Copycat Whistle Dog – A&W has been an institution in the US and Canada for countless of years. It has been a fast-food chain that I have enjoyed going to since I was a child.
Amber, our daughter has also enjoyed this restaurant but she is not a burger fan! Luckily A&W had more to offer than just burgers and one thing she loved was their Whistle Dogs.
She and Ken were flabbergasted when they went in to order her beloved hot dog and found out they no longer offer it. WHAAAAAAT????!!! How could this be???!! Ken and Amber came home disappointed and decided to make their own Copycat Whistle Dog!!
Crisp Bacon is the Key!!
There are just a few things A&W did to make this hot dog really good. They sliced it in half and grilled it that way. They kept the condiments to a minimum, relish, bacon, and cheese.
We added in the little bit of white onion as it adds so much to the hot dog but you can omit that. Plus, they toasted the bun. No ketchup or mustard on this dog!! This is how is arrived!! And man are they good!!
I believe the Whistle Dog was unique to the Canadian menu only. But now all of you can make this excellent treat for your family. It sure is loved here.
We cook up the bacon in the oven to a perfect crispness. Don’t know why we haven’t done that for years. It is the only way to cook it!! So little mess and you are free while it cooks too!!
Make this Tonight!!
This Whistle Dog would be great for lunch or dinner this summer or anytime. Cooking the hot dog is easy on the grill or stovetop on a flat iron grill or cast iron pan.
The toppings are easy but an excellent combination of flavors! Add some fries to the order and you feel like you are back at A&W!!
Try one of these delicious dogs today!! Even if it wasn’t part of your childhood memories you can make some memories now!! There is nothing better than a great hot dog. Your family will love you for this recipe!!
Copycat Whistle Dog
Ingredients
- Hot dogs all beef, sliced down the middle but not all the way through
- Hot dog bun toasted
- Cheddar Cheese grated
- Bacon cooked crisp
- Sweet Relish
- White onion finely chopped, optional
Instructions
- Heat up the bbq to medium and grill the hot dogs on both sides until nice grill marks appear. Toast the buns on the grill, open side down.
- Place one hot dog in each bun and fill the hot dog with cheese. Run it under a broiler to melt. Top with crisp bacon, relish, and onion if desired. Serve immediately.
Comments & Reviews
Vicki says
I grew up in western Canada. Growing up the Whistle Dog was my favourite A and W menu item. They brought them back for a short time last year and I was happy to get one. Now we will make them at home, not sure why I never thought of making them before! Thanks for sharing.
Tara Noland says
Enjoy the recipe!!!
Margaret says
My mom did the same thing. Cut the franks into halfway then put cheese inside then put in pan and cook then.
Tara Noland says
Yum, so good!
Jo Walsh says
Do you have the recipe for the chili??
Tara Noland says
I am sorry I don’t have one for the chili!!
Marion says
My sister and I used to love whistle dogs. I used to alternate them with teen burgers.
Tara Noland says
Women after my own heart, the feelings are mutual.
Teresa says
I butter the buns before toasting…YUM
Tara Noland says
That always makes it better!!
Kathee says
I have a cast iron pan with ridges in it that can make anything look as if it has been grilled. I used to never care for hotdogs until, about 25 years ago, I started slicing them down the middle and grilled them in this pan. I add shredded cheese, and take my already homemade cooked chili and simmmer my hotdogs in it. I add diced onions, slaw, mustard and ketchup. For me, my hotdog is the best ever. Served on a toasted bun can’t be better.
Tara Noland says
Wow, what a great sounding dog, delish!!
Ray Williams says
“Sandys” in South Austin, Texas had a grilled cheese hot dog.
Hamburger bun- toasted,
Two Weimers (buy good brand all beef , no chicken parts as filler) butterflied & grilled & a piece of cheese (I preferred velvets) while on the grill,
Good mustard on both sides of bun,
Good sweet relish or dill pickle relish- your preference,
Lots of sweet onions chopped -1015 or sweet vadalia,
Similar taste to Coney Island dogs.👍
Tara Noland says
Yummo! Sounds amazing. Got to love a good dog!!
Tina says
I Don’t think I have had an A&W Hot Dog before.
WE Always went for the Rootbeer Floats!!! Are you Sure it wasn’t Oscar Meyer’s Who had the Whistle Dogs!? Lol 😆 I remember getting one of those Little Hot Dog WHISTLES when I was little! Thank you for the Stroll down Memories Lane!
Tara Noland says
No, it is A&W as they just brought them back for a limited time only. We love making them at home too!
Kathee says
I have always butterflied my hotdogs. Best way to eat them. When I make corn dogs I grill them before dipping them in the batter. I know a lot of people that can eat a hotdog right out of the packaging, not me. I do love homemade chili and slaw on my hotdog though so I don’t think I would enjoy it as much without those two condiments. The hotdogs do look awesome in the photo.
Tara Noland says
I haven’t butterflied my hot dogs but now I am going to try!! I have a huge craving for one of these, have to do something about that!!
Paul says
I never see this at A&W in my life. Not here in Michigan! This recipe is sure look delish! It’s make my mouth drooling. I will try this on my griddle and my bbq grill come summer. My wife and I hate our daughter in law boiled hot dog every times she serve it. Ugh! We hate it. I got to have this in my life. Thank you so much for posted this! Never knew A&W used to serve this menu.
Tara Noland says
You are so welcome Paul, enjoy your newly found hot dog!!
MARTHA M MCNEAL says
I’m in Michigan too, am 60+ years old and no whistle dogs here either, just those wonderful chili dogs! Last A&W I knew about closed over 10 years ago and I had to drive 48 miles to get to it! Well worth the drive if we had a craving but not now with the current gas prices! Does anyone have a good copy-cat recipe for their coney sauce? I found one a long time ago on the internet but the taste was awful and not even a close cousin to the original sauce.
Tara Noland says
I am sorry I don’t have a copycat for the coney sauce but I will keep my eyes open for one for you.
Mark says
I think the whistledogs had some A&W seasoning on them.
Tara Noland says
Hmmm, not sure about that. Ken and Amber were the experts and didn’t mention that they lacked in seasoning but you never know??
Tim Owens says
To up the game totally on this awesome dog, yes, split the hot dog but, flame grill it face-down on a gas or, charcoal grill! Of course, using the best dog available, Nathan’s is highly recommended!
Ken says
Having made these back in the 80’s I will tell how it was done officially.
For start it is a top split bun. The kind that is crusted top and bottom but the sides are soft and are pulled apart for the others. The bun was placed on its side in a pannini press of sorts (we just called it a bun toaster back then 😉 ) This causes the inside of the bun to just hot and steamy-soft and a nice toast on the outside which is reverse of what OP instructs.
Now the dog is split down the middle and laid flat open side down on the pan/flat-top so the inside of the dog will get nice and grilled. This is key as when the dog is flipped you place one slice of American cheese folded in half, corner to corner to create two triangles which are laid on top of the dog. This is what gives you your melt without drying the bun which you don’t pry open until the dog is ready.
To assemble you open the hot toasted bun exposing the fluffy middle, top with green sweet relish, slide in the cheese topped dog, and then add a slice of bacon on top.
The dogs were a little longer then other dogs and I do not recall but assume they were pork-beef.
Thanks OP for sparking my memories. Hope my details help.
Tara Noland says
It all sounds so lovingly made. Thanks for this!
Johnny Lade says
Thanks Ken. Sounds like a good Saturday afternoon/evening hot dog fest.
Tara Noland says
Enjoy!!
LAWRENCE STRAWSER says
I have never heard of this “dog” until now. Sounds yummy. We wil have this recipe this weekend. Thank you so much for sharing.
p.s. I have been around for a number of years and A&W was my favorite as a child. I remember when thr root beer was makd at each location from concentrated syrup, and the employees were paid 95 cents an hour!
Tara Noland says
This is kind of a hidden gem of a recipe, maybe only found up in Canada. You can also get a pancake breakfast at A&W, something that not everyone is aware of. We just ask for it at the till. A&W does bring back memories for me too. Thank you for sharing yours!! Enjoy the dog!!
Vern Fehr says
Grew up enjoying these dogs in the 70’s in Saskatoon Canada in the back seat of dad’s 67 Plymouth at A&W drive in. Good memories 👍
Tara Noland says
Great memories!!
alanna says
How have people never heard of whistle dogs!?!? I’m not really a hot dog fan but A&W is the only place I ever order a hotdog as their whistle dogs are amazing. I can’t believe they’ve stopped selling them! Will have to try them at home 🙂
Tara Noland says
They are so good, sad they aren’t selling them anymore also!!
Angelina says
So simple, yet sooo good! I also loved their Chili Dogs. Ya gotta respect the dog!
Tara Noland says
Nothing beats a great dog!!
Badger says
We went to A & W many years ago and had (2 for 25 cents) Spanish hot dogs. Hot dogs with an onion/tomato type sauce. Looking for recipe.
Tara Noland says
That is cool, but I have never had those before. Gotta love that price!!
Elyse Morishita says
Look up New York hot dog topping…it sounds similar and may be what you are looking for.