chicago-style hot dog buns
Welp, vacation is over and it’s back to real life (until this weekend at the Big Summer Potluck, weeee!). I’m actually writing this post before vacation (working ahead and all) and while I can’t yet tell you for certain that it was wonderful and relaxing and perfectly refreshing, I’m guessing that it was. And if not? Well, we’ve got hot dogs. And that’s a topic that makes anyone happy.
While I may live in the land of Minnesotans now and potentially forevermore, I am a born and bred Illinois gal. I was born in Chicago and grew up in the suburbs and enjoyed many Chicagoland things in my adolescence, like the Art Institute and Giordano’s pizza (the best, in my humble opinion) and Wrigley Field and Soldier Field and Green River pop and Six Flags Great America and Tastee Freez and a bazillion other places and foods, not the least of which was the Chicago-style hot dog.
If you’ve never tried a Chicago-style hot dog, then you haven’t lived. Just kidding. But seriously — they’re amazing. And they all have the same formula: A Vienna beef hot dog on a poppyseed bun “dragged through the garden” with yellow mustard, neon green relish, chopped white onions, two tomato wedges, a dill pickle spear, two sport peppers and a few dashes of celery salt. Ketchup is like saying Voldemort. Don’t even go there.
I’d say a good 30 percent of my childhood was sustained on eating these hot dogs. And even though I now live in the Twin Cities where there is so much delicious food to devour, I still crave a Chicago-style dog every now and then — especially in the summer. So it’s a good thing I can make them from scratch at home (or we might have a serious hangry situation going on here).
My version isn’t fully authentic, but it’s just as scrumptious. I made some homemade poppyseed hot dog buns that are crazy-simple to make, then filled them with grass-fed beef hot dogs and topped them with mustard, relish (the non-neon kind), onions, tomatoes, a pickle spear, sport peppers and celery salt. And then I ate one in two minutes flat. I wish I was joking about that part.
If you’ve never tried a Chicago-style hot dog before and don’t have access to the authentic version from the Windy City itself, this is a great alternative. It’s also a good way to make someone’s day because, hot dogs.
Homemade Chicago-Style Hot Dogs
Hot dog bun recipe adapted from King Arthur Flour
Yields: 10 hot dog buns
Ingredients:
For the buns —
3 cups unbleached bread or all-purpose flour
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 cup warm water
1 egg, yolk and white separated
2 teaspoons cold water
Poppy seeds, for topping
For the hot dogs —
Hot dogs
Yellow mustard
Pickle relish
Chopped white onion
Tomato wedges
Dill pickle spears
Sport peppers
Celery salt
Directions:
In a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, combine flour, oil, yeast, sugar, salt, water and egg yolk until a dough forms. Knead by hand on a lightly floured surface 10 minutes until smooth and elastic OR knead in stand mixer with dough hook attachment on medium speed 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Shape dough into a ball and place in a lightly greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place 1 1/2 to 2 hours until doubled.
When dough is doubled, punch it down and divide it into 10 pieces. Roll each piece into a 3-inch log. For each piece, flatten the dough with your palm, then fold over lengthwise, pinching the seam to seal. Flatten again and fold over lengthwise, pinching the seam to seal. Gently shape the dough into a 6-inch long oval and place it seam-side down on a lightly greased or parchment paper/silicone mat-lined baking sheet. Flatten again lightly.
Repeat with remaining pieces of dough, placing them about an inch apart on the baking sheet(s). Cover with lightly greased plastic wrap and let rise 1 hour until puffy but not doubled.
Meanwhile, heat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix together egg white and 2 teaspoons water in a small bowl, then brush the tops of the buns with the egg wash. Sprinkle liberally with poppy seeds. Bake buns 18 to 20 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven; cool completely on a cooling rack before slicing.
To assemble hot dogs: Cut hot dog buns halfway open lengthwise, then add a hot dog. Top hot dog with yellow mustard, relish, chopped onion, tomato wedges, a dill pickle spear, sport peppers and a dash or two of celery salt. Serve with Jay’s potato chips, if you want to be extra Chicagoan.
Homemade hot dogs bun? Awesome!! Now you’ve got me craving hot dogs and it’s only 5 am.
daisy
Love those buns! These look awesome!
Your buns look incredible…well, you know what I mean!
A-freaking-mazing. I can feel myself rocking our next BBQ by showing up with homemade buns. That’s right folk, I’m a diva.
Love, love, love this! I could eat those all by themselves!!
I want this hot dog. I would literally deal with being dragged through a garden to get to one.
Oh yea! I’m trying this. My husband will love them.
I never had sauces on my hot dogs. I never knew it was also a style of dog, HEHEHE
I love these rolls. They have the perfect texture for a steamed bun not grilled!
These are so fun! I have never had a chicago-style bun and they look terrific! Homemade buns look like a blast to make and loading them up with sausage and goodies sounds wonderful!
Daisy — Ha! It’s hot dog time somewhere? 😉
Tieghan — Thank ya, dear!
Steph — Lol! Well, thank you. 🙂
Erin — Girl, you rock that BBQ diva-ness. People will love you for your buns. I mean… something like that. 🙂
Marie — Thank you, friend!
Sarah — Lol, well good thing you don’t have to to eat one! Oy. 🙂 Thanks, dear!
Erika — Yeah, do it! Thanks, love!
Belinda — Oh yes, this is a thing and it is a very delicious thing, too! You have to try it. 🙂 Thanks!
Julia — Thank you, dear! You should definitely give this style a try; I think you might love it!
WELP. You are making me miss Chi-town. I lived in Naperville for a few years, but worked downtown. Chicago was an amazing city full great food and people! Now, pass me a dog!
Oh wow! I’m loving the look of these hot dog buns!
This looks so good!!! I’ve never tried a Chicago-style dog, but now I definitely want to. Love that you made your own buns!
Lauren — You lived in Naperville? That’s pretty close to my hometown! Let’s make a trip there sometime together and eat hot dogs all day long. And then go to the Bahamas. Deal? 😉
Robyn — Thank you, dear!
Poppyseeds, huh? The Husband thinks I’m nuts for liking poppyseed bagels. I can’t imagine how he’d react to these!
Rachel — You have to try one! It’s not for everyone, but I happen to think they’re delicious. 🙂 Thanks, dear!
Kate — More yummy poppy seed foods for us, then! 😉
You are speaking to my heart with this recipe! I live right by Super Dawg in Chicago and every single time I pass it I crave a loaded up hot dog. I have made hamburger buns but never hot dog. I am so sad because when you are pregnant apparently you are supposed to avoid lunch meat and hot dogs, womp, womp! So eat a bunch of these for me and then when this little guy is born you better believe I will be baking these and eating hot dogs and washing them down with some red wine! hahaha!
Stefanie — Ooooh, I’ve never had Super Dawg but I’ve always wanted to go there! I hear amazing things. And such a bummer about not being able to eat hot dogs while preggo! Maybe someone can deliver Super Dawg to you in the hospital right after the little dude is born! 😉
Confession – I’m not a hot dog lover but those buns look so, so good! Love the poppy seeds on top, can I just eat the carb part? 😉
Chicago dogs are THE BEST! And with omemade hot dog buns?! Is there anyhting better?!
Laura — WHaaaaattttTT??? Just kidding. 😉 Eating just the carbs is totally cool with me!
Chung-Ah — Aren’t they? I could eat them alldayeveryday, pretty sure of it. 🙂
Those are some good lookin’ buns, Stephanie! Hehe. We’re Chicago hot dog devotees in this house – love ’em!
Ummm so I have a slight obsession with bowls and I LOVE the bowl your dough is rising in gurrrrl! Ps… these are genius!
Georgia — Haha, well thank you very much, doll! 😉
Laurie — Thanks! I inherited (read: stole ;)) them from my mama and I love them so.
I would be eating these before they ever made it to the hot dog! Gorgeous!!
Julie — Ha! It was tempting 😉 Thank you, love!
I know I don’t truly belong here in Chicago because the ONLY thing I like that’s on a Chicago-style hot dog would be the tomato. Which means I totally love ketchup on a hot dog. OH dear.
I’m not going to lie, homemade buns scare me!!! I’m no baker but it’s freaking summertime and grilling a good hotdog is necessary. These buns and all the fixings must happen!
Just amazing! Look at those gorgeous buns 🙂 These sound incredible Stephanie! Pinning!
Stephie — How. Dare. You. 😉 Just kidding; I totally put ketchup on my hot dogs sometimes. It’s cool!
dishing up the dirt — You could totally do it, lady! Or at least you can buy some buns from the store and make some Chi-town style hot dogs. Basically, do what you need to do to get these hot dogs into your life. 🙂
Kelly — Thank you, dear!
These are gorgeous!! I haven’t ever been to Chicago (I know, its on my bucket list), nor had Chicago style hotdogs (again…shame on me, haha). I totally need to change that by making these. I haven’t made bread in far too long 🙂
Laura — Ahhh, you have to try one sometime (preferably in the Windy City). Thanks, dear!
Lovely and OMG yummy…thats all I want to say!!! lovely pics as always!! ‘Chicago style’ food rocks!!
Manju — Thank you so much! 🙂
buns look so soft and perfectly finished with the works, love hot dogs in all forms, yum 🙂
I so love a good hot dog and one on a homemade bun?! Looks so light, fluffy and a perfect foil for all those gorgeous toppings. And “hangry” is my new most favorite word.
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Kumar’s Kitchen — Thank you!
Maria — Thank you! And haha, I use the word “hangry” a lot — probably because I get that way all too often 🙂
I’ve never been to Chicago but I am dying to go! I love deep dish pizza. This hot dog looks pretty dang tasty too, although I would have to sub a veggie dog in there. But I love the buns, they look so good!
Sarah — Ohh, you have to go there sometime! It’s a great city. And this would be just as tasty with a veggie dog! 🙂
Oh man. These look so good! I’ve been craving hot dogs this summer and this looks like the only way to eat them!
Megan — Oh, it’s totally the best way to eat them, that’s for sure! Thanks! 🙂
I just did a full week of Chicago hot dogs on My Daily Find Chicago — wish I had seen your fun recipe sooner! Consider these windy city approved 🙂
Maris — Oh, thank you! And a full week of Chicago hot dogs? That sounds AMAZING.
Rest assured I did not eat them all week!!
Maris — No judgement if you did. 😉
Yum! I love the “rustic” look of homemade hot dog buns — I will have to try these before school starts again!
Thanks for posting this recipe and pictures. I was teaching a group of international kids about Chicago and for lunch I served “Chicago Style Hotdog”. Since poppy seeds are banned in this country I had to hunt for a recipe and use my secret stash. Your recipe was SO easy and turned out terrific! All of the moms raved about how soft and tender they turned out. I had to give several of them the link to this site. For other users…it might be helpful to know that after the dough was made and in greased bowl, I put it in the fridge overnight and then started up with the rest of the steps the next day. Thank you so much girl vs dough.
Lisa — Oh, wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing — I’m so glad you and everyone liked them. 🙂 And thanks for the tip on overnight refrigeration — good to know!
Amazing buns !!!!!
thanks for the recipe for the buns!! We’ve got one place that does Chicago dog….when the owner sees me coming, he knows I’m feeling like its a ballpark day. He orders it ALL from the Windy City!!
while you may visit Asheville now, plan to bring your family WEST to see the amazing parks we have in UT in the future!
Savvy — Oh, definitely! It’s still on the bucket list. 🙂
Has anyone tried these with white whole wheat flour?
Is the dough supposed to come out slightly sticky?
Laura — Maybe a little sticky but it shouldn’t stick to your fingers. I’d suggest adding more flour until it’s just slightly sticky but still manageable.
Looks Delicious. Cant wait to try