Learn how to make the best hot dog chili recipe around. With only a few ingredients, you will be making homemade chili from now on. It is tangy and delicious.
The Best Hot Dog Chili Recipe
No more store bought chili with this easy recipe. It tastes amazing and makes your hot dog complete.
We love a good hot dog around here. I even learned how to grill hot dogs perfectly every time! But you can’t have a hot dog without this homemade hot dog chili recipe. Don’t even think about buying that stuff in a can.
This is SO much better and it’s incredibly simple to make. Once people try this, they will ask you to bring your chili to every cookout around. It is that good.
The entire recipe is effortless and takes minimum ingredients. You are going to be so glad you tried this recipe.
What is the difference between hot dog chili and regular chili?
Hot dog chili does not have beans and has a sweeter flavor due to the ketchup in the recipe. The texture is smoother than regular chili and not chunky.
It has a fine texture. You might hear some people refer to this as hot dog sauce. This is due to the smooth texture.
The flavor is tangy and not spicy like regular chili. Everyone will love this recipe.
Let’s make hot dog chili.
Ingredients for Chili recipe for hot dogs:
- Ground Beef
- Ketchup
- Hot Dogs
- Salsa
- Onion Powder
- Tomato Paste
- Garlic Powder
- Chili Powder
- Hot Dog Buns
- Diced Onions (optional)
- Cheddar Cheese
- Mustard (optional)
How to make Chili Cheese Hot Dog Recipe:
- Brown the ground beef. Add the ground beef to the pan and cook until no longer pink using medium high heat. Once cooked, drain thoroughly to remove any excess grease.
- Add seasonings to the beef. Now, it is time to add the onion and garlic powder, chili powder, tomato paste, ketchup, salsa and water to the ground beef. Combine well and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Cook the hot dogs. You can boil them or grill them.
- Warm the buns. Toast the buns until they are slightly crispy and warm.
- Add your favorite toppings. Top the hot dogs with mustard and onion if you desire and add the hot dog chili and cheese.
Serve immediately. Salt and pepper to taste.
Jump to recipe and full nutritional content including saturated fat.
Chili cheese dog topping ideas:
- Diced Onion
- Coleslaw
- Cheese Sauce
- Relish
- Shredded Cheese
- Jalapenos
These are just a few ideas for toppings. Feel free to use what you like the best. You can’t go wrong with this easy chili recipe.
What to serve with Chili Dogs
- Quick & Easy Baked Beans
- The BEST Coleslaw recipe
- Boiling Corn on the Cob Recipe
- See The Best Side Dishes for Hot Dogs for more ideas
Can you make in advance?
Homemade chili is even better made in advance. The flavor has even more time to combine.
I actually prefer to make this a day in advance. It gives the recipe even more time to simmer.
How Long Will It Last?
The chili will last 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. Just make sure to store it inside a container with a tight lid.
You can also freeze the chili up to 2 months using an airtight container. If you are short on freezer space, I recommend using freezer bags. These freeze flat and can be stacked to save space.
When ready to enjoy, reheat on the stove top or microwave. The chili can also be reheated in the slow cooker.
I like this option for cookouts and potlucks. Just use the low setting for 2 to 3 hours.
How to use leftovers?
- Sloppy Joes. Feel free to use the leftover chili to make sloppy goes. It is a delicious idea for another dinner.
- Chili Cheese Fries. Jazz up plain French fries with leftover chili.
- Hamburgers. Top cheeseburgers with homemade chili for a fabulous dinner.
Tips for hot dog chili sauce:
- Lean ground beef. This type of meat will help the chili not be too greasy.
- Beef broth. You can thin the chili using beef broth if needed.
- Olive oil. Sometimes when using lean ground beef olive oil is needed. Just a drizzle should do the trick when cooking.
- Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar. Change the flavor slightly and add these two ingredients for a change. It is delicious and can be added to taste for bold flavor.
- Make extra to freeze. It is so delicious and you will be happy to have some in the freezer.
Substitutions:
- Ground turkey. You can use ground turkey instead of ground beef in this recipe.
- Garlic. Minced garlic can be substituted for garlic powder in homemade chili.
Homemade chili is the best.
You will be so impressed how amazing this tastes and how easy it is to make. Once you try this, canned chili will never compare.
It is absolutely so hearty and flavorful. Homemade chili really transforms hot dog night into something fabulous.
Stop buying those canned jars and make homemade instead. It simply does not compare to anything at the grocery store.
Make this today for the best topping. With only a few ingredients, it comes together fast and easy.
Print hot dog chili recipe below:
The Best Hot Dog Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1 tbsp Ketchup
- 8 Hot Dogs
- 1 tbsp Salsa
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 2 tbsp Tomato Paste
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tbsp Chili Powder
- 8 Hot Dog Buns
- Diced Onions optional
- 8 oz Cheddar Cheese (shredded)
- Mustard optional
Instructions
- Brown ground beef and drain thoroughly.
- Add onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, tomato paste, ketchup, salsa and ½ cup water to the ground beef. Mix and simmer 20 minutes.
- Heat hot dogs in boiling water or grill them.
- Toast buns in 300 degree oven until slightly crisp.
- Top hot dogs with mustard and onion if you desire and add chili and cheese.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
Easy Hot Dog Recipes
- How to Boil Hot Dogs
- Crock Pot Hot Dog Recipe
- Air Fryer Hot Dogs
- How to Grill Hot Dogs – perfectly everytime
I haven’t tried this chili yet but can you make a large amount and freeze it?
Yes – This recipe would be great for freezing.
I used to work at a 50’s diner that served Coney Dogs—looks similar to this. It was a secret family recipe that even the staff didn’t know the recipe! The only thing I know for sure is that they added shredded potatoes to it. ? Don’t know the amounts—just saw them shredding a BUNCH of potatoes to make BIG batches—then they froze it in smaller batches until we were ready for another batch. We went through a LOT—our Coney Dogs were famous & known as the best around! Might need to experiment & see if I can find a similar match. (The Diner went out of business…
The taste is very good, however it is not very saucy… only need it for one evening but I like a little more sauce.
Please send chili recipe.Thank you so much.
I would love to try this recipe you have made me so hungry. Got to get up from this chair and rattle some pots and pans??????
Looks delicious! Looking to do this for a grad party – we’re grilling different meats – brats and dogs!
How much would I make for a large crockpot full? Triple the recipe? Or more?
Thank you!
I haven’t tried that before but I think that you could easily triple the recipe or makes 4 batches and it should fit easily in a large crock pot.