Do you love chili dogs? My easy hot dog chili that I make in the slow cooker is the best you can make! So much flavor. Don’t use canned chili, used a good chili on your dogs!
Hot dogs are an easy way to get dinner on the table but why not make it spectacular? Pile this homemade hot dog chili sauce over your hot dogs and top with cheese and onions. You can even use this hot dog chili on a hot dog bar!
What is a Chili Dog?
- A chili dog is a hot dog on a bun that is topped with chili con carne.
- Sometimes the chili sauce is called coney sauce or, once made called a coney dog.
- Similar texture as sloppy joes but has a chili flavor.
- You can also use this sauce to top a burger!
- They can be messy and often ate with a knife and fork.
How to Make Homemade Hot Dog Chili
This recipe has quite a few ingredients though you will find that almost all of the ingredients are right in your cupboard!
Ingredients
- Ground beef – I like to use a fatty ground beef for this recipe (10-20%fat)! Gives the sauce a great flavor.
- Ketchup – add sweetness and more tomato flavor
- Canned tomato sauce – This is the base for the sauce
- Water – helps thin the sauce out
- White onion – save some for topping the chili dogs if desired.
- Seasonings – salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder
- Worcestershire sauce – a secret ingredeint that adds tang and beefy flavor
- Mustard – adds a tanginess and what is a hot dog without a little mustard?
- Brown sugar – just a touch to sweeten the sauce.
Step by Step Directions
Step 1 – Add the ground beef to a skillet on the stovetop.
Step 2 – Cook over medium-high heat. The trick to good hot dog chili is to crumble the meat extra small with your spatula.
Step 3 -Drain the fat off the beef and add to the slow cooker.
Step 4– Add remaining ingredients and stir. Cover and cook on high for 1.5 hours or low for 3 hours. Stir this often, or it will burn.
How to serve hot dog chili:
- Serve over hot dogs and buns (make sure to offer a knife and fork to your guests).
- Offer toppings such as shredded cheddar cheese, minced onion, jalapenos, mustard (try it! so good).
- Some even top their chili dogs with nacho cheese!
- Add this hot dog chili to a hot dog bar and impress your guests!
FAQs and Expert Tips for this Recipe
Hot dog chili can thicken up quickly before you can use it all. Add
a few tablespoons of water, beef broth or a few tablespoons of ketchup
Instead of adding the meat and ingredients to the slow cooker add right to the pan. Simmer on low for 20 minutes, stirring often.
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Hot Dog Chili
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs. ground beef
- 1 cup ketchup
- 8 oz. tomato sauce (not paste)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup minced white onion
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. chili powder
- 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tbsp. mustard (regular liquid mustard)
- 2 tsp. brown sugar
Instructions:
- Set a large skillet on the stove top over medium high heat. Brown the meat and crumble as small as you can. Drain the fat off and add the meat to the slow cooker.
- Add remaininng ingredients and stir.
- Cover and cook for 1.5 – 2 hours on high or 3 hours on low, stirring often. This may burn if you leave it unattended too long.
- If the hot dog chili sauce gets too thick add a splash of water or a touch more ketchup.
Stove-top instructions:
- Follow directions above but add everything to the skillet along with the beef. Turn the stove to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Add water or ketchup if it thickens too much.
How to Video:
Sarah’s Notes:
- Cheddar cheese
- Minced white onion
- Mustard (yes! additional mustard is great on this)
- Some even top their chili dogs with nacho cheese!
- Sliced jalapenos
a few tablespoons of water, beef broth or a few tablespoons of ketchup Nutritional data is only for the hot dog chili, not the bun, hot dog, or toppings.
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
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Loyd Washburn says
Sounds good but how long would cook in slow cooker or crock pot
Sarah Olson says
The directions are there in the recipe card 🙂
Unknown says
Seriously Don’t Post Unless It Seriously Really Is Hot Dog chill… Seriously What A False Recipe.. Seriously Agree With The Other Reviews That It Tastes Like Manwish…Seriously Lame Recipe I Wouldn’t Reccomend This Recipe There’s Better Recipe Then This…Specially On Food Network. Etc
Jeff says
lol, I was guessing this wouldn’t be a good recipe as they mentioned to eat the hot dog with a knife and fork and to provide those to guests. Not something I even want to try.
Sarah Olson says
We eat chili dogs with a knife at home too, you can add more toppings that way.
Amanda says
Was excited to make this because of the great reviews. This is not hot dog chili. It’s sloppy joes.
Brandon C says
This looks great…I have picky children(and a picky wife) when it comes to onions. They don’t eat them unless they lose their crunchiness. Do they get soft in the 2 hours in the crock pot? Would it work if I put them in with the ground beef when browning the ground beef?
Sarah Olson says
They do stay a little crunchy. I would cook them with the ground beef.
Linda says
Can the sauce be frozen for later also
Sarah Olson says
Yes, this freezes well.
John says
I agree tastes like Manwich
Tim P. says
It was ok. I dont like sweet chili and between the catsup and the brown sugar it wasn’t what I was looking for.
Mrs says
Tasted good, I didn’t use as much ketchup tho. A little trick : thaw meat and add water, and mix up then cook. This will make very fine meat instead of having to try and chop it fine after it’s cooked.
JustKimberly says
This was excellent! I used ancho chili pepper so it had a tiny kick but once in the hotdog was perfect. I rarely leave comment reviews but this recipe deserved it. We only cooked hot about 30 minutes so I’m sure it will be even better reheated.