Hot dogs are an American classic from coast to coast. What makes them popular is that they are simple to make, just toss them on the grill for a on in a pan of boiling water until they are heated through. Hot dogs are the perfect portable food for beach side barbeques, camping, or tailgate parties.
Many regions of American have their own variations of the hot dog. What makes each region’s hot dogs unique is how they are topped. Switch up you hot dog barbeque by putting out all of the fixings for a regional favorite hot dog that is different from your own. Round out your barbecue with baked beans, potato salad, fresh fruit and chips.
Chicago Style Hot Dog
Chicago style hot dogs resemble a salad placed on top of a hot dog. Have the following ingredients ready and pile on top of a grilled beef frank. You may want to purchase a larger sandwich roll to keep everything on top. Notice there is no ketchup on the list. Ketchup is available by special request only in Chicago, and even then, they will try to talk you out of putting it on your hot dog!
Diced yellow onion
Diced green bell pepper
Mustard
Sweet pickle relish
Dill pickle chips or slices
Cucumbers, peeled and sliced thin
Diced tomatoes
Shredded iceberg lettuce
Pepperoni peppers
Celery salt
New York Style Hot Dog
New Yorkers have one of the highest hot dog consumption rates in the country year after year according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. New York street cart hot dogs are boiled and kept warm in water until serving. They are then topped with mustard, sauerkraut, and a tomato and sautéed onion sauce.
Deli style New York hot dogs are grilled and topped with sauerkraut and mustard.
Perro Caliente
In Arizona, this Mexican inspired version of the hot dog is served inside a warm tortilla instead of in a bun. Spread a tortilla with warm refried beans, Mexican style rice, salsa, cheese, and freshly chopped onion. Perro Caliente is the direct Spanish translation of hot dog.
Sonoran Hot Dog
Tuscon, Arizona serves a Sonoran Hot Dog which is served the same way that hot dogs are served in stands in Mexico. The hot dog is wrapped in Mesquite smoked bacon and grilled over an open flame. It is then placed in a bun and topped with freshly chopped tomatoes, diced onion, jalapenos, shredded cheddar cheese, tomatillo salsa, ketchup, and mayonnaise.
Los Angeles Style Chili Dog
Several stands in the Los Angeles area sell hot dogs topped with chili, chopped yellow or white onions, and shredded or sliced American cheese. Foot long Dodger Dogs are another popular hot dog sold in the area.
West Virginia Style Hot dog
West Virginians start with a hot dog on a bun with a squirt of mustard. The hot dog is then topped with chili, cole slaw, and chopped onions. Sometimes the buns are buttered and toasted in a hot cast iron skillet before topping with the hot dog and toppings.
Detroit‘s Coney Island Dog
Residents of Detroit, Michigan call their specific version of chili dogs a Coney Island. The hot dog is made from pork with a natural casing. It is then topped with an all meat chili, chopped yellow onion and yellow mustard,
New Jersey’s Potato Dog
New Jersey has a unique version of the hot dog called the potato dog. A spicy hot dogs is grilled placed in a bun and topped with a sweet potato mixture. The sweet potatoes are diced and stewed and then mixed with spicy yellow mustard.
