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This easy hot dog chili recipe is the perfect addition to your next football tailgate, cookout with friends, or family movie night! The simple chili sauce is made with sweet ketchup, hearty ground beef, and zesty seasoning for a flavorful condiment that elevates an American classic. Add other toppings like cheese, onions, and pickle relish for the best chili dog ever!
Table of Contents
- How to Make Hot Dog Chili | 1-Minute Video
- Chili Hot Dog Recipe
- What is a Chili Dog?
- Ingredients for a Chili Recipe for Hot Dogs
- How to Make the Best Hot Dog Chili Sauce
- What goes with chili and hot dogs?
- Preparation and Storage Tips
- Hot Dog Chili Sauce Recipe Variations
- Tips for the Best Hot Dog Chili Recipe
- More Chili Recipes to Try
- Hot Dog Chili Recipe
How to Make Hot Dog Chili | 1-Minute Video
Chili Hot Dog Recipe
Whether you’re cheering for your favorite team or hosting a football watch party to enjoy time with friends, there’s no denying that good food is a huge part of any celebration this season. For a crowd-pleasing option, set up a hot dog bar at your next gathering and let everyone help themselves to a variety of toppings — including the best hot dog chili recipe!
What is a Chili Dog?
The classic American “Chili Dog” is simply a hot dog served in a bun and finished with meat sauce. Additional toppings might include grated cheddar cheese, diced onion, pickle relish, or mustard — but the true star of the show is the sweet and spicy hot dog chili. It’s just like the old-fashioned hot dog chili sauce that you grew up loving from your favorite small town diner.
Ketchup and tomato sauce are the base of this hot dog chili recipe, so the condiment is full of rich tomato flavor. It’s important to note that this particular chili is a sauce designed to be used as a condiment (like ketchup) on hot dogs — so it’s sweeter and thinner than a pot of traditional ground beef chili that you would eat on its own with a spoon.
Ingredients for a Chili Recipe for Hot Dogs
This is a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for a pot of hot dog chili. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Lean ground beef: the base of the meat sauce.
- Onion and garlic: give the sauce savory flavor.
- Water: to thin the sauce.
- Tomato sauce: gives the chili sauce rich tomato flavor.
- Ketchup: gives the hot dog chili sauce a sweet taste, since this sauce is typically used in lieu of sweet ketchup alone.
- Sweet paprika and chili powder: zesty seasonings.
- Worcestershire sauce: for savory, salty, umami flavor.
- Yellow mustard: adds a touch of tang and acidic bite to the sauce.
- Salt and pepper: to enhance the other flavors and balance the sweetness.
How to Make the Best Hot Dog Chili Sauce
This easy chili sauce simmers on the stovetop and is ready in less than an hour! You can make it ahead of time and then just keep it warm on the stove or in a Crock Pot. It will be ready and waiting to dress up your hot dogs whenever you need it!
The detailed directions are included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here’s the quick version:
- Cook the 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. Then stir in the garlic, and cook for one more minute.
- Add water, tomato sauce, ketchup, paprika, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt and pepper.
- Simmer for about 25-30 minutes to thicken slightly, and then the sauce is ready to enjoy!
What goes with chili and hot dogs?
Again, it’s important to note that this chili is designed as a condiment sauce to be served on top of hot dogs. It is not a traditional beef chili that you would eat in a bowl with a spoon.
Instead, this chili sauce has a much sweeter flavor (like ketchup), and is reminiscent of the meat-based condiments that you’d find in an old-fashioned diner. Spoon it on top of hot dogs, and finish them off with minced onion, pickle relish, and grated cheddar cheese!
If you’re hosting a tailgate or picnic, here are a few great options to pair with the chili dogs:
- Grilled Hamburgers
- Classic Pasta Salad, Easy Pasta Salad, and Southern Macaroni Salad
- Easy Baked Beans, Homemade Baked Beans with Bacon, Ranch Style Beans, or Crock Pot Pork and Beans
- Hush Puppies
- Coleslaw or Vinegar Coleslaw
- Hoe Cakes
- Baked Potato Wedges (or store-bought frozen French fries), Twice Baked Potatoes, 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream and Chives, Skin On Mashed Red Potatoes, Baked Potatoes, Potato Chips, or Easy Potato Salad
- Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese, Crock Pot Mac and Cheese, Stovetop Shells and Cheese, or No-Boil Easy Mac and Cheese
- Corn Salad, Jiffy Corn Casserole, or Fried Corn
- Wedge Salad, Classic Caesar Salad, House Salad with Candied Pecans, or a Green Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette
- Refrigerator Dill Pickles, Cucumber Salad with Vinegar, Tomato Cucumber Onion Salad, or Cucumber Dill Salad
- Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon or Southern-Style Green Beans
- Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
- Southern Succotash
- Southern Collard Greens
- Fried Okra
- Broccoli and Cheese
- Okra and Tomatoes
- Southern Squash Casserole
Don’t forget the cold drinks, too! We love Sweet Tea, Homemade Lemonade, and Blackberry Lemonade!
Preparation and Storage Tips
- Hot dog chili sauce will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. The leftovers should be discarded, however, if it’s left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
- How to Freeze: this chili sauce freezes really well, making it an ideal prep-ahead option when you’re hosting a gathering. To freeze, allow the chili to cool completely. Package in smaller portions (if desired) in airtight containers and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- How to Reheat Homemade Hot Dog Chili: thaw frozen chili in the refrigerator overnight. Place the hot dog chili in a saucepan or Dutch oven. Cover and warm over low heat, just until hot, about 10-15 minutes. Alternatively, place the chili sauce in a Crock Pot, cover, and keep it on the “warm” setting for the duration of your party.
Hot Dog Chili Sauce Recipe Variations
- A traditional hot dog chili does not include beans; however, you can add a can of drained, rinsed pinto beans, pink beans, or kidney beans if you like.
- Swap out the ground beef and use ground chicken, ground turkey, ground pork, or even a combination that includes ground pork sausage or ground chorizo.
- Add diced bell peppers to the skillet with the ground beef, onion, and garlic.
- If you like a richer, meatier flavor, you can use beef broth instead of water.
- For spicy hot dog chili, add cayenne pepper.
- Substitute ¾ teaspoon of garlic powder for the fresh garlic cloves.
Tips for the Best Hot Dog Chili Recipe
- This chili sauce is designed to be a condiment that you serve on top of hot dogs, and therefore has a sweet flavor that’s similar to ketchup. It is not a chili that you eat on its own in a bowl. If you’re looking for a more traditional beef chili recipe that’s not very sweet, try this or this Crock Pot version.
- Use a wooden spoon or a potato masher to break up the beef into very small pieces as it cooks. A classic hot dog sauce doesn’t contain any large chunks of meat.
- Is hot dog chili gluten-free? Yes! Always check your labels on individual products, but this chili recipe can be made gluten-free.
- Is hot dog chili Keto-friendly? This chili recipe has about 6 grams of carbohydrates and 72 calories per ¼-cup serving, so use sparingly if you’re following a Keto diet.
- How much hot dog chili do I need to feed 50 people? or 100 people? If you’re preparing a big batch of this chili for a crowd, I recommend planning for about 2 hot dogs per person. Each hot dog is topped with about 2 tablespoons of chili, so you’ll need ¼ cup chili per person. For a crowd of 50, that’s about 12 ½ cups of chili (or this recipe multiplied by 3). To serve 100, I would estimate about 24-25 cups of hot dog chili sauce (so multiply this recipe by 6).
More Chili Recipes to Try
Easy Ground Turkey Chili
1 hour hr 35 minutes mins
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
6 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
Beef Chili Recipe {Classic and Easy!}
1 hour hr 35 minutes mins
Hot Dog Chili
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground beef (I used 90% lean)
- 1 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 salt
- ½ teaspoon 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 meat is no longer pink and onion is soft (about 7-10 minutes). Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat into very small pieces as it cooks. Add minced garlic and continuing cooking and stirring for 1 more minute.
- Add water, tomato sauce, ketchup, paprika, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt and pepper.
- Bring to boil; reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 25-30 minutes (or until chili thickens slightly).
Video
Notes
- This chili sauce is designed to be a condiment that you serve on top of hot dogs, and therefore has a sweet flavor that’s similar to ketchup. It is not a chili that you eat on its own in a bowl. If you’re looking for a more traditional beef chili recipe that’s not very sweet, try this or this Crock Pot version.
- Use a wooden spoon or a potato masher to break up the beef into very small pieces as it cooks. A classic hot dog sauce doesn’t contain any large chunks of meat.
- Is hot dog chili gluten-free? Yes! Always check your labels on individual products, but this chili recipe can be made gluten-free.
- Is hot dog chili Keto-friendly? This chili recipe has about 6 grams of carbohydrates and 72 calories per ¼-cup serving, so use sparingly if you’re following a Keto diet.
- How much hot dog chili do I need to feed 50 people? or 100 people? If you’re serving this chili to a crowd, I recommend planning for about 2 hot dogs per person. Each hot dog is topped with about 2 tablespoons of chili, so you’ll need ¼ cup chili per person. For a crowd of 50, that’s about 12 ½ cups of chili (or this recipe multiplied by 3). To serve 100, you need about 24-25 cups of hot dog chili sauce (so multiply this recipe by 6).
- A traditional hot dog chili does not include beans; however, you can add a can of drained, rinsed pinto beans, pink beans, or kidney beans if you like.
- Swap out the ground beef and use ground chicken, ground turkey, ground pork, or even a combination that includes ground pork sausage or ground chorizo.
- Add diced bell peppers to the skillet with the ground beef, onion, and garlic.
- For spicy hot dog chili, add cayenne pepper.
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!