Hot Dog Toppings

Fun Facts About Hot Dog Toppings

• Many list ketchup as their favorite hot dog topping. But if you're in Chicago, using it is basically culinary heresy. Reach for yellow mustard instead — you've been warned.
• Mustard is widely considered the original hot dog topping, rooted in 19th German immigrant traditions where it was paired with sausages for its sharp, acidic contrast to fatty meat. It's been the top choice for Americans ever since, with roughly 71% of consumers choosing it over alternatives like ketchup today.
• Sauerkraut is a nutritious, tangy topping for hot dogs which not only boosts flavor but also aides digestion. Fermented cabbage is packed with fiber and beneficial probiotics.
• The ongoing debate between cheese sauce and shredded cheese hinges on a preference for creamy uniformity versus textured, savory melt. Nacho-style cheese sauce offers a consistently gooey experience, while shredded cheese doesn't cover over other topping flavors.
• Jalapenos are the most common spicy topping. Whether pickled or fresh, they bring the heat without overpowering the dog.
• Onions are a transformative topping. Raw, grilled, caramelized, or even crispy — each completely shifts the flavor, texuture and overall personality of the hot dog.
• Coleslaw is a Southern hot dog topping choice. Especially in parts of North Carolina and West Virginia where it is often paired with mustard and chili.
• The Seattle Dog is a grilled, all-beef hot dog on a toasted bun slathered with cream cheese. Originating in the late-1980s, it usually includes heaps of caramelized grilled onions.