs in buns and then cover with the chili
    • Top with chopped onion and serve with desired condiments

    I sometimes like to add shredded cheddar cheese on the top. I also like to toast the buns on a grill or in the oven.



    Oh…wait! I have just added a new hot dog in the lounge! A Russell Wilson Hot Dog! All beef dog topped with macaroni and cheese! It is a best selling hot dog!

    Please don't forget to visit Holiday and Special Day Menus where you'll find suggested recipes for those special occasions and for home cookouts.


    Enjoy your hot dog recipes and the company of them you share them with!

    Donna


    Did you know? President Franklin D. Roosevelt served Hot Dogs to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of England during their 1939 visit to the United States. It was the first time they had tried this American gourmet treat.