Seattle Hot Dog Recipe

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 05/22/22
Seattle Hot Dog

The Spruce / Ali Redmond

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 4 hot dogs
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
528 Calories
33g Fat
42g Carbs
16g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 528
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 33g 43%
Saturated Fat 14g 69%
Cholesterol 63mg 21%
Sodium 1290mg 56%
Total Carbohydrate 42g 15%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 16g
Vitamin C 8mg 39%
Calcium 161mg 12%
Iron 3mg 18%
Potassium 373mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

A Seattle-style hot dog is a late-night staple at game day food carts across Seattle. But you don’t have to travel to Washington to sample these delicious dogs.

Seattle dogs are essentially a delicious mash-up of hot dog and bagel. The origins are often disputed, but may have something to do with a bagel cart that started selling hot dogs, too. The dogs are split open and seared and then served with cream cheese and sautéed onions or scallions.

Polish sausage is often used instead of regular old dogs. Other toppings like jalapeños, sauerkraut, and cabbage can be included and condiments like mustard, Sriracha, and barbecue sauce give the dish a little tang and zip. Ketchup is typically a no-no, but we won't tell if you decide to add a drizzle.

Seattle dogs are super easy to throw together at home and can be made for large crowds or for a weeknight dinner. They're obviously perfect for a Super Bowl celebration. Whether you're tailgating or watching from the comfort of your living room, you can enjoy these with ease.

Ingredients

  • 4 hot dogs, or sausages

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 2 medium onions, peeled and thinly sliced

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 4 hot dog buns

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened

  • 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced

  • Sriracha sauce, for garnish

  • Brown mustard, for garnish

  • Sauerkraut, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for Seattle hot dogs

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  2. Split each hot dog or sausage lengthwise while keeping 2 halves together. 

    Split hot dog on a cutting board

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  3. Heat a sauté or grill pan on high heat. Add oil, onions, and salt and sauté or grill for 2 to 3 minutes or until slightly softened and browned. Make sure to do this on high heat to get good golden color and flavor. 

    Griddled onions in a pan

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  4. Remove onions from pan and add hot dogs or sausages. Sear for about 2 minutes per side or until heated through and lightly browned or charred. Cover to keep warm while toasting buns. 

    Griddled hot dogs in a pan

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  5. Remove hot dogs or sausages from pan and add buns. Toast split-side down. Toast until just lightly browned. 

    Toasting hot dog buns in a pan

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  6. Add hot dogs or sausages to buns and add grilled onions to the side. Add softened cream cheese to a plastic or piping bag. Cut bottom off of bag and squeeze cream cheese over top. Then top with fresh jalapeno slices, Sriracha, and mustard. You can also add sauerkraut, if using.

    Seattle Hot Dogs on a platter

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

Recipe Variations

  • Use whatever sausage or hot dog you like. They all taste delicious with these toppings.
  • Use a combination of any of the topping options or set up a hot dog topping bar and let your guests top the dogs themselves.