Whether you’re cooking for a crowd, or lunch on a weekend, these Instant Pot Hot Dogs are so easy and flavorful. Top them with all the Chicago dog fixings!
We love our Instant Pot for easy family dinners. Our crack chicken pasta is a favorite. Or give our easy instant pot potatoes a try next.
Hot Dogs in the Instant Pot
As a Chicago girl I can tell you that there are a few things that divide us in ways that can be irreconcilable in the city.
Where you get your pizza, and what you put on a hot dog.
Deep Dish Pizza in my opinion is best from Giordano’s, but there are others who disagree (and they are wrong, hehe).
And a Chicago Hot Dog should never have ketchup on it.
Admittedly though, I either love a hot dog with JUST KETCHUP…or give me the Portillo’s hot dog with everything minus the ketchup. There is no in-between for me.
What IS important about hot dogs is that they are fast and hot, and ready to feed the kids in minutes.
Today’s Instant Pot Hot Dog recipe is perfect for when you want to cook 1 hot dog or 30 hot dogs! Ready to learn?
How to Make Hot Dogs in the Instant Pot
Whether you choose to put the hot dogs directly in the water, or use a steamer basket, it’s completely up to you.
I prefer my hot dogs in the basket and not sitting in the water.
In the Instant Pot, pour 1 cup of water into the bottom. Add hot dogs (as little or as many as you like, as long as you stay below the max fill line).
Lock the lid in place and make sure the valve on top is set to “SEALING.”
Select High Pressure for a cook time of ZERO minutes (the hot dogs will cook while the pot comes to pressure).
When the Instant Pot beeps, do a quick release of the pressure by turning the valve on top to “VENTING.”
Remove the lid and enjoy your hot dogs!
How to Make a Chicago Style Hot Dog
Whether you top your hot dog with one or more of these toppings is entirely up to you. However, these are the traditional toppings that you would get if you ordered a Chicago dog from Portillo’s (my favorite spot)!
First, you’ll need a poppy seed bun! Apparently they are hard to find outside of the Chicagoland area…but if you’re lucky enough, use them. Otherwise any hot dog bun will suffice (we like our buns warm too).
- Dill pickle spear
- Fresh tomato slices (halved)
- Diced onions
- Pickle relish- to get the neon green add a drop of blue food coloring
- Mustard
- Sport Peppers– similar to pepperoncini, only smaller
- Celery Salt
For a fun potluck or bbq party, you could make a batch of these hot dogs in the pressure cooker and have all the Chicago toppings on the side, so people can make them custom!
We also enjoy our hot dogs topped with chili. And don’t forget the shredded cheese!
What to serve with Hot Dogs
If you’re having a big party or just making hot dogs for lunch, you may be wondering what to serve with them!
If it’s a small crowd, I’ll make some french fries or sweet potato fries to serve with our hot dogs.
Here are a few of our other favorite potluck side dishes:
Tips for perfect Instant Pot Hot Dogs
- This recipe was created for the 6qt Instant Pot. If using the 8qt, increase water to 2 cups.
- No need to change cook time or water amount regardless of how many hot dogs you are cooking.
- Choose all beef hotdogs (like Vienna) for best flavor!
- Swap out the water for your favorite beer for a unique flavor!
More Instant Pot Recipes- for a potluck!
- Hamburgers – reader favorite!
- Pulled Pork
- Sloppy Joes
- Taco Soup
- Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
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Instant Pot Hot Dogs
Ingredients
- 8 hot dogs
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- In the Instant Pot, pour 1 cup of water into the bottom. Add hot dogs (as little or as many as you like, as long as you stay below the max fill line).
- Lock the lid in place and make sure the valve on top is set to “SEALING.”
- Select High Pressure for a cook time of ZERO minutes (the hot dogs will cook while the pot comes to pressure).
- When the Instant Pot beeps, do a quick release of the pressure by turning the valve on top to “VENTING.”
- Remove the lid and enjoy your hot dogs!
Notes
For a Chicago style hot dog, you'll need:
- Poppy Seed Bun
- All beef hot dogs
- Dill pickle spear
- Fresh tomato slices (halved)
- Diced onions
- Pickle relish- to get the neon green add a drop of blue food coloring
- Mustard
- Sport Peppers– similar to pepperoncini, only smaller
- Celery Salt
Tips:
- This recipe was created for the 6qt Instant Pot. If using the 8qt, increase water to 2 cups.
- No need to change cook time or water amount regardless of how many hot dogs you are cooking.
- Swap out the water for your favorite beer for a unique flavor!
Nutrition
Instant Pot Hot Dogs are fast and easy and perfect for a crowd. Get the tips and tricks for making Chicago style dogs too!
Can you put the IP on another setting when finished to keep the dogs warm on the buffet?
Thanks a mil! The hotdogs came out perfect!
Hot dogs tasted great but they totally split all the way down. We were making chili dogs so we just covered up the deformed looking alien dogs. Any tips for next time? We used Ballpark Beef Franks.
I worked with my uncle on his hot dog wagon. For even more flavor, use some beer for the liquid, add some butter and chopped onion to the liquid in the pot. On the wagon, we cooked other sausages first, then the hot dogs, using some of the water from the previous sausages to get even more flavor.
What time should I do for frozen hot dogs? I prefer the beef natural casing hot dogs.
Same time, it will just take longer to come to pressure.
My frozen didn’t all thaw. Still had ice on one. Cooking again
Chicago girl !!!! What’s that hot dog with ketchup doing in you photos ? lol
has anyone tried putting the IP on Steam for the hot dogs, or can you put the buns on Steam?
Yes, water in bottom, trivet with sausage on it, wrap buns in foil and sit over the sausage. Steam 2 min, QR.
Has anyone tried putting buns in the IP and put on Steam? Or can you put the hot dogs on Steam?
I love Chicago Style Hot Dogs, but where can I get the bright green relish to make it legit?
Add a drop or two of blue food coloring to regular pickle relish. That’s it 🙂
As a former Illinois/Chicago girl now living in Colorado, I totally agree with your BEST hot dogs and pizza. We now have a Giordano’s in Denver! Always packed.
What’s the best way to heat up the buns and keep them that way…warm.
Never thought to cook up hot dogs in my instant pot but I will now for sure. Quick and easy!
These were so easy to make!! Thanks for the idea!
This is the perfect way to make hot dogs for a crowd! Absolutely genius!
This is genius! Total time and space saver! Perfect for summer backyard dinners with friends.
Any tips for the hot dogs brands? We have just moved from UK and I find it hard to find good hot dogs…
All beef varieties I think taste best. Nathans and Vienna are my favorite, as is Hebrew
yup agree 1000 % those are my top 3 so whatever of them is cheapest at the time . i also think the bun or roll you use should always be steamed or toasted
I love the hot dogs from Sams Club
I believe Sam’s uses Hebrew National and they’re the best on the market
No the master mark 1/4 lb hot dog soooo good