Chicago-Style Aardvark Habanero Hot Dog

A love letter to tradition—plus a kick in the mouth.

The Chicago-style hot dog is a masterpiece of regional pride. It’s a carefully stacked flavor skyscraper with a no-ketchup clause written into its constitution. We’re respecting the rules (mostly), but adding a generous squirt of Secret Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce to turn this Midwest icon into a spice legend.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5–7 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

4 all-beef hot dogs (preferably natural casing, like you can get from a butcher shop, but whatever your favorite hot dog is, it will turn out great!)

4 poppy seed hot dog buns (steamed)

4 tomato slices (halved)

1/2 cup chopped white onion

1/2 cup of Chicago-style neon green sweet pickle relish (like so many things, if it’s not at the corner mart, it’s a mere click away!)

4 dill pickle spears

8 “sport peppers (These are pickled green peppers with medium heat, traditionally from Vienna Beef Company. They’re easier to find in stores in the Midwest, but you also can buy them online. If you find a different brand of pickled pepper, we won’t tell.)

Yellow mustard, to taste

Celery salt for sprinkling

2–3 teaspoons Secret Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce (plus more to drizzle)

Instructions

Cook the hot dogs via steaming, simmering, or gentle grilling until heated through. The goal: juicy, not shriveled. Check out the “Secret Aardvark’s How-to Guide for Hot Dogs” for more details on hot dog cooking mastery.

Steam your buns. You want them warm and soft, but not soggy. If you don’t have a steamer, microwave them wrapped in a damp paper towel for 10–20 seconds.

Assemble each dog in this glorious order:

Hot dog into the bun

Stripe of yellow mustard

Spoonful of neon green relish

Chopped onion

Tomato slices (two halves, tucked in on one side)

Dill pickle spear (tucked opposite the tomatoes)

Two sport peppers (pickled hot peppers) right on top

Light dusting of celery salt

Add the Aardvark kick: Drizzle about 1/2 teaspoon of Secret Aardvark Habanero Sauce across the top of each dog. Want it spicier? Go for a full teaspoon or more.

Reminder: Ketchup is still banned. Long live the Windy City!