Nothing captures the essence of New York City street food quite like the iconic Sabrett’s hot dog topped with their signature onion sauce. This legendary condiment, found on pushcarts throughout Manhattan under those distinctive blue and yellow umbrellas, transforms an ordinary hot dog into an authentic NYC experience. The sauce delivers the perfect balance of tangy tomato flavor, subtle sweetness, and just enough heat to make every bite memorable. Now you can recreate this beloved street cart staple at home and bring the taste of the Big Apple to your own kitchen.
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Sabrett’s Onion Sauce Hot Dog Topping
Walking the streets of Manhattan, you see the Sabrett’s pushcarts everywhere. While these may not be in your town, you can make Sabrett’s special onions in sauce topping for hot dogs with this copycat Sabrett onion sauce recipe.
Sabrett’s hot dog onions in sauce have a delightful tang, rich tomato flavor, a little sweetness, and a slight kick of heat. It’s a delicious hot dog topping; everyone loves those New York hot dog onions. You can buy this onion sauce in a jar, but it will never taste as good! Pre-made is never as good as homemade, don’t you agree?
Sabrett’s hot dogs are New York City’s number one hot dogs. Whenever you order one from a vendor cart under the distinctive blue and yellow umbrella, you will enjoy a wonderfully tasting all-beef hot dog contained in an all-natural casing. NYC just wouldn’t be the same without Sabrett! Plus, if you desire, you can even have your colorful Sabrett umbrella!
Discover the unique taste of this onion sauce for hot dogs that New Yorkers enjoy so much.
Ingredients
- Olive oil – Provides the cooking fat and adds a subtle fruity flavor to the base
- Yellow onions – Break down during long cooking to create the sauce’s foundation
- Water – Helps steam and soften the onions during the initial cooking phase
- Tomato paste – Contributes concentrated tomato flavor and rich color
- Corn syrup – Adds the characteristic sweetness that balances acidity
- Cornstarch – Creates the proper thick consistency for clinging to hot dogs
- Salt – Enhances all flavors and helps draw moisture from onions
- Red pepper flakes – Provide subtle heat and complexity
- White vinegar – Adds the essential tangy element that defines this sauce
How to Make Sabrett’s Hot Dog Onions
Here are the simple steps for making this New York-style onion sauce:
- Chop and sauté onions in a large skillet over medium-high heat with a pinch of salt.
- Add water, tomato paste, corn syrup, cornstarch, and salt to the pan. Stir to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes.
- Add vinegar and simmer for an additional 30 to 45 minutes until the liquid is reduced and thickened.
Enjoy this delicious hot dog topping without having to get it on a pushcart in New York.
Best Hot Dog Toppings
Hot dogs are a perfect food. They don’t cost much and are nearly impossible to mess up. Everyone has their own idea about what they want on their hot dog. In fact, there are probably more foods that go well with hot dogs than foods that you would never put on hot dogs. Here are some of the most popular toppings and hot dog condiments:
- Mustard – Mustard is a classic topping. Go with good ol’ yellow ballpark mustard, spicy brown mustard, or Dijon mustard.
- Ketchup – With its rich tomato taste, this is among the most popular hot dog toppings, especially when combined with mustard.
- Cheese – Cheese is a no-brainer. For something different, dress your dog up Seattle-style with cream cheese, but, honestly, any kind of cheese is going to taste good on a hot dog.
- Onions – Onions are another popular addition to hot dogs. They can be diced and served raw, but also sliced, fried, and caramelized. And, of course, there are Sabrett onions.
- Coleslaw – Coleslaw has become an American side dish staple. Coleslaw often accompanies hamburgers, sandwiches, and, of course, hot dogs.
- Sauerkraut – This fermented cabbage dish is popular on hot dogs because of its characteristically tangy and zesty flavor.
- Relish – Add a little sweetness with relish, a condiment made from pickled diced vegetables or fruit. Cucumbers and vinegar are the most common ingredients found in relish.
- Chili – Chili is a hot dog topping that must be cooked instead of simply cut or pickled. It can be made from beans, meat, or a combination. Chili dogs turn a regular dog into something special.
Other Uses For This Onion Sauce
This tasty sauce can be used in many ways. Try it over grilled chicken or pulled pork, on burgers or sandwiches, or as a baked potato topping.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Refrigerator Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator
- Freezer Storage: Freeze in portioned containers for up to 3 months for longer storage
- Reheating Method: Warm gently in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through
Love hot dogs? Try these recipes!
- How to Cook Hot Dogs in the Air Fryer
- Oven-Baked Hot Dogs
- Bacon Truffle Mac and Cheese Hot Dog
- Green Bean and Hot Dog Casserole
- Bourbon Hot Dogs
More Onion Recipes
- Fried Onion Petals
- How to Cook a Blooming Onion
- Hot French Onion Dip
- New Orleans French Onion Soup Recipe
- How to Store Chopped Onions
- Home Made Onion Rings
Be sure to check out the best copycat recipes and restaurant sauces.
Thanks to CarolynTLyons for sharing this recipe.
Sabrett Onions in Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Olive oil
- 2 cups Onions, sliced thin and chopped
- 3 cups Water
- 2 tablespoons Tomato Paste
- 2 teaspoons Corn Syrup
- 1 tablespoon Cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup Vinegar
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sauté the sliced onions in oil for 5 minutes, until the onions are soft but not brown.
- Add 3 cups of water, corn syrup, corn starch, tomato paste, salt, and pepper flakes and stir. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 45 minutes.
- Add vinegar. Continue to simmer for an additional 30 to 45 minutes or until most of the liquid has reduced and the onion sauce is thick.
What’s the idea behind adding the vinegar after 45 minutes? Can it all be done at once to reduce time?
It drives up the acidity, and boosts the flavor. I have not tried adding it in all at once to reduce cooking time.
These were way too spicy, Sabrett onions have a little zip, but that is way too much red pepper flakes to be like the original.
I made it with the 2 cups of water and additional tomato paste and was pleasantly surprised at how close to authentic it tasted. Think I will lesson the amount of red pepper flakes though
why not use ketchup,instead of paste,& corn syrup
Different kinds of ketchup taste a bit differently. I thought using these two ingredients helped to control the flavor more.
Great idea………..put your own touch on it……….
Even though I am a former New Yorker, all my life practically, I live in Georgia now, I found the Sabarettes hot dog sauce in Publix Supermarket, with the jar pickles and things. Now if they could get me hard Kaiser rolls!
Our Publix bakery in Douglasville carries the Kaiser rolls with the hard crust. The only problem is that they sell out fast. You also have to ask them to put them in their perforated bags so that the outside crust doesn’t soften up.
I oven reheat rolls that I buy in my toaster oven for a few minutes. Also a breadbox is helpful in keeping bread fresh.
It was good tasting,but,1/4 cup of vinegar was just too much and I used 2 cups of water instead of the 3,next time I may add a little extra paste and less vinegar and see if that works,but all in all,I would make this again.
UPDATE:
I left out the cornstarch and added 2 extra tbs. of tomato paste and used half of the vinegar and 2 cups of water instead of the 3 and it worked out very well.
I never have been to a Sabretts but I liked this.
WAY!!!! too much ACV. I’m from NYC and have eaten many a Sabrett’s dog in my day.
I am sorry you didn’t like this recipe.
This recipe is the closes to the Sabretts onions you can purchase in a jar for $3.50. Very good. Try it You wont be disappointed.
I don’t like using corn syrup; would honey work just as well?
I think a better product to use would be “golden syrup”. It is a sugar cane syrup-like corn syrup. Honey would change the flavor.
Do you serve this hot or cold?
I would do either. I prefer it slightly warm.
My mother’s secret recipe is actually ketchup sliced onions and pepper flakes. The ketchup has a lot of what all the other ingredients listed do.
Over the years Sabretts have been the official hot dog of the Yankees, Mets and Red Sox. There are only 3 hot dog brands we buy other than Sabretts. Sahlen’s and Hofman. Luckily Publix carries all three brands. Wait for the BOGO sales and stock up as all three are a little pricey. We have never tried the sauce but we are about to give it a try.
Hi…I have made this before and it is yummy I worked at a hot dog stand here in L.A, CA…it is 1/4 teaspoon of the red pepper flakes, add them with the paste…cider vinegar is best…4 cups of water is better…also it is better to add the onions after the initial 45 minutes of cooking…you run the risk of the onions disintegrating…saute for the 5 minutes then add in the second part of cooking…hope this helps–Please don’t buy this sauce in a can it will never taste as good! My question is–where can you buy the Sabrett’s here in Los Angeles? My boss would not tell me where he got them–they are the best ones to eat!
Thank you for the tips and your insight, I will have to take your ideas into account.
Sabrett’s web page can locate where to find their products in your area. I have not searched West of the Mississippi but that may be a small challenge.
you’re right, 1 tsp red pepper flakes is too much.
I think a small bit of cinnamon is missing from this recipe.
I’m a ex-Nyer and the one thing I do miss is the onion sauce and dogs from the carts! This sauce was Excellent! Thanks so much!!!!!
WHERE CAN WE PURCHASE THE ONION SAUCE PRECOOKED.
SHIPPED TO SO. CALIF
BOB
Rstaurant Depot sells # 10 cans
try sabrett I’m sure they do online sales, and not very expensive. everyone likes them a little different.
Great suggestion.
You can go on line to the sabretts website..or you can look for an East coast market in your area 🙂
You can purchase on Amazon hot dog and the onion sauce
Beware the 1/4 CUP!!!!!!! of crushed red pepper flakes. The recipe this looks like it was copied from calls for 1/4 TEASPOON!
In that recipe,
http://www.recipezaar.com/Sabretts-Onion-Sauce-for-Hot-Dogs-92747
you add the pepper flakes with the water, tomato paste, etc.
your recipe has 3 cups water and at the bottom it has 4 cups of water it also does’t tell you when to add pepper