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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes / Appetizers

    Hot Dog Chili Recipe (Easy & Delicious)

    Published: Jul 8, 2019 · Modified: Jan 31, 2021 by Sally · This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments

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    You'll love this easy, savory homemade hot dog chili recipe to use for all of your outdoor gatherings!

    Great on hot dogs or brats, but also great as a sauce for pasta, a topping for baked potatoes - the possibilities for this tasty chili sauce are endless!

    Hot Dog Chili Recipe

    Pairing the chili with your favorite hot dog or brat toppings - like mustard and slaw (my two favorite pairings) or onions, relish, ketchup - makes for a hearty, extremely stuffed bun.

    You may want to go with larger buns (hoagie rolls, maybe?), especially if you're filling your bun with fat brats.

    My latest brat was squeezing out of the bun, and I hadn't even put my slaw on yet (note to self: get hoagie rolls next time).

    Hot Dog Chili Recipe

    Tips For the Best Hot Dog Chili

    To make the best hot dog chili possible, start with the freshest ingredients. Fresh onion, garlic, and peppers. Super fresh, lean ground beef.

    Add in the best spices and sauces. Let it simmer or slow cook for hours, and you'll have the best chili sauce imaginable.

    This hot dog sauce recipe is easy to whip together and can be made days in advance - up to 3 days, and it's still nice and fresh.

    If you make the sauce at least the day before, the flavors have time to meld together better. This makes for a tastier hot dog sauce.

    I find that the level of chili powder in this recipe is just right to add nice chili flavor. But it's also mild enough for those who don't like spicy chili as well as children.

    If you like your homemade hot dog chili recipe to have a hotter kick to it, feel free to add more chili powder. Be aware, however, that it will get spicier the longer it simmers and the longer it's stored.

    How To Cook Hot Dogs

    In my opinion, the best way to cook hot dogs is by grilling them or over an open fire on a camp out. My next choice is to pan fry them in a bit of oil till they're browned on all sides.

    Lastly, you can boil them to heat them up. They won't brown if you boil them, but it's a quick way to heat them.

    Hot dogs, after all, are already cooked, so you actually only need to heat them. But I like the way they taste when browned on a grill, open fire, or stove top.

    Easy peasy!

    Coleslaw with Hot Dog Chili

    What to Serve With Hot Dogs and Chili

    This hot dog chili sauce recipe pairs very well with my Creamy Coleslaw Recipe to add to your hot dogs or serve alongside.

    These fabulous Slow Cooker Baked Beans are also a big hit to serve with hot dogs and chili at your next barbecue or cookout.

    Making my Simple Potato Salad with Bacon is another great option for your potluck or cookout.

    Making Hot Dog Chili

    Making hot dog chili isn't super difficult. I see it as a sauce - one that typically starts out with onions, garlic, and maybe peppers. You then add the meat to brown.

    The spices and tomato sauce are then added before simmering.

    The trick is to get the seasonings just right so it's flavorful, saucy but not runny, and full of small chunks of meat throughout.

    Beans are an option, but I personally prefer my hot dog chili be without beans, and I think a lot of other folks feel the same.

    On low-to-medium heat, you will brown your ground beef in a large skillet (I love to use my cast iron skillet).

    Chop up the ground beef as it cooks so the pieces are small.

    Hot Dog Chili Recipe

    When almost browned, you will add the garlic and blend in with the meat.

    Once the ground beef is browned, you will want to spoon out any extra fat from the pan. Take care not to remove any of the garlic pieces.

    Next, you will add tomato paste, water, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt, onion powder, and chili powder and blend.

    At this point, you will increase the heat so the chili mixture begins to simmer. Once it's simmering, turn down heat to low and let simmer for 45-50 minutes covered.

    Serving Hot Dog Chili

    You can serve this delicious hot dog chili right away or refrigerate for up to 3 days.

    Serve on hot dogs, brats, pasta, or baked potatoes. Pairs well with coleslaw.

    I hope you LOVE this hot dog chili recipe as much as me and my family do! I find it simple yet OH SO TASTY on my hot dogs and brats!

    And any leftovers are great on pasta or baked potatoes (like I said before ;-))

    Of note, I love to use the already-prepared minced garlic in the jars. Great for if you forgot to get garlic at the store. Adds so much flavor to your favorite dishes and saves so much time!

    More Summertime Recipes

    📋 Recipe

    Hot Dog Chili Recipe

    Hot Dog Chili Recipe

    You'll love this easy, savory homemade hot dog chili recipe to use for all of your outdoor gatherings! Great on hot dogs or brats, but also great as a sauce for pasta, a topping for baked potatoes - the
    possibilities for this tasty chili sauce are endless!

    4.91 from 10 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish, Topping
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 1521kcal
    Author: Sally

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound lean ground beef
    • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
    • 6-ounce can tomato paste
    • 1 cup water
    • 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • 2 teaspoon chili powder, more to taste

    Instructions

    • In a large skillet brown ground beef. When almost browned, add garlic and blend in.
    • Once ground beef is browned, spoon out any extra fat from the pan, taking care not to remove any of the garlic pieces.
    • Add tomato paste, water, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt, onion powder, and chili powder and blend.
    • Increase heat so mixture begins to simmer. Turn down heat to low and let simmer for 45-50 minutes.
    • You can serve right away or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
    • Serve on hot dogs, brats, pasta, or baked potatoes. Pairs well with coleslaw.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1521kcal | Carbohydrates: 205g | Protein: 143g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 281mg | Sodium: 10042mg | Potassium: 12319mg | Fiber: 44g | Sugar: 128g | Vitamin A: 16769IU | Vitamin C: 231mg | Calcium: 489mg | Iron: 44mg
    Tried this Recipe? Share it Today!Mention @SavoryWithSoul or tag #savorywithsoul!

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    Comments

    1. Michelle says

      July 02, 2020 at 3:22 am

      5 stars
      Chili dogs are THE BEST. This works perfectly on hot dogs. So good

      Reply
    2. Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says

      July 02, 2020 at 1:50 am

      5 stars
      I am not typically a hot dog fan, but this one was so good! Thank you so much for the recipe, I love it!!

      Reply
    3. Chef Mireille says

      July 02, 2020 at 12:25 am

      5 stars
      Since this year street fair's are cancelled. this is a great way to bring the spirit of the street fair to our homes with this fabulous hot dog chili!

      Reply
    4. Julie says

      July 01, 2020 at 11:32 pm

      5 stars
      Such a great hot dog chili recipe for those of us who love hot dogs!

      Reply
    5. Emily Liao says

      July 01, 2020 at 10:29 pm

      5 stars
      This chili was perfect! The flavor and texture paired perfectly with the hot dog.

      Reply
      • Sally says

        July 01, 2020 at 10:55 pm

        So glad Emily! We love it too and will be making it again for our July 4th celebrations!

        Reply
      • Sally says

        July 02, 2020 at 12:44 am

        So glad Emily! We love it too and will be making it again for our July 4th celebrations!

        Reply
    4.91 from 10 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




    I'm Sally, and I love great food! Whole foods, specifically, and savory, yummy eats! I love using spices and trying new combinations - in fact, I consider it an art form, as I smell and taste my way through each dish.

    More about me →

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