Hot dago
![]() The inside of a hot dago sandwich with banana peppers, mozzarella cheese, and marinara sauce | |
Alternative names | Hot Italiano, hot paisano |
---|---|
Type | sandwich |
Course | Main course |
Place of origin | Minnesota |
Region or state | St. Paul, Minnesota, US |
Serving temperature | Hot |
Main ingredients | Italian sausage |
Variations | banana peppers, spicy sausage, "sloppy"-style |
The hot dago is a sandwich, hailing from St. Paul. The sandwich is part of the local Minnesotan cuisine. It consists of an Italian sausage patty, on a burger bun, ciabatta or hard roll, but can also include provolone, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese.[1] The sandwich has numerous variations; in its simplest form it is served on a burger bun with just the patty, a slice of provolone cheese can be added like a cheeseburger. Additionally, spicy variations exist which include a spicy patty or banana peppers. A sloppy hot dago is one that is completely covered in marinara sauce; this variation is usually served on a hard roll and has melted mozzarella cheese on top. An open-faced variation also exists.[2]
Controversies

The sandwich has some controversies surrounding its name because it was named after a slur for Italian immigrants. This has led to some establishments to renaming the sandwich to hot Italiano or hot paisano.[3]
In 2007 the director of human rights in St. Paul attempted to ban the name "hot dago" through a city ordinance, however it failed.[4]
References
- ^ "Minnesota's Most Iconic Foods". Minnesota Monthly. 2023-06-15. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ^ MacAllen, Ian (2025-01-24). "The History of Minnesota's Spicy Sausage Sandwich That's Too Hot To Talk About". Red Sauce America. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ^ Norton, James (2018-04-17). "St. Paul's". The Takeout. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ^ "One sandwich, hold the reason". Twin Cities. 2007-06-23. Retrieved 2025-08-07.