Chicago Style Hot Dogs

This was one of the first every recipes I cooked on my BBQ when I was learning how to set up a gas BBQ. This recipe taught me the difference between direct and indirect cooking and allowed me to experiment.

This is a recipe for Easy Homemade Chicago Style Hot Dogs and helps convert the original American ingredients into a UK version of the recipe.

Choosing to have a bit of variety on a British summer BBQ gives a wider selection of food for guests to choose from so be sure to have a look at my other BBQ recipes and ideas for the next time you fire up the grill.

🌭 Introduction to Chicago Style Hot Dogs

These Chicago style hot dogs are an all year round tasty meal for all the family to enjoy. The dish is quick and simple and fantastic for a party.

If you are looking for pizza dough options and detailed instructions how to make it, try my pizza dough calculator. This offers all weights and measures to get a great dough.

There are 7 key ingredients which form a Chicago Style dog and so I cover all these in the ingredients section below.

🍅 Ingredients for a Chicago-Style Hot Dog

The 'Chicago Style' comes from the topping of the hot dog which is made up of a specific relish which has a kick to it. To make Chicago Style Hot Dogs at home you'll need some condiments and a few ingredients.

For the main hotdogs

• Hot dog sausages - The main ingredient in this recipe and these come in various shapes, size and types. As the hot dog sausages are all precooked (technically you could eat them cold) they don't take long to worm through which is why this is a great dish for a BBQ. I prefer the type that come in a jar and you can get Hot Dog Sausage's in a kit too for added convenience.
• Bread buns - Ideally these should be hot dog shaped buns, preferably poppy seed for authenticity. Split them lengthways to allow the hot dog sausage and relish to rest on. split

For the toppings and relish

• Tomatoes - Choose larger tomatoes which can be sliced. These need to be halved again once sliced. Cut to a shape that will fit on the bun or in the relish. Cherry tomatoes don't really work for this recipe so better with a larger salad tomato instead.
• Sport peppers - These are not too common in the UK but can be swapped with a basic supermarket green chilli. They need to be of medium heat but not so hot that they overwhelm the rest of the dish.
• Dill pickles - The pickles are cut into spears so they fit within the hot dog sausage bun. Pickles are a key ingredient in making it an authentic American hotdog recipe. Try not to deviate too far from a standard green dill pickle.
• Onion - A standard white onion will be a perfect ingredient for this recipe. Take it from your good stock of essential kitchen staple list of ingredients.
• Chicago-style relish/Neon relish - The key ingredient for the dish is a relish which for the authentic Chicago-style hotdog recipe would be a green neon relish. For a UK recipe equivalent of neon relish you can use piccalilli.
• Yellow mustard - Simple Colman's English Mustard will be great for this dish.
• Celery salt - Have some in for any curries or spicy dishes you make. Celery salt is also a secret ingredient in the KFC herbs and spices.

👨‍🍳 Instructions to make an American Style Hot Dog

As the dish is quick to put together, it's worth noting to prepare your ingredients out in advance. It's advised to cook the hot dogs in batches and then serve in a bread bun for your guests to add their own toppings.

Alternatively, cook the hotdogs and then place them in a cooler area of the grill while you make up the hot dog 'Chicago Style' and then serve.

🍳 Equipment For Cooking Hot Dogs

Make life easier on yourself when cooking Chicago Style hotdogs on the BBQ by having the right equipment to hand.

BBQ - This recipe is for both charcoal and gas. I advise learning to understand how to maintain the right temperature on your BBQ. Where possible purchase a BBQ with vents. Examples are the Weber Mastertouch E-5750 for charcoal. If using gas, I am a huge fan of the Weber Genesis II Gas barbecue. For something a little more compact, take a look at the new Q Series from Weber. The Q-series is a compact and easy to use gas barbecue ideal for grilling at home or on the move.

Tongs - You need a good set of BBQ tongs to click and move the sausages around the grill. Also useful for serving up when the dogs are ready.

Grate brush - It is recommended to use a grate brush before and after cooking to get rid of any residue or bits of burnt on food. Choosing a quality brush is important so I recommend either the Sizzle Buddy grate brush or the Weber grill grate cleaner. Both these brushes stay intact and don't fall apart during use.

Serving bowls/napkins - Think ahead and have some paper plates, serving bowls and napkins if making this dish at a party. Where possible get recycled napkins and those which can be composted afterwards.

❔ FAQ about Chicago Style Hot Dogs

🥗 Serve These Hotdogs With...

Here are some ideas on my site that you can serve alongside these Chicago Style Hot Dogs.