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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Beef

    Hot Dog Chili

    Published: Jun 13, 2022 by Susie Weinrich · This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

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    hot dog chili and chili cheese dogs with pinterest text

    This easy Hot Dog Chili is 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.

    quick stove top chili in a pot and on a wooden spoon
    Table of Contents hide
    1 Listen To The Recipe
    2 What is a Chili Dog
    3 Ingredients
    4 Best Way To Warm Hot Dogs
    5 Step by Step Instructions for Chili Sauce
    6 More Topping Ideas for Chili Cheese Dogs
    7 Storing
    8 Freezing
    9 Chili Sauce Variations
    10 More Ground Beef Recipes
    11 Did you make this recipe?!
    12 Hot Dog Chili Recipe

    Listen To The Recipe

    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. There is an audio player right in the recipe card below.

    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:

    ingredients for quick stove top chili for chili dogs

    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.

    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
    chili cheese dogs in a foil packet on top of a cutting board

    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

    • Easy Ground Beef Tacos
    • Beef Enchilada Casserole
    • Perfect Grilled Burger Recipe
    • Best Baked BBQ Meatballs

    Susie Weinrich washing produce

    Did you make this recipe?!

    If you make this recipe I would love to hear your review. Pop down to the comment section and connect with me.

    Then sign up for our Weekly Newsletter so you never miss a new recipe!

    Rate This Recipe
    quick stove top chili in a pot and on a wooden spoon

    Hot Dog Chili Recipe

    A really quick and easy recipe for chili sauce (without beans) that is perfect to top a hot dog. Great for summer cookouts, tailgating and game day!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Calories: 1463kcal
    Author: Susie Weinrich

    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
    Prevent your screen from going dark while you are cooking!

    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.
    • Now add the ground beef and crumble into small pieces while it cooks through.
    • Once it is cooked drain any excess grease before moving on.
    • Pour in the tomato sauce and green chilies.
    • Add the chili powder, cumin, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder and kosher salt and stir to mix in completely.
    • 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.

    Notes:

    Great Chili Dog Toppings:
    • cheese
    • diced white onions
    • sauerkraut
    • ketchup, yellow mustard, mayo
    • jalapenos (fresh or pickled)
    • relish or dill relish
    • diced tomatoes
    • crispy bacon crumbles
    Did you try this recipe? Connect with me & let me know how it turned out by commenting below!
    Jump to Comments
    Serving: 1whole recipe | Calories: 1463kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 85g | Fat: 108g | Saturated Fat: 37g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 51g | Trans Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 322mg | Sodium: 3862mg | Potassium: 2556mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 3540IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 249mg | Iron: 17mg

    If nutrition facts are provided they are calculated as an estimate to the best of our knowledge.

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    About Susie Weinrich

    Susie Weinrich is the recipe developer, food photographer, and content creator behind Mom's Dinner. She has over 20 years experience in the food industry. Currently, Susie shares all her recipes and food knowledge on Mom's Dinner. You will find her recipes are easy to follow and full of tips and tricks to make sure the recipe you are making turns out perfect!

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