Hot Dog Onions recipe

Transport your tastebuds to the bustling streets of New York City with the ultimate Hot Dog Onion Sauce! With the perfect blend of sweet, smoky, and tangy flavors, this saucy Hot Dog Onion recipe will take your franks to a whole new level of deliciousness. Best of all, you'll need just 10 minutes of prep and a handful of pantry staples to make your hot dogs 100% NYC street-cart approved.

📝 Ingredients

• 2 TBS Neutral Oil (- such as Canola or Vegetable)
• 1 1/2 Pounds White or Yellow Onions (– peeled & sliced into 1/4-inch rings or half-moons; OR chopped (SEE NOTES))
• 2 cloves Garlic (– minced)
• 2 tsp Paprika ((I use an even split of sweet and smoked paprika))
• 1/2 tsp Chili Powder ( – or more to taste)
• 1/16 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• to taste Kosher Salt & Ground Black Pepper
• 2 heaping TBS Tomato Paste
• 1 tsp Light Brown Sugar (– packed, or more to taste)
• 3/4 Cup Unsalted Broth or Water ((SEE NOTES))
• 2 tsp Hot Pepper Sauce ((such as Frank’s Red Hot))
• 1 1/2 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar (– or more to taste)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Sauté Onions: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and barely golden in color, about 8-10 minutes. (Note: Reduce the heat as needed to prevent the onions from browning.)
2. 2Add Aromatics: Add the garlic, paprika, chili powder, 1 teaspoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon of pepper to the skillet. Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
3. 3Add Tomato Paste and Sugar: Add the tomato paste and sugar to the pan. Cook, stirring constantly until the tomato paste is caramelized, about 2 minutes.
4. 4Add Liquids: Add Broth and Hot Sauce: Add the broth (or water) and hot sauce to the pan. Stir, scraping up any brown bits off the bottom of the pan.
5. 5Let Onion Sauce Cook: Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the onions to a rapid simmer. Once simmering, Immediately reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are very tender and the liquid is almost evaporated, about 20 minutes. (Note: If the heat under your pan is too hot and the liquid evaporates too quickly, simply add more broth or water to the pan as needed.)
6. 6Add Vinegar: Stir the vinegar into the onions and continue to cook, stirring frequently, for 5 additional minutes, or until the onions are meltingly tender and the sauce is thick. Taste and adjust for seasoning, adding more salt, pepper, sugar, vinegar, or hot sauce as desired.
7. 7Serve Onion Sauce on Hot Dogs: Serve or Store: Serve over your favorite hot dogs, burgers, wraps and more. Or allow the hot dog onions to cool completely to room temperature before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator.