Are Krystal’s Hot Dogs Made from Beef or Pork? The Truth Revealed

Krystal’s restaurants are well known for their small, square hamburgers. But did you know they also serve up bite-sized hot dogs called “Pups”? These mini hot dogs have been on the menu for over 50 years and remain a customer favorite. But there’s been some debate over exactly what kind of meat is used to make Krystal Pups. Are they beef or pork? I decided to do some digging to uncover the truth.

A Look at Krystal’s Famous Mini Hot Dogs

For those not familiar with Krystal, it’s a fast food chain with locations primarily in the Southeastern United States. They first opened their doors in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1932 and have grown to over 300 restaurants across 13 states

Krystal’s claim to fame is their small, square hamburgers known as “sliders”. But in the 1960s, they introduced an even smaller menu item – the Krystal Pup. These bite-sized hot dogs earned the name “Pups” due to their petite size.

The Pups quickly became popular, especially when served atop Krystal’s signature chili and cheese. Over the years, Krystal experimented with different variations, like a bacon-wrapped Pup, but always stuck to their all-beef chili. This had some customers wondering – if the chili is all beef, are the dogs beef too?

The Great Krystal Pup Debate: Pork or Beef?

The meat in Krystal Pups has been a source of great debate among fans, Some customers swear they must contain pork due to their texture and size Others point to Krystal’s all-beef chili and assume the hot dogs must also be 100% beef

After scouring online forums and food websites, I found no consensus. The ingredients weren’t listed on the Krystal website either. So I decided to go straight to the source and reach out to Krystal to settle this meaty mystery once and for all.

Getting an Official Answer from Krystal Restaurants

I contacted Krystal’s customer service department to inquire about the exact meat used in their hot dogs. Within a day I received a response that stated, “Krystal Pups are made from 100% beef.”

Well, that settles it! The tiny hot dogs contain no pork, just high-quality beef.

In my further correspondence with Krystal, they explained that only premium cuts of beef are used to create the signature flavor of the Pups. The beef is coarsely ground, combined with spices, packed into natural casings, and then cooked to perfection.

This meticulous process results in a tender, juicy little hot dog with that classic “snap” when you bite into it. The all-beef content ensures robust flavor in every bite.

Examining the Ingredients in Krystal Pups

To provide even more transparency, Krystal shared the complete list of ingredients that go into their famous Pups:

• Beef
• Water
• Salt
• Corn Syrup
• Spices
• Paprika
• Garlic Powder
• Natural Flavors
• Sodium Phosphate
• Sodium Erythorbate
• Sodium Nitrite

As you can see, the first ingredient is beef, confirming that Krystal Pups are made from 100% all-beef. There are no pork or other meat products included.

The additional ingredients help achieve the ideal texture, moisture level, and flavor balance. But the star of the show is clearly the high-quality beef that gives Krystal Pups their signature taste and bite.

The Careful Process of Crafting Krystal Pups

During my correspondence, Krystal also gave me an inside look at how they carefully craft each Pup:

• They start with premium cuts of beef trimmed of any excess fat or connective tissues. This ensures a leaner finished product.

• The beef is then coarsely ground and measured out in precise batches. This allows for consistency across individual Pups.

• Next, the ground beef is mixed by hand with the proprietary blend of spices that gives Krystal Pups their distinctive flavor.

• The seasoned beef mixture is then packed into natural casing and twisted into links by hand at specific lengths to achieve the “Pup” size.

• The linked Pups are cooked slowly in a two-step process: steaming followed by a quick sear. This seals in moisture and flavor.

• Finally, the cooked Pups are packaged and shipped out to Krystal’s restaurants across the country to be served fresh and hot to customers.

It’s clear from this process why Krystal Pups have such devoted fans – meticulous effort goes into making each and every one!

Krystal Pup Nutrition Facts

Since Krystal Pups are all beef, their nutrition profile is similar to a traditional all-beef hot dog:

• Serving Size: 1 Krystal Pup (43g)
• Calories: 180
• Fat: 15g
• Protein: 6g
• Carbs: 1g
• Sodium: 430mg

The Pups are on the smaller side compared to a standard hot dog, so the calories and fat content are slightly less. The protein, carbs, and sodium levels match up with other all-beef hot dogs.

So you can feel good about the nutrition facts of these petite, protein-packed Pups! They make for a quick meal or snack that delivers a beefy boost.

Vegetarian and Vegan Options at Krystal

While the Krystal Pup itself is not suitable for vegetarian or vegan diets, I asked if Krystal offered any alternatives. They pointed to a few meatless menu items to consider:

• Loaded Veggie Bowl: Quinoa, kale, carrots, edamame, cranberries, sunflower seeds, and avocado lime dressing

• Baked Potato: Russet potato loaded with butter, sour cream, cheese, and bacon bits

• Fruit Cup: Fresh cantaloupe, grapes, strawberries, and blueberries

• Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal: Warm oatmeal with fresh apples and cinnamon

• Hash Rounds: Crispy potato patties with ketchup or hot sauce

So if you follow a meat-free diet, there are still some tasty options available at Krystal! The baked potato, veggie bowl, or oatmeal would make a satisfying plant-based meal.

The Verdict is In: Krystal Pups are 100% Beef

After my deep dive into all things Krystal Pups, I’m happy to proclaim that these little hot dogs are made from 100% all-beef – no pork in sight!

Krystal uses only premium beef cuts to achieve the signature snap and robust, meaty flavor in each pup. A careful process goes into crafting each link by hand, resulting in a tender and juicy mini hot dog loaded with beefy goodness.

While not suitable for vegans or vegetarians, Krystal Pups make for a protein-packed, portable meal for meat lovers. And at just 180 calories apiece, you can enjoy one or two guilt-free!

So next time you find yourself at a Krystal, go ahead and order some Pups to get an authentic taste of this Southern fast food staple. After over 50 years, this miniature hot dog treat is still made as carefully and crave-ably as ever.