Spicy Chicago-Style Hot Dog with Pickled Relish and Mustard
A classic Chicago dog with a beef hot dog tucked into a poppy seed bun, topped with tangy yellow mustard, bright neon relish, and fresh crunchy veggies. This american-inspired sandwiches & wraps ready in about 20 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 320 calories and feeds 6, 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.
Ingredients
- 6 all-beef hot dogs
- 6 poppy seed hot dog buns
- 1/4 cup yellow mustard
- 1/3 cup sweet neon green pickle relish
- 1/4 cup diced white onions
- 6 spears sliced dill pickle spears
- 6 wedges tomato wedges
- 6 small sport peppers
- 1 tsp celery salt
- 4 cups water for boiling
Instructions
- Step 1: Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a saucepan. Add 6 all-beef hot dogs and boil for 5 minutes until heated through.
- Step 2: While hot dogs boil, steam 6 poppy seed hot dog buns by placing them over boiling water covered with a lid for 2 minutes until soft.
- Step 3: Place one boiled hot dog in each steamed bun. Spread about 1 tbsp yellow mustard evenly over each hot dog.
- Step 4: Spoon 2 tsp sweet neon green pickle relish onto each hot dog, then sprinkle 1 tbsp diced white onions evenly over all.
- Step 5: Add 1 dill pickle spear and 1 tomato wedge on the side of each hot dog, then top each with 1 sport pepper.
- Step 6: Sprinkle 1 tsp celery salt evenly across all 6 hot dogs for the signature Chicago dog flavor.
- Step 7: Serve immediately with a side of chips or your favorite street food snack.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Spicy Chicago-Style Hot Dog with Pickled Relish and Mustard take to make?
Total time is about 20 minutes (10 min prep + 10 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 Spicy Chicago-Style Hot Dog with Pickled Relish and Mustard?
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 Spicy Chicago-Style Hot Dog with Pickled Relish and Mustard?
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 Spicy Chicago-Style Hot Dog with Pickled Relish and Mustard for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). 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 Spicy Chicago-Style Hot Dog with Pickled Relish and Mustard?
American sandwiches & wraps 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.
