The McDog is a hot dog topped with Onions & Dill Pickles. Sauced with Ketchup & Mustard. Simple right, then again so was the original McDonald’s burger which was topped off with Pickles & Onions, Ketchup & Mustard, just the same. It really is a nice blend of ingredients that isn’t just for Burgers.

You can cook the Hot Dogs and Steam/Toast, or both for the bun. The main thing is that this McDog recipe is centered around the Onions & Pickles, Sauced with Ketchup & Mustard. Add Velveeta cheese for a Cheese McDog!

McDonald’s originally started selling Hot Dogs at first before getting into burgers. Later on, they tried introducing Hot Dogs into their restaurants with no success.

For us at home, where a McDonald’s Style Hot Dog may be desired. I introduce my style of a McDonald’s Hot Dog called the McDog.

This McDog recipe also lends itself to all the different kinds of McDonald’s Hamburgers converted to a Hot Dog. Like the Big McDog, Quarter Pound McDog, Bacon Cheese McDog, and so on with a Ground Beef Hot Dog, just like a burger but shaped into a hot dog.

Hot Dogs

Any type of Hot Dog can be used – Beef, Chicken, or Pork of your favorite brand. The Hot Dogs are boiled first before being pan-fried in some Fat or JAH Meat Oil and placed on the steamed buns.

Homemade Beef Hot Dogs

A Homemade Hot Dog using Ground Beef to make this a McDonald’s Burger in the style of a Hot Dog. Just shape them into a Hot Dog and freeze.

For a Sausage Style Hot Dog. Add 1/4 tsp of Baking Soda to 1 lb. of Ground Beef and mix. Weigh out at 45 g and shape into a Hot Dog for standard size, or 90 g for the large and freeze. Make them a little longer than the hot dog buns because they will shrink when cooking. This is the method I always use when making Ground Beef Dogs. I prefer the 90 g portions.

Cook these either stove top over medium heat and covered, sort of the same as stove top meatballs.

These can be done in the oven on broil, one notch below the top rack. Turning them every 2 minutes for about 5 minutes for the 45 g and about 10 minutes for the 90 g. If doing this in the oven, place the dogs on a rack with Holes in it or Broiler pan for draining and add water to the bottom of the pan to avoid burning the fat and filling the kitchen with smoke.

In either case, use a bit of Fat like Bacon Grease, Lard or JAH Meat Oil to cook the Hot Dogs. After they are cooked, season with Salt & Pepper.

Then Just Steam the Buns. Place the Hamburger Hot Dog in the Bun with Onions and Pickles, optionally some Cheese. Bake in the oven to toast the buns up for 5 minutes at 450 F. Top with Ketchup & Mustard.

Salt & Pepper

Use the below blend to season the McDogs.

McDog Buns

A standard Hot Dog Bun that is buttered and then steamed before being toasted. This creates a soft but crisp Hot Dog Bun.

Butter the Buns and then steam them at the same time your Hot Dogs are boiling, if using hot dogs. I used to use a pizza screen on top and cover with a lid that allows room for the Hot Dog Buns. This way I can boil the Hot dogs and steam the buns at the same time. Then Drain the water out and fry the hot dogs for a crisp outside skin. I now use a Steamer set for this.

I prefer the above method, which uses both the Steamie and Toastie method together. But you can certainly just go with one or the other.

If using homemade ground beef Hot Dogs, then just butter and steam the buns before assembling the Hot Dog with the cooked ground beef dogs and toasting in the oven.

Steamer Set

The Master Class 2 Tier Steamer Cookware Set is excellent for not only cooking or steaming the Hot Dogs and Buns, but doing them at the same time. Boil the Hot Dogs first while steaming the buns. Then empty out the water and add fat to toast the hot dogs.

McDog Toppings

Just small diced Onions & Dill Pickles. If you want to take the edge off on the onions. Soak them in water, then strain before topping the hot dogs. I use 1 small onion and 1 Dill Pickle.

To get the Onions like they use at McDonald’s, use Dehydrated Onion Flakes. About 1/2 Tbl soaked in a 1 Tbl of water. Once they are rehydrated, squeeze out the excess water and use as the Onion topping.

After the McDogs have been toasted, top with Heinz Chili Sauce or Ketchup & French’s Mustard.

Cheese McDog

Velveeta Cheese or other squared cheese slices can be added. Tear the Cheese in Half, then each piece in half again, and use 2 strips for each hot dog.