This an easy no-bean Chili for Hot Dogs – perfect to top your summer cookout hot dogs, or to add to a tailgating or game day hot dog buffet, it’s truly an American Classic! It is a super quick 15 minute chili sauce recipe that is full of ground beef, onions, tomato sauce, cumin and chili powder. Finish off your chili dogs with cheddar cheese, diced white onions, pickled jalapenos or pickle relish, whatever you like on top of your hot dogs.
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You can listen to this full recipe for Hot Dog Chili on my podcast, Let’s Make Dinner! I go over the full recipe and all my favorite tips for making it delicious.
What is a Chili Dog
A “Chili Dog” is an American hot dog in a bun that is topped with a savory meat sauce. It can also be called chili cheese dogs or Coney Dogs, depending on what parts of America you are in.
The hot dog chili sauce is somewhat similar to Traditional Chili, but the chili sauce you use for hot dogs usually does not include beans.
Ingredients
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this delicious hot dog topper:
Ground Beef: I recommend using an 85/15 lean ground beef. It has enough fat to be flavorful but not so much that your sauce becomes greasy.
Plenty of Spices: grab a handful of spices from your spice cabinet; chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, sugar and kosher salt. Add some cayenne pepper if you like it spicy.
White Onions: Add a nice layer of flavor and texture to the chili.
Tomato Sauce: just enough tomato sauce is added to make this a chili sauce, but not soup. You want this chili to sit on top of your hot dog, not soak the bun.
Green Chilies: adds a nice flavor to the chili.
Best Way To Warm Hot Dogs
To make a chili cheese dog you obviously need hot dogs. We think the very best way to heat a hot dog is in simmering water.
Fill a pot with water and place over medium heat. Add the hot dogs and let them simmer while you make the chili. Dinner will be ready in 15 minutes!
Step by Step Instructions for Chili Sauce
- Start by placing a pot over medium heat. Add the oil then the diced white onion. Sauté for about 5 minutes to soften the onions.
- Add the ground beef and crumble with a wooden spoon while cooking through. Pro Tip: A meat masher is a great tool to have in the kitchen if you use a lot of ground meat.
- Now pour in the tomato sauce and diced green chilies.
- Finish by adding the chili powder, cumin, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and kosher salt.
- Stir it all together and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to warm through.
- It’s ready for your hot dogs (or it would be amazing on top of a baked potato)!
More Topping Ideas for Chili Cheese Dogs
Of course you want to have cheese to top your chili cheese dogs! Here are a few other ideas to put on your hot dog bar:
- diced white onions
- sauerkraut
- ketchup, yellow mustard, mayo
- jalapenos (fresh or pickled)
- relish or dill relish
- diced tomatoes
- crispy bacon crumbles
Storing
Store your leftover chili sauce in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stove top or in the microwave. It may thicken in the fridge, add a little water to reconstitute.
Freezing
You can freeze any leftovers or make it ahead and freeze to use later! Cool completely and then place in a freezer safe baggie or container for up to 3 months. If you like to have single portions you can spoon the chili sauce into an ice cube tray, freeze for 24 hours and then pop out into a freezer safe baggie!
Chili Sauce Variations
- Use any ground meat you like: ground turkey, ground pork or ground chicken will all work in this recipe.
- For a stronger garlic flavor: add 2 minced garlic cloves when you add the onions.
- Spice things up: add a pinch or two of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper when you add the other spices.
- Beans?: beans are not traditional in a chili sauce meant to top hot dogs, but if you LOVE beans you can add a can of drained pinto or black beans.
- Vegetarian?: sub the ground meat for a vegetable crumble like Beyond Meat, Everything Legendary or Quorn. Then use a veggie dog.
More Ground Beef Recipes
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Chili Sauce Recipe for Chili Dogs
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium white onion - diced, extra for serving
- 1 lb ground beef - 85/15 reccomended
- 4 oz canned diced green chilies
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Serving
- hot dogs, buns, cheese… any other toppings your group loves. - see notes for full list of options
Instructions
Hot Dogs
- Prep your hot dogs before you start the chili sauce. We highly recommend adding your hot dogs to simmering water and letting them warm through while you make the chili!
Chili Sauce
- In a sauce pot over medium heat add 1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil. Once it is shimmery and hot add the diced onions. Let them sauté for about 5 minutes to soften, but do not brown.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 medium white onion
- Now add the ground beef and crumble into small pieces while it cooks through.1 lb ground beef
- Once it is cooked drain any excess grease before moving on.
- Pour in the tomato sauce and green chilies.8 oz tomato sauce, 4 oz canned diced green chilies
- Add the chili powder, cumin, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder and kosher salt and stir to mix in completely.1 tablespoon chili powder, 2 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Let simmer for about 2-3 minutes to come together.
- Time to serve!!
Serving
- Place your warmed hot dog in a bun, spoon the chili sauce over top, sprinkle on some cheese, then add all your favorite toppings (see notes section for a list of ideas).
Optional Variations to the Chili Sauce
- Use any ground meat you like: ground turkey, ground pork or ground chicken will all work in this recipe.For a stronger garlic flavor: add 2 minced garlic cloves when you add the onions.Spice things up: add a pinch or two of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper when you add the other spices.Beans?: beans are not traditional in a chili sauce meant to top hot dogs, but if you LOVE beans you can add a can of drained pinto or black beans.Vegetarian?: sub the ground meat for a vegetable crumble like Beyond Meat, Everything Legendary or Quorn. Then use a veggie dog.
Recipe Tips and Notes:
- cheese
- diced white onions
- sauerkraut
- ketchup, yellow mustard, mayo
- jalapenos (fresh or pickled)
- relish or dill relish
- diced tomatoes
- crispy bacon crumbles
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