This easy hot dog chili sauce is sweet, tangy, and zesty, with ground beef, tomato sauce, and warm spices simmered into the perfect topping for chili dogs. It’s ready in under an hour and freezes beautifully, which makes it a go-to for tailgates, cookouts, and weeknight family dinners.
More Hot Dog Dinners
Before You Get Started
A couple of quick tips will set you up for chili dog success:
- Break the beef into fine pieces. A classic hot dog chili has no large chunks. Use a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon to break the meat down as it cooks.
- Let it simmer the full 25 to 30 minutes. That’s what thickens the sauce and lets the flavors come together. Rushing it leaves the chili thin and watery.
⇢ This is a condiment, not a bowl chili. Hot dog chili is a sweet, ketchup-like sauce made to spoon over chili dogs. It’s not a thick, hearty chili you eat from a bowl. If that’s what you’re after, check out my collection of Best Chili Recipes.
How to Make Hot Dog Chili
This easy chili sauce comes together in one pot with just a few steps. You’ll find detailed measurements in the recipe card below, but here’s the overview:
Step 1: Brown the Beef and Onion
Cook the ground beef and diced onion in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until the meat is no longer pink and the onion is soft, about 7 to 10 minutes.
As the meat cooks, use a potato masher or wooden spoon to break it down into very fine pieces. This is the single biggest difference between a proper hot dog chili and something that looks more like sloppy joe filling.
Step 2: Add the Garlic
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for one more minute, just until fragrant.
→ Fresh garlic gives the best flavor here, but ¾ teaspoon of garlic powder works in a pinch.
Step 3: Add the Sauce Ingredients
Stir in the water, tomato sauce, ketchup, paprika, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, salt, and pepper.
→ If you like a little heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper now as well.
Step 4: Simmer Until Thickened
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
The sauce should thicken slightly and take on a glossy, rich color. Once it’s reached that consistency, it’s ready to spoon over hot dogs.
This was great!!! I made it and froze the rest in little 2 Tbsp dots so I can make one for lunch and I don’t have to heat up too much!!!! My favorite dinner this week!!!!
– Rebecca
Recipe Variations
A few simple swaps let you customize the sauce to your taste:
- Add beans. A traditional hot dog chili skips them, but a can of drained, rinsed pinto beans, pink beans, or kidney beans works if you prefer.
- Swap the protein. Use ground chicken, ground turkey, ground pork, or a combination with ground pork sausage or chorizo. If you’re leaning into the sloppy-joe energy here, my Homemade Sloppy Joes might be a better fit for what you’re after.
- Add bell peppers. Dice and cook with the onion and beef at the start.
- Use beef broth. Swap it in for the water for a richer, meatier flavor.
- Make it spicier. Add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper with the other seasonings.
What to Serve With Chili Dogs
Chili dogs are a casual cookout main that pair best with classic summer-table sides. A crunchy slaw, a cold pasta salad, or a scoop of sweet corn casserole all balance the richness of the chili and buns.
Here are a few great options from the site:
Don’t forget the toppings on the chili dogs themselves. Grated cheddar, minced onion, pickle relish, and a squeeze of yellow mustard finish them off the old-fashioned diner way.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
Refrigerator: Hot dog chili keeps in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Discard any leftovers left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Freezer: This sauce freezes beautifully. Cool completely, portion into small airtight containers, and freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheating: Thaw overnight in the fridge. Warm over low heat in a saucepan or Dutch oven for 10 to 15 minutes, just until hot. For parties, hold the sauce in a slow cooker on the “warm” setting for the duration of the event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hot dog chili supposed to be sweet?
Yes. Hot dog chili is designed to be a condiment, so it has a sweeter, ketchup-like flavor rather than the savory depth of a bowl chili. If you prefer something less sweet, cut the ketchup to ½ cup and add an extra 2 tablespoons of tomato sauce.
How do you thicken hot dog chili?
The easiest fix is to simmer it uncovered for 5 to 10 more minutes, which lets extra liquid cook off. You can also stir in a tablespoon of tomato paste for a thicker, richer sauce without watering down the flavor.
Can I make hot dog chili without beef?
Yes. Ground turkey, ground chicken, ground pork, or a mix with ground pork sausage or chorizo all work well. Keep the rest of the recipe the same, though you may want a touch more seasoning with leaner proteins.
How much hot dog chili do I need per person?
Plan on about 2 hot dogs per person and 2 tablespoons of chili per hot dog (or ¼ cup per person). To feed a crowd of 50, multiply the recipe by 3. To feed 100, multiply by 6.
More Easy Cookout Dinners
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Watch How to Make It
Hot Dog Chili
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground beef (90% lean)
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
- ⅓ cup water
- 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- For serving: cooked hot dogs, hot dog buns, grated cheddar cheese, diced onion, pickle relish, mustard
Instructions
- Cook ground beef and onion in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until the meat is no longer pink and the onion is soft, about 7 to 10 minutes. As it cooks, use a wooden spoon or potato masher to break the beef into very fine pieces.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute, stirring often, until fragrant.
- Stir in the water, tomato sauce, ketchup, paprika, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chili sauce thickens slightly.
- Spoon the chili sauce over cooked hot dogs in buns and finish with additional toppings of choice.
Notes
- Breaking up the beef: Use a potato masher or wooden spoon to break the ground beef into very fine pieces as it cooks. A classic hot dog chili has no large chunks.
- Sauce style: This is a sweet, ketchup-based condiment sauce for topping hot dogs. It’s not a hearty bowl chili.
- Simmer time: Give it the full 25 to 30 minutes to thicken. Simmer uncovered for an extra 5 to 10 minutes if you want it thicker.
- Spice it up: Add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper with the other seasonings for a spicier sauce.
- Make ahead and freezer: Keeps in the fridge for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Freeze in small portions for quick single servings.
- Feeding a crowd: Plan on ¼ cup of chili per person (about 2 hot dogs each). Triple the recipe for 50 people, multiply by 6 for 100.
- Protein swaps: Ground chicken, turkey, pork, or a blend with pork sausage or chorizo all work well.
Nutrition
Loved this recipe. This will be my go to recipe for now own. Great on hotdogs & hamburgers. Thank you for sharing.
– Judy
Originally published in October, 2019, this post was updated in May, 2026.
I’m not good with math but is there a way to cut this down for 6 people.
Hi, Katelyn! I just made a batch last weekend for our family of 5, and then stashed the leftover chili in the freezer for another meal. Always a good option!
If you just want to make less chili, though, I would suggest cutting all of the ingredients in half. That will give you about 8 servings, but it might be the perfect amount for your crowd of 6 (if you have some bigger appetites in the mix)! Enjoy!
This recipe was absolutely awesome.I did use some of my own seasonings but this recipe was WELL put together. This is my go to from now on. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Angie!
I’m so sorry that you didn’t care for it, Kimberly. Hot dog chili is definitely supposed to be sweet (more like ketchup), since it’s used as a condiment — not like a regular chili that you would eat in a bowl. 🙂
This was great!!! I made it and froze the rest in little 2Tbsp dots so I can make one for lunch and I don’t have to heat up too much!!!! My favorite dinner this week!!!!
Yay! So glad that you liked it, Rebecca! Thanks for taking the time to come back here and let me know. Enjoy those leftovers! 🙂
Loved this recipe. This will be my go to recipe for now own. Great on hotdogs & hamburgers. Thank you for sharing.
Wonderful! Thanks, Judy!
Recipe of chilli deserves a special recognition because it s delicious.I especially enjoy worcheshire flavoring in this chilli.
Thanks, Linda!
I made this recipe on Memorial Day. My family loved it! Just made a double batch today.
Thank you, Dee! I’m so glad that it was a hit! Thanks for taking the time to come back here and let me know. 🙂
Delicious! I used beef broth instead of water and less mustard to fit my taste. Thanks for the recipe!
Awesome! Thanks, DeLisa! I appreciate you taking the time to come back here and leave a note. I bet the beef broth was great!
I agree. Kinda upset it turned out like sloppy joe instead. Luckily I had a can of castleberry up in the cabinet. I’ll eat it because I love sloppy joe, but hubby is picky. Maybe less ketchup would have been better.
I made a different recipe that had similar ingredients and it was awful, but I found your recipe and used it to doctor up the other one. 100% better, so good!
I’m so glad to hear that, Caitlin! Thank you!
WAY TOO SWEET..TOO MUCH KETCHUP
Too much ketchup. Taste a lot like sloppy Joe’s.. and I’m my opinion, too sweet. I would leave out the ketchup if this isn’t what your aiming for.
Absolutely loved this recipe however it tasted more like sloppy joes. It was on the sweet side. Down in the south, our hot dog chili sauce isn’t sweet. I’m going to not use the ketchup next time and just use more tomato sauce. I had to add more chili powder to make it taste more like a chili sauce. It also didn’t make a lot for the serving you have listed. For a family of 6, 3 being adults, one teenager and two younger kids I need to double this recipe.
Like others have said, this chili tastes more like Sloppy Joes than what I imagine when I think of traditional hotdog chili, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t taste good!! Next time, I’ll use half the ketchup. In the meantime, I’m gonna load my dogs up with chopped onion, cheddar cheese, and this lovely chili. Thanks for the recipe!!
Love love love this recipe.
I add beer instead if eater and a pinch of nutmeg
I always double batch and give some out to FAM AND FRIENDS
Love love love this recipe.
I add beer instead if water and a pinch of nutmeg
I always double batch and give some out to FAM AND FRIENDS
Thank you so much, Daisy! We really appreciate you making and sharing our recipe!
I am going to make this for the weekend as I am having adult kids, grandkids their friends and with my husband too, this chili sauce will be top of the menu! I, too, only use Oscar Mayer regular and not beef (have an odd taste) hot dogs. I could live on chili dogs and every time we have moved,when we are settled in, I search for the nearest and best chili dogs. I can even buy the chili sauce from a restaurant where we have our second house, freeze it and bring it to our nestled in the woods, rural house about 350 miles north! I found out that the original chili sauce that the A&W chain has Beef organ meat (heart of cow) in it, so despite eating/loving it, I will not make it and then there is the “problem” of procuring that heart! I’m going to make a triple batch as our adult son, his son, son’s friend and my husband will probably eat it all, by themselves. When they visit, in the winter, I always make them a huge kettle of regular chili, which they continually eat all day and night! So your recipe this weekend, using the suggestion of other posted regarding less ketchup, replaced with tomato sauce as mine has the mild chilies already in the can, thus cutting the need for the chili powder. None of the men in my family will eat any raw onions let alone spicy chili!
What fun memories! We hope you enjoy this recipe.
Cooking for 50 men at our next Tuesday Night Bible Study. What better for a group of men than Chili Dogs? I am confused however, Does the included ingredient calculator already adjust for 2 – hotdogs per man? I’m thinking it does………………..and i looks like I’ve bought twice as many ingredients than I needed. I think I’m going to cook-up half of them a day early and see what my take is then.
I’ll update after that.
Hi Terry! You can’t go wrong with chili dogs when feeding a crowd! This recipe allows for 16 servings. To feed 50 men with 2 hot dogs, you’ll want to type “100” into the servings box. Although, we would probably recommend making a little extra just in case. Hope this helps!