Rhode Island Hot Dog

This Rhode Island hot dog recipe is a version of the famous Rhode Island hot wiener or wienie (though some folks in Rhode Island spell it “weiner”). To make an authentic Rhode Island hot wiener, you’d need to use the same type of wieners (and some would say the same buns) used at the “New York System” restaurants that serve the dish in the state. These unique wieners are made from a specific mix of veal, pork, beef and spices, and tend to be smaller than a typical hot dog. They also sometimes come in rope form that must be cut into servings. Most people outside of Rhode Island and the surrounding region will probably buy regular hot dogs instead, so this particular recipe’s name reflects that.

The Rhode Island hot wiener began as a copycat of Coney Island hot dogs. This is why the restaurants that serve them have the term “New York System” in their names; the moniker was devised in the 1920s to make customers associate the wieners with the hot dogs produced in New York and Coney Island. The recipe for the wieners changed over the years, and the Rhode Island hot wiener is now a distinct dish. It’s served with white onions, celery salt, yellow mustard and a meat sauce seasoned with spices like chili powder, cumin, allspice and cinnamon. If you don’t mind making the wieners with hot dogs, this is a simple and fun recipe to make at home.

Rhode Island Hot Dog Ingredients

• Butter: This adds the necessary fat and moisture to cook the onion and keep the ground beef relatively juicy.
• Onion: An onion mellows out as it cooks and adds a subtle flavor to the meat.
• Spices: Worcestershire sauce, paprika, chili powder, cumin, mustard, cinnamon and allspice flavor the meat sauce for the wiener.
• Ground beef: Use a leaner mix to avoid having too much grease seep onto the hot dog and bun.
• Hot dogs: If you can get your hands on Rhode Island-style wieners, do so. But if you can’t, a typical hot dog will do.
• Hot dog buns: Look for slightly sweeter buns, as the ones used in Rhode Island for this dish contain sugar.
• Toppings: Yellow mustard, chopped white onion and celery salt are the big three toppings for Rhode Island hot dogs.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the meat sauce

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Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for three to four minutes while constantly stirring. The onion should be tender. Add the Worcestershire sauce, paprika, chili powder, cumin, mustard, cinnamon and allspice, stirring all to combine. Add the beef, and cook it for six to eight minutes. Stir it constantly, break it into crumbles and cook it to the point where it’s no longer pink. Stir in the water, and bring everything to a boil. Reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer for 30 minutes while uncovered.

Step 2: Cook the hot dogs

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In another large skillet, cook the hot dogs for 8 to 10 minutes over medium heat until the hot dogs are lightly browned. Remember to turn them occasionally. When they’re done, serve them in the hot dog buns with meat sauce on top, along with yellow mustard, finely chopped onion and celery salt.

Sarah Tramonte for Taste of Home

How to Store Rhode Island Hot Dogs

You’re best off not making more of these than you’re going to eat immediately. But if somehow you end up with leftover Rhode Island hot dogs, place the dogs and the meat topping separately in airtight containers and refrigerate. Eat them within a couple of days using fresh buns.

Can you make Rhode Island hot dogs ahead of time?

You can’t really make the entire dog ahead of time if you want it to taste fresh when you serve it. You can do things like chop the onions a day early (make to store them in an airtight container in the fridge) or mix the spices ahead of time for the meat sauce. Otherwise, cook everything and assemble the dogs on the day you’ll eat them.

Rhode Island Hot Dog Tips

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What type of ground beef should you use?

A ground beef blend with 80% lean and 20% fat is a solid choice for the meat sauce. This is on the leaner side, but you don’t want too much grease oozing out as you cook this. You’re pan-frying the beef anyway, so the heat won’t be that high. There’s less risk of the meat drying out, so a leaner blend is perfectly fine.

Can you use yellow onions instead of white for the topping?

Could you? Sure. Should you? Maybe not. While some may use yellow onions when adding toppings, white onions (which are more mild and sweet) tend to be the top choice. And if you look up pictures of the wieners, you see white onions in just about every one.

What can you serve this with?

If you’re going to make these Rhode Island hot dogs or hot wieners, serve them with coffee milk. This is Rhode Island’s official state drink and a typical accompaniment to hot wieners. If you’re interested in trying more of the state’s favorite recipes, take a look at this list of the best recipes from Rhode Island.