You will feel like you hit one out of the park when you make this authentic Seattle Hot Dog recipe. Sweet caramelized onions, smooth cream cheese, and tangy brown mustard give this picnic-ready treat its signature flavor.
Seattle! Nicknamed the Emerald City because of the lush greenery throughout the area, this beautiful piece of the world is where I call home. The summer is so gorgeous here, and my family is looking forward to some local camping trips and stay-cations. I’ve got the perfect summer dish that is great for vacationing, camping, or stay-cationing to share with you. It’s a regionally-inspired Authentic Seattle Hot Dog recipe. Variations of this Seattle-style hot dog are often sold from food trucks at sporting events in the city.
Hot dogs are already classic summer food, but Seattle’s version delivers a flavor explosion with every bite. My family’s take on the Seattle Dog is smeared with warm cream cheese, piled with caramelized onions, and topped with spicy brown mustard. It is my idea of the ultimate summer recipe when served alongside some baked red potato fries!
Regionally-Inspired Authentic Seattle Hot Dog Recipe
Start by making the caramelized onions. Cut your onions in half and then slice as thinly as possible. In a cast iron skillet, melt the butter over medium-low heat, and add the sliced onions. It may seem like way too many onions at first, but they will dramatically reduce in size when caramelized. Scrape the bottom of your pan and stir the onions with a plastic or wooden spatula about every five minutes for 45-50 minutes. You will know they are done when the onions have wilted and reached a browned color.
In a small saucepan, warm cream cheese over low heat until it stirs smoothly. Keep over warm heat until hot dog assembly time. Grill your all-beef hot dogs over medium heat for five minutes on each side. Lightly toast the hot dog buns if desired.
To assemble your regionally-inspired Seattle Hot Dog, liberally smear the warmed cream cheese on the inside surface of your hot dog bun. Place a grilled hot dog inside. Next top with caramelized onions and a squiggle of spicy brown mustard. Sometimes we like to add sauerkraut, but if you really want the caramelized onion taste to shine through, skip it until next time.
Baked Red Potato Fries
A flavorful dish like this regionally-inspired Seattle Hot Dog recipe is best paired with an easy-to-make side dish like a batch of baked red potato fries. Just cut several red potatoes into sticks and toss with a generous drizzle of olive oil. Lay them out on a baking sheet and sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper. Add a few light sprinkles of paprika. Bake at 425°F for about 20-25 minutes, flipping half way through. Fries should be soft inside and crispy on the outside. When plating, add a light sprinkle of dried basil and paprika on top. Serve with your favorite french fries dip.
I hope you find that Seattle’s flavorful spin on the classic hot dog is a tasty summer meal. Consider pairing your regionally-inspired Seattle Hot Dog with a fresh green salad, corn on the cob, and cold watermelon. For tips on how to pick out a good watermelon, click here. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 2 medium yellow onions
- 3 tbsp butter
- Kosher salt and pepper
- 6 all beef hot dogs
- 6 hot dog buns
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- Spicy brown mustard
- Sauerkraut, optional
Instructions
- Start by making the caramelized onions. Cut onions in half, then slice as thinly as possible.
- In a cast iron skillet, melt the butter over medium-low heat.
- Add the sliced onions.
- Scrape the bottom of the pan and stir the onions every 5 minutes for 45-50 minutes or until the onions have wilted and reached a dark brown color.
- In a small saucepan, warm cream cheese over low heat until smooth to stir.
- Grill all-beef hot dogs over medium heat for 5 minutes on each side.
- Lightly toast hot dog buns if desired.
- Liberally smear warmed cream cheese on the inside surface of each hot dog bun.
- Place a grilled hot dog inside and top with caramelized onions, sauerkraut (if desired), and spicy brown mustard.
Notes
Home Chef Tip: When making caramelized onions, it is important to keep a low temperature (between low and medium-low heat) to prevent burning and rushing the caramelization process.
We hope you enjoy this Authentic Seattle Hot Dog recipe from SoFabFood Contributor, Amber from The DIY Lighthouse, as much as we do. If you love this recipe, you can find more like it by visiting our Outdoor Grilling section. For daily recipe inspiration, like us on Facebook and follow us on Pinterest. Enjoy!
