Grilled Chicago-Style Hot Dog with Pickled Relish and Sport Peppers

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

A classic Chicago street food favorite featuring an all-beef hot dog nestled in a poppy seed bun, topped with tangy yellow mustard, neon green relish, chopped onions, tomato wedges, pickled sport peppers, and celery salt. This american-inspired street food ready in about 18 minutes pairs all-beef hot dogs, poppy seed hot dog buns, yellow mustard for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 8 min Serves 4 American cuisine 350 cal/serving
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Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Butter 4 poppy seed hot dog buns with 2 tbsp softened butter, spreading evenly inside and out.
  2. Step 2: Place 4 all-beef hot dogs on the grill and cook for 5-6 minutes, turning occasionally until grill marks appear and hot dogs are heated through.
  3. Step 3: While hot dogs cook, prepare toppings: finely chop 1 small onion, cut 1 large tomato into 8 wedges, and set aside 8 pickled sport peppers.
  4. Step 4: Remove hot dogs from grill and place each into a buttered bun. Spread about 1 tbsp yellow mustard and 1 tbsp neon green sweet pickle relish over each hot dog.
  5. Step 5: Sprinkle 1/4 of the chopped onions over the relish, add 2 tomato wedges on one side, and 2 pickled sport peppers on top of each hot dog.
  6. Step 6: Finish by sprinkling 1/4 tsp celery salt evenly over each assembled hot dog. Serve immediately with your favorite chips or fries.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Grilled Chicago-Style Hot Dog with Pickled Relish and Sport Peppers take to make?

Total time is about 18 minutes (10 min prep + 8 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Grilled Chicago-Style Hot Dog with Pickled Relish and Sport Peppers?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep all-beef hot dogs from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Grilled Chicago-Style Hot Dog with Pickled Relish and Sport Peppers?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Grilled Chicago-Style Hot Dog with Pickled Relish and Sport Peppers for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Grilled Chicago-Style Hot Dog with Pickled Relish and Sport Peppers?

American street food like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

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