Seattle Dogs

Before I moved to the Seattle area, I didn’t know much about the local cuisine beyond salmon and shellfish. I certainly didn’t know the city had its own hot dog. And judging by the ingredients, it’s one I could really sink my teeth into.

The first time I tasted a Seattle dog was under the Space Needle, before my now-husband and I headed to the top. After a long breakup, he was wooing me back and pulling all the stops to make me fall in love with the city and the idea of moving here. A griddled hot dog slathered with cream cheese and onions—plus endless views of mountains, the Puget Sound and Elliot Bay—was the perfect first step that led to countless more visits.

Was it the hot dog? Probably not, but it didn’t hurt. If there’s one thing I love, it’s a local dish with good lore, and since this one came about during Seattle’s heyday grunge era, it was definitely an intriguing one for me. Like any great regional hot dog, you don’t have to hit the city street carts to find one.

What is a Seattle dog?

At its core, the Seattle dog is a split, griddled hot dog served in a bun with cream cheese and grilled onions. The combo sounds odd, but it’s absolutely delicious. Even the New York Times declared it the best regional hot dog in the country, besting the biggies in Chicago and New York.

The Seattle dog came about in the late 1980s when a bagel vendor near the popular clubs in Pioneer Square added hot dogs to his menu after numerous requests. But instead of a hot dog bun, he served them in bialy bagel sticks with cream cheese and raw onions. A star was born. Even if today’s version is slightly different, you’ll now find the seared hot dogs served around the city.

Cream cheese and grilled onions are nonnegotiables for a true Seattle dog, but other popular toppings include jalapeno peppers, grilled bell peppers and sauerkraut. Our Seattle dog recipe includes sweet caramelized onions, which are always welcome. In my opinion, mustard or Sriracha is a good addition (it cuts the richness of the cream cheese and meat). But to each their own, I always say. You do you with your hot dog toppings.

Seattle Dog Ingredients

• Caramelized onions: To make caramelized onions, cook sliced onions in canola oil and butter with a bit of brown sugar, salt and black pepper. White or yellow onions are best here.
• Hot dogs: Use any hot dog brand you like, but an all-beef hot dog, sliced down the middle (not in half) and seared in a pan, is tastiest for Seattle dogs.
• Cream cheese: Philadelphia is usually picked as the best cream cheese brand in taste tests, but use your favorite.
• Hot dog buns: Get a bun that will hold up to cream cheese and onions. Toast them for extra flavor and sturdiness.
• Optional toppings: Some popular topping options include sliced jalapenos, sauerkraut, Sriracha or yellow mustard. Choose any or go crazy and do them all!

Directions

Step 1: Make the caramelized onions

Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook them for five to six minutes or until they start to lightly brown. Add the brown sugar, salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring every five minutes, until the onions are brown and very soft. Remove the onions from the pan.

Step 2: Cook the hot dogs

In the same pan, cook the split hot dogs (in batches, if needed) until they’re charred on both sides, three to five minutes.

Step 3: Build the Seattle dogs

Spread softened cream cheese onto the toasted hot dog buns. Top them with the hot dogs and caramelized onions. Garnish the hot dogs with additional toppings as desired.

Seattle Dog Variations

• Serve it in a bialy stick: If you have access to a good bagel shop, go for the OG version and serve the hot dogs in a bialy stick.
• Make a vegetarian Seattle dog: Instead of a beef, pork, turkey or chicken hot dog, use a plant-based dog.
• Add other toppings: The best hot dog toppings are in the eye of the beholder. Sauteed bell peppers, poblanos or jalapenos are delicious on a Seattle dog. You could add buttery cooked cabbage if you’re not into kraut. For sauce, maybe a smidge of barbecue sauce. But never ketchup (Chicago dog fans will understand).

How to Store Seattle Dogs

Store the onions and cooked hot dogs separately in airtight containers in the fridge. They will last up to four days. You can freeze caramelized onions for up to three months.

Seattle Dog Tips

Can you make Seattle dogs with grilled hot dogs?

Absolutely! If you make the split hot dogs on the grill, have cream cheese and caramelized onions at the ready for everyone to DIY their own dog. Boiled hot dogs don’t have quite the same flavor, but they do work in a pinch.

What can you serve with a Seattle dog?

While there’s no specific side dish for a Seattle dog, you can serve them with anything that you’d usually eat with hot dogs. Think coleslaw or potato salad, french fries or tater tots, baked beans, corn on the cob, or your favorite potato chips.