Name: Home Run Hot Dog Chili
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds ground beef; 1 cup onion - chopped; 2 cloves garlic - minced; 1 tablespoon tomato paste; 2 teaspoons chili powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 1/2 teaspoon cumin; 1/2 teaspoon celery salt; 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 tablespoon yellow mustard; 1 8 oz can tomato sauce; 1 tablespoon honey; 1/3 cup ketchup; 1 cup water

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Home Run Hot Dog Chili is the ultimate topping for your grilled dogs, sausages, and burgers! This meaty, tangy, slightly sweet sauce is simmered in just the right combination of herbs and spices. It’s a winning recipe for your next cookout, BBQ or tailgate party!

This past weekend, we celebrated the end of an era for my youngest son. Hunter graduated from high school this spring and that brought an end to his participation on the drumline. He’d been part of Blue Steel Drum Line for four years and I can honestly say, it’s been an incredible experience. I’ve gotten to know so many wonderful kids and their parents over the years and this transition are going to be just as hard on me as it is on Hunter.

To honor the successes of the past year, and show a little love to the seniors, I organized a cookout for the students and their parents. Everyone, including me, was asked to bring their best dish to share. When it came time for me to sign up, something interesting happened. I got a text message from one of the kids. He had a favor to ask, a special request he said…could I please make my Hot Dog Chili? My heart melted. Of course, for him and the drumline, no problem!

This chili is so good! It’s rich and meaty with a smooth texture that doesn’t overpower the hot dog, burger, or sausage that you’re spooning it over. I use just the right amount of spice to simmer the ground beef and onions in so that deep flavor is developed.

What you’ll need to make Home Run Hot Dog Chili:

ground beef
onion
tomato paste
garlic
sugar
mustard
chili powder
Worcestershire sauce
celery salt
cumin
tomato sauce
honey
ketchup

This recipe is more of a sauce than what you normally think of as chili. It does not have beans like my Bloody Mary Chili or Award Winning Chili does. It’s a topping, plain and simple. To give it a special touch, once all of the ingredients simmer together for about 30 minutes, I let the chili cool a bit then use my immersion blender to breakdown the beef just a bit until I get a texture that perfect for ladling over a grilled hot dog.

When it was time for the cookout, I was ready with grilled hot dogs and my homemade chili. The slow cooker was loaded with my home run sauce so that is was warm and all the guests could just be served themselves. We had a great evening sharing a meal, laughing, and telling stories. It all ended with lots of hugs and a few tears. These people know how to get me…every time. I sure am going to miss them but maybe, I’ll make a big batch of Home Run Hot Dog Chili and invite them over. I have a feeling, they’d be at my back door in no time.