Seattle Hot Dog Recipe

With Cream Cheese and Grilled Onions (1980s/1990s, Seattle, WA, USA)

Seattle Hot Dog

The Seattle Hot Dog, famous for its cream cheese and grilled onions, became a late-night favorite in the 1980s/1990s in Pioneer Square. Easy to make and delicious!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main Course, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 8 Hot Dogs

Equipment

• Normal Kitchen Utensils
• A flat top grill/griddle is great for this recipe

Ingredients

  

• 8 Hot Dogs
• 8 Hot Dog Buns
• 8 Oz. Plain Cream Cheese
• 1 Large Sweet Onion
• 3 Tbsp Butter
• 2-3 Tbsp Vegetable Oil or Additional Butter
• Salt and Pepper to Taste
• 1/4 tsp Sugar (Optional)
• Your Favorite Hot Dog Condiments (Optional)
• See Recipe Notes If You Want To Add Cabbage

Instructions

 

• Melt the 3 Tbsp of butter in a large pot over medium-high heat.
  3 Tbsp Butter
• Thinly slice your onion and add it to the pot along with 1/4 tsp of salt and the (optional) sugar. Cook the onions, stirring often, for 20 minutes. They should darken to a peanut butter brown – with a large amount of caramelization, but still able to hold themselves together pretty well.

  Note: WATCH THEM. If you don't stir often enough, they will start to char. A little char is fine – just not a lot.
  1 Large Sweet Onion, 1/4 tsp Sugar, Salt and Pepper to Taste
• While the onions cook, heat a portion of the oil or extra butter in a large skillet/pan over medium high heat. A flat top would do great here, in place of the skillet/pan.
  2-3 Tbsp Vegetable Oil or Additional Butter
• Use this pan to grill the buns and then the hot dogs. Start by opening your hot dog buns and adding them, in batches, face down to toast. Add more oil/butter between batches as necessary to help them toast. Each buns should take 1-2 minutes.
  8 Hot Dog Buns
• When the buns are toasted, remove them to a plate or serving platter.
• Add the hot dogs to the now empty pan to cook, flipping occasionally. Cook them to your desired doneness/char level.

  Optional Step: a number of Seattle Dog vendors split their hot dogs lengthwise and grill them flat – in order to get even more meat to heat contact. Feel free to do that here.
  8 Hot Dogs
• While the hot dogs cook, heat up the cream cheese. I generally just microwave it in a microwave safe container for two sets of 30 seconds, but you are welcome to heat it in a small pot, stirring occasionally, over medium-low heat.
  8 Oz. Plain Cream Cheese
• When the onions and hot dogs finish cooking, give the onions a taste for seasoning. Consider adding some fresh cracked pepper here. It adds another layer of flavor to the sweetness of the onions, the saltiness of the hot dog and the tanginess of the cream cheese.
• Now to assemble:

  For each hot dog, take a toasted bun and slather up to 1/8 of the cream cheese evenly over the inside. Add a grilled hot dog and top with 1/8 of the onions. Add any of your desired (optional) extra condiments here.
  Your Favorite Hot Dog Condiments
• Repeat the previous step for all of the hot dogs and serve right away.

Notes

If you want to add cabbage to your Seattle Dogs, replace half of the onion with 1 C of thinly sliced green cabbage – that’s roughly 1/8 a medium head of cabbage. Cook the onion per the original instructions, adding the cabbage to the onion 10 minutes into the cook time (halfway). 

If you add cabbage, I recommend not using the (optional) sugar and instead adding a little extra black pepper. 

Keyword 1980s, 1990s, Caramelized, Cheese, Cream, Dog, Green Onion, Grilled, Hot, Seattle

A Hot Dog with a Seattle Twist

Seattle is famous for its seafood, coffee, and grunge music, but it also has a unique take on the classic hot dog. The Seattle Hot Dog recipe, topped with creamy cream cheese and sweet, grilled onions, stands out with bold, memorable flavors. While this combo might sound unusual at first, the rich creaminess of the cheese perfectly balances the sweet, semi-caramelized onions for a satisfying bite.

A Street Food Classic from the ’80s and ’90s

The Seattle Hot Dog gained popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, emerging from Seattle’s lively Pioneer Square nightlife scene. Street vendors served this late-night crowd favorite, offering a creative twist on the traditional hot dog. What started as an experimental addition of cream cheese quickly became a beloved regional delicacy. Over the years, it has cemented its status as a true Seattle staple and a must-try for food lovers visiting the city.

Make this Seattle Hot Dog Recipe Your Own

This recipe sticks to the classic basics, but there’s plenty of room to get creative. Try sautéing cabbage with the onions or adding freshly cracked black pepper for a subtle kick. Feel free to include your favorite hot dog condiments if you like. The beauty of the Seattle-style hot dog is its versatility — perfect for personal twists and flavor experiments.

If you love hot dogs, you might also enjoy my recipes for Huevos con Salchicha or West Virginia Slaw Dogs. And if you’re a fan of cream cheese, don’t miss this French Onion Cream Cheese Schmear or Jalapeño Popper Pizza.

Dive Deeper into Seattle’s Hot Dog History

For more fascinating details, check out this excellent article from Seattle Weekly. It explores the competing origin stories of the Seattle Hot Dog and features interviews with vendors keeping this unique tradition alive. You’ll be surprised by the technical skill and fast-paced craft behind making the perfect Seattle Dog.

Enjoy bringing the iconic flavors of Seattle right into your kitchen!

_{I wrote and edited this post with help from ChatGPT, based on my own tested recipe and original photography.}