Sonoran Hot Dogs 
(Mexican, American Southwestern beef frankfurter sandwich)

Two Sonoran hot dogs
Image by Kate Hopkins

Sonoran hot dogs, or dogos estilo sonora in Spanish, are a delicious, over-the-top style of serving frankfurters that originated in the city of Hermosilla in the northern Mexican state of Sonora. The popularity of these dolled-up dogs has spread to southern Arizona and beyond.

People who sell Sonoran hot dogs are called dogueros, who often serve them accompanied by grilled, roasted or fried chiles gueros, a small, mild pepper with a pale yellow-green hue. Substitute any other pepper if you wish.

Sonoran Hot Dogs

Course: Sandwiches, MeatsCuisine: United States, Southwestern
Makes

6

dogos

Sonoran hot dogs are a delicious, over-the-top style of serving frankfurters that originated in the northern Mexican city of Hermosilla.

Ingredients

  • For the dogs
  • Bolillos buns — 6

  • Hot dogs (frankfurters) — 6

  • Bacon — 6 pieces

  • Chiles gueros or other spicy or mild chile pepper — 6

  • Oil — as needed

  • For the toppings
  • Hot cooked pinto beans — 2 cups

  • White onion, chopped — 1

  • Tomatoes, cut into thin wedges — 2

  • Pickled sliced jalapeños — 1/2 cup

  • Mayonnaise

  • Yellow mustard

Directions

  • Prepare a grill with hot coals, or set your oven to broil. Cut a horizontal slit in the bolillos big enough to hold the hot dogs. Wrap a piece of bacon in a spiral around each hot dog to cover them from end to end. Toss the chiles gueros with a little oil. Assemble all of your topping ingredients in bowls and have them ready to serve.
  • Grill the hot dogs on a medium-hot section of the grill or broil until the bacon is cooked through and starting to crisp. Grill the chiles gueros on a separate section of the grill to mark them on both sides.
  • Remove each hot dog to a bolillo bun and let diners smother their dogs with whichever toppings fit their fancy. Don’t forget to accompany each dog with a grilled chile.

Sonoran Hot Dog Notes and Variations

  • Buns: Regular hot dog or hoagie buns can be substituted for the bollilos buns, but it won’t be quite the same.
  • Other possible toppings: Grilled onions, tomatillo salsa, ketchup, crumbled Cotija cheese, guacamole or sliced avocado. And, yes, crumbled Cheddar-flavored potato chips. It’s a thing.

Whats4eats is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.