I'm a Food Writer, and This Onion Sauce Changed the Way I Make Pizza for Good

When it comes to pasta, I love to play the field. Marinara, pesto, carbonara, alfredo (especially this cottage cheese riff!), and more are all invited to my pasta party frequently—and devoured with an equal amount of gusto. But on pizza night, red sauce, and red sauce alone, has always been my go-to.

All of that changed, though, when my private chef friend Jacob Schroeder (owner of Crafted Food Services and co-owner of Moxie Kitchen + Events in Des Moines, Iowa) introduced me to a sauce that might steal the pizza night spotlight: New York Street Cart Hot Dog Onion Sauce. Before you click away, no, you need not be in or from New York to enjoy it. And if you’re worried that it will take as long as cooking down caramelized onions, I promise that a big batch is actually no-sweat to make in 15 minutes or less. 

Ahead, Schroeder dishes how to do just that, and reveals the best pizza toppings to pair with street cart onion sauce. Just like my beloved marinara, this flavor-packed sauce is a marvelous multitasker, so he’s also sharing other ways to savor this beautifully-balanced sauce.

What Is Street Cart Onion Sauce?

As the host of monthly Detroit-style pizza pop-ups as well as a half-dozen woodfired pizza nights each summer (each with a different menu), Schroeder often daydreams about how to spiff up his slices. Sure, he could offer the same sausage, pepperoni, and cheese options on every menu. But for him, local, seasonal, and surprising combinations reign supreme.

Pizza as a concept is a safe space to experiment and introduce new flavors because the formula of crust-sauce-toppings-cheese is already familiar to most of us, Schroeder explains. So his goal is to offer a fresh line-up of veggie-forward, cheesy, and meaty pies at each event.

“My mission is to get people excited about produce and toppings that folks wouldn't normally think to put on a pizza. Recent hits include quark, mustard greens, charred cabbage, potatoes, and rhubarb,” Schroeder tells BHG. “I am very careful about how to give each pizza ‘curb appeal.’”

Recently, when brainstorming what to pair with a spicy Calabrese salami (his surprising swap for pepperoni), Schroeder stumbled upon the idea of a hot dog cart onion sauce. 

“It's something that tastes relatable, but might take someone a second to remember where they've tasted it before,” he says.

Street Cart Onion Sauce is exactly what it sounds like: a sauce made from cooked onions, seasoned in a similar fashion to how they’re served as a garnish at hot dog carts. To turn those aromatic alliums into a sauce, simply add umami-rich tomato paste, spice things up with a splash of hot sauce and a handful of seasonings, add mustard, vinegar, and sugar for balance, and blend it all up with some broth. The result? A deeply flavorful spread that tempts every taste bud and is irresistible atop pizza. Even I, as a red sauce stalwart, went back for slice after slice.

How to Make New York Street Cart Hot Dog Onion Sauce

Don’t just take my word for it that Schroeder’s sauce is a stand-out. Bobby Flay and Rachael Ray have their own highly-rated renditions, too, but they stick to the safe route and suggest serving the sauce on hot dogs. For an unexpected—and mouthwatering—twist, try it atop pizza crust.

“This sauce is easy to make, and when it comes time to serve it, it’s pretty hard to go wrong,” Schroeder says. Consider mixing and matching from this chef-approved list of toppings:

• Meat: Italian sausage, pepperoni, ham, meatballs
• Vegetables: Roasted peppers, sautéed mushrooms, or grilled kale
• Cheese: Goat cheese, cheddar, aged gouda

Or improvise and top as desired. I’m a firm believer that the only rule of pizza parties is to eat what makes you happy.

Schroeder has shared his 15-minute recipe below. After recreating it myself, I promise it’s quick and easy. In fact, the entire sauce is done before you can caramelize a single batch of onions. Still, if you’re craving a shortcut, Sabrett sells “Pushcart Style Onions in Sauce” by the jar. It will be our little secret that your slice is semi-homemade.

Street Cart Onion Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp. neutral-flavor oil, such as avocado, canola, or vegetable oil
• 2 large onions, thinly sliced
• 2 tsp. kosher salt
• ¼ cup tomato paste
• 2 tsp. granulated sugar
• 2 tsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1 cup vegetable, chicken, or beef broth
• 1 Tbsp. cayenne pepper sauce, such as Frank’s Red Hot
• 2 tsp. yellow mustard
• 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan heat oil over medium. Add onions and salt. Cook, stirring, until onions soften, 5 to 8 minutes.
2. Add tomato paste and sugar. Continue cooking, stirring, until tomato paste starts to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in chili powder and ground black pepper. Cook until aromatic, 30 seconds. 
3. Add broth, cayenne pepper sauce, and mustard, then then use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape up any browned bits from bottom of pot. Bring liquid to a simmer; allow to reduce by half, then remove from heat. Stir in vinegar.
4. Cool slightly, then pour broth mixture into a blender. Cover and pulse 3 to 5 times, then purée until smooth. Serve immediately or cool, then transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate up to 1 week.

How to Use This Street Cart Onion Sauce Recipe

As much as this sauce slays as a pizza topping, that’s far from the only place you can use it. Keep a jar handy to use as:

• A dipping sauce for fried foods, such as crab rangoons, French fries, or tater tots
• A sandwich spread (I’m already dreaming about slathering some on Italian Focaccia and Mediterranean Breakfast Sandwiches) 
• A topping for hot dogs and brats
• A garnish for grilled steak or pork, just before serving
• An alternative cocktail sauce, alongside poached or boiled shrimp 
• A punchy addition to a Pizza Salad