Garbage Plate
Rochester's legendary and unapologetically indulgent dish, featuring a hearty base of home fries and macaroni salad, topped with your choice of grilled meats, smothered in a rich meat hot sauce, and finished with diced onions and mustard. A true comfort food icon.
🧂 Ingredients
- 2 cups Home fries(Store-bought or homemade. Ensure they are fully cooked and ready to be crisped.)
- 1 cup Macaroni salad(Your favorite store-bought or homemade recipe.)
- 2 Hamburger patties(About 4-6 oz each, seasoned to your preference.)
- 2 Hot dogs(All-beef preferred, cut in half lengthwise or left whole.)
- 1 cup Meat hot sauce(A spicy, ground-meat-based sauce. Store-bought or homemade.)
- 1/4 cup Yellow onion(Finely diced, for topping.)
- for drizzling Yellow mustard(Classic yellow mustard for topping.)
- 1 tablespoon Vegetable oil(For crisping home fries, optional.)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the home fries: If using pre-cooked home fries, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the home fries and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are golden brown and crispy, about 10-15 minutes. Alternatively, if your home fries are raw, cook them according to their package directions or until tender and browned.
⏱️ 15 minutes - 2
Cook the meats: While the home fries are crisping, grill or pan-fry the hamburger patties and hot dogs. For burgers, cook to your desired doneness (about 4-5 minutes per side for medium). For hot dogs, cook until heated through and lightly charred, about 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally. Let the burgers rest for a few minutes before serving.
⏱️ 10-15 minutes - 3
Assemble the base: Divide the crispy home fries between two shallow bowls or plates. Top each mound of fries with half of the macaroni salad.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 4
Add the meats: Place one cooked hamburger patty and one hot dog (or half a hot dog) on top of the macaroni salad on each plate.
⏱️ 2 minutes - 5
Smother and garnish: Generously ladle the warm meat hot sauce over the meats and the entire plate. Finish by sprinkling with finely diced yellow onion and drizzling with yellow mustard.
⏱️ 3 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Don't be shy with any component – the Garbage Plate is meant to be piled high!
- ✓The 'meat hot sauce' is a crucial element; it's a spicy, savory, ground-meat-based chili that distinguishes this dish.
- ✓Traditionally a late-night indulgence, but delicious any time you crave serious comfort food.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Substitute cheeseburger patties or cheeseburgers for the plain hamburger patties.
- Add other grilled meats like chicken tenders or sausage.
- Include additional toppings such as chopped raw onions, french fries (in addition to home fries), or a fried egg.