Chicago Hot Dog Pizza for National Pizza with Everything Day

While researching to come up with a deliciously different pizza recipe for National Pizza with Everything (Except Anchovies) Day, we stumbled upon this Chicago-style Hot Dog Pizza and our search went no further. If you like Chicago-style hot dogs (and who doesn't?), this pizza has absolutely everything that you could ever want: a poppy seed crust, mustard, hot dogs, onions, tomatoes, neon green relish, sport peppers, pickles and a dash of celery salt. Yum! 

Chicago Hot Dog Pizza was created by Kevin, one of the two founders of HotDogChicagoStyle.com, and combines two perfect foods: pizza and Chicago hot dogs. Kevin and Mitch founded HotDogChicagoStyle.com in 2005 simply to find the perfect Chicago hot dog.  And their day jobs of Quality Assurance Engineers and love of a true Chicago hot dog certainly qualifies them to do this. Be sure to check out their site. It's witty, clever and provides great information on Chicago hot dogs, where to find the best ones and where to purchase traditional Chicago hot dog makings. 

To make a 10-inch diameter Chicago Hot Dog Pizza: 

2 - 3 all-beef hot dogs, sliced crosswise into 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thick rounds

small pat of butter

pizza dough (purchase ready-made refrigerated pizza dough, make your own favorite recipe or use this recipe recommended by Kevin at theartisan.net)

1 tablespoon olive oil

poppy seeds

yellow mustard

1/4 cup chopped white onion

1/4 cup chopped tomato

10 sport peppers*

1/2 cup neon green sweet pickle relish*

1 whole deli-style pickle, sliced crosswise into 1/8-inch thick rounds

celery salt 

*The Puckered Pickle Company is the perfect place to purchase authentic neon green relish and deli pickles for this pizza and all of your Chicago hot dogs needs. Sport peppers are pickled serrano peppers. Because they vary significantly in heat, it is recommended that you don't use the canned pickled serranos found in the ethnic aisle at your local grocery store. Order sport peppers along with your neon relish and deli pickles from the Puckered Pickle Company or pick up a jar at La Villa Deli in San Jose. 

Be sure to view the slide show on the left for complete instructional photos for this pizza. 

• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter and saute the hot dog slices for a few minutes until both sides begin to brown. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 500 degrees. (This pizza can also be made in your outdoor grill at the same 500-degree temperature.)
• Line a pizza pan, baking sheet or pizza stone with parchment paper.
• On a flat surface, roll out the dough to a thin crust then place it on the parchment-lined pan or stone.
• Lightly brush a little olive oil over the top surface of the pizza dough and sprinkle with poppy seeds.
• Bake the crust in the pre-heated oven for 3 - 5 minutes until it starts to bubble and brown slightly around the edges.
• Remove from oven and punch down any large bubbles. Let the crust cool slightly.
• Squirt the yellow mustard over the crust.
• Arrange the browned hot dog slices over the mustard.
• Scatter the chopped onions and tomato over the crust, mustard and hot dog slices.
• Arrange some sport pepper over the top.
• Plop small dollops of relish over the pizza.
• Return the pizza to the oven at this point and bake for 5 - 10 minutes until toppings are warmed and crust is golden brown around the edges.
• Remove from oven and arrange the pickle slices over the top.
• Sprinkle celery salt over everything and serve immediately while hot and fresh from the oven. Note: Chicago Hot Dog Pizza is not a good pizza candidate for re-warming or eating cold. It's best when served hot, just like a Chicago hot dog.

A very big thank you goes out to Kevin and Mitch at HotDogChicagoStyle.com for kindly letting us share their incredible Chicago Hot Dog Pizza recipe! 

For other tasty pizzas on National Pizza with Everything Day, try Shrimp Scampi Pizza or Chili Dog Pizza. 

 Like this article? Get a spam-free e-mail notice every time I post a new one by clicking on the Subscribe button above. Be sure to check out the San Jose Easy Meals Examiner for great recipes, weekly meals plans with corresponding grocery lists and easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions designed to help people with little or no cooking experience. Also, check out the Sustainable Seafood Examiner (me!) for articles on the seafood industry and recipes focusing on fresh, sustainable seafood.