Classic Homemade Hot Dog Chili Sauce is the ultimate topping for 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!
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5-Star Reader Comment
“Entire family loved it! I made it just exactly as printed.
Twee
We topped the dogs with onions and mustard – and everyone from grandkids to grandparents raves about it.
Thank you!”
This past weekend, we celebrated the end of an era for my youngest son. Hunter graduated from high school this spring, which ended his participation in the drumline. To honor the past year’s successes and show a little love to the seniors, I organized a cookout for them and their parents.
This gathering was made extra special when I got a text message from one of the kids. He had a favor to ask, a special request—”Could I please make my Hot Dog Chili?” My heart melted. Of course, for him and the drumline, no problem!
Is This Chili Or A Sauce?
The real answer is that it’s both! Even though it’s called hot dog chili, this recipe is more of a sauce than a chili. It has a fine texture and does not have beans, like my Bloody Mary Chili or Award-Winning Chili. It’s a savory chili sauce recipe that makes a terrific topping.
Ingredients Needed For Hot Dog Chili
- Ground beef and onion.
- Tomato paste, tomato sauce, ketchup, honey, Worcestershire sauce, mustard.
- Garlic, sugar, chili powder, celery salt, cumin, kosher salt, black pepper.
What Can Hot Dog Chili Be Made Of?
- Ground Beef: Lean Ground beef is a popular choice for homemade chili.
- Ground Turkey: Ground turkey is a leaner alternative to beef and can be used in any good chili dog recipe.
- Ground Pork: Ground pork adds a rich flavor to chili and can be cooked like ground beef or turkey.
How to Make Homemade Hot Dog Chili
- Brown ground beef. Drain excess fat and add onions to the pot, and stir. Add garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, salt, pepper, and cumin, and cook for 2–3 minutes. Stir in celery salt, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, tomato sauce, honey, and ketchup. Add water and stir.
- Bring chili to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for about 30 minutes.
- Using an immersion blender, carefully blend chili until meat chunks are broken down.
- Serve or store in the fridge or freezer.
How To Serve The Best Hot Dog Chili
- My favorite way to serve a grilled hot dog is to top it with mustard, onions, cole slaw, and a big spoonful of hot dog chili. You can also add other toppings like pickle relish and cheese.
- You can also get fancy with gourmet hot dog toppings like candied jalapenos, caramelized onions, or avocado salsa.
- It’s delicious, spooned over french fries, tater tots, or baked potatoes.
People Often Ask…
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They can also be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Yes. Place the chili sauce in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag, label it and store in the freezer for up to three months.
You sure can. Make the chili and keep it warm in a slow cooker. This is a great way to set up a buffet and let folks make their own hot dogs!
More Recipes Like This
If you tried this Hot Dog Chili Sauce Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 1 cup onion – chopped
- 2 cloves garlic – minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon celery salt
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- In a dutch oven or heavy bottom pot, brown ground beef. When the meat is no longer pink, drain excess fat and add onions to pot, stir. Add in garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, salt, pepper and cumin and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add celery salt, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, tomato sauce, honey and ketchup, stir. Add in water. Bring chili up to a boil then reduce to simmer. Cook for approximately 30 minutes sauce has thickened. Remove from heat and let cool 15 minutes.
- Using an immersion blender, carefully blend chili until meat chunks are broken down. *You can also use a regular blender, making sure to blend in small batches to avoid getting burned.
- When ready to serve, heat chili either on stove or in a slow cooker. Can be stored in refrigerator for 3 days or frozen up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Donya's Top Ten Summer Recipes!
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i have been looking for a good tasting chili for hot dogs. this looks like it will be good. i will be trying it soon
I have made this twice now and both times have received comments from guests that it is “the best Hot Dog Chili they have ever had!” Don’t skip on the celery salt and cumin – these spices add such an important flavor!!
If you don’t have an immersion blender like me, don’t panic … recipe still turns out amazing. Just make sure you work on cooking down the beef as fine as you can.
This recipe is also super easy to store and freeze so you can have a supply of Hot Dog Chili all summer long 🙂
Thank you so much! Your comments made my day and I really appreciate the terrific rating.
~Donya
I will have to give this recipe a try to see how it compares with The Varsity’s in Atlanta, my lifelong fav. When I make hot dog chili I run it through my KA food grinder to get a uniform texture rather use immersion blender – less mess & more uniform.
Omg this is awesome. I just made it for a luncheon at work. I did tweak it some after reading other recipes but still outstanding. Thank you for this and now it will be a staple in my recipe box.
WOW, Cheryl! Thank you so much and I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe.
~Donya
This was a great surprise & really added to our hot dogs & polish sausage with the St. Pierre brioche buns that split on top….. perfect for adding condiments, this sauce, chopped jalapeños, onions , etc. I have made something similar but didn’t grind it down & that made a big difference along with the ratios you used. It’s really tasty!
Also, I used the leftovers to make a scalloped potato dish which was delicious. Thinly sliced potatoes in a casserole dish, leftover chili as next layer. add any leftover chopped onion or peppers, a little cheese of your liking than another layer of potatoes, topped with cheese & dots of butter. To this add some milk, half & half or cream ( so it comes out creamy & not dried out) , cover with foil & cook @350 F then uncover, raise heat to 400 F & cook until golden brown on top! Serve with a nice salad & voilà!
Thank you for your recipe!
Entire family loved it! I made it just exactly as printed.
We topped the dogs with onions and mustard – and everyone from grandkids to grandparents raves about it.
Thank you!
Hey there!
Wow! I am thrilled to hear that y’all enjoyed this recipe, getting rave reviews from both grandkids and grandparents is quite the achievement! Thank you so much for your kind words of support and your phenomenal rating, let me know if you ever have any questions about a recipe, I’m always happy to help!
~Donya
This recipe is as close to perfect as it gets.
Hey there Kim!
My goodness, I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, I couldn’t agree with you more! I hope you’ll check out my Carolina Slaw Dog recipe, it uses this chili and a creamy coleslaw recipe, it’s simple to make and super delicious. Thank you so much for your kind words of support and your fantastic rating, if you ever have any questions about a recipe, please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask!
~Donya
Wish I would have seen this a few days ago. Just made a big batch of Skyline hot dog sauce. We love it but I was really hoping to try something new this time. But there is always Labor Day to grill some Hofman’s and Sabretts hot dogs with your recipe.
Hey there Baltisraul!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe, it is the PERFECT addition to Hot Dog night! I completely agree with you, this recipe would be great to serve over Labor Day Weekend. If you’re looking for hot dog recipe inspiration, you should check out my Creamy Coleslaw recipe, I highly recommend pairing this chili with that coleslaw, it really is a match made in heaven! Thank you so much for all your support, if you ever have any questions about a recipe, feel free to reach out!
~Donya
I am eating an air fried Hofmann skin on beef frank dog as I read this.
I will have to try this. My mother taught me to make hot dog chili. She used ground beef, ketchup, mustard, cider vinegar, finely chopped onions, chili powder, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, a few dashes of Tabasco, salt & pepper. A little water if to thick.
Hey there Bob!
It sounds like your mother really knew her stuff, my Hot Dog Chili uses almost the exact same ingredients, apart from the Tabasco but you can always add that little kick of spice! Let me know if you have any questions about the recipe, I’d be more than happy to help. Thank you so much for your interest in this Chili, I hope you’ll give it a try, I’d love to hear what you think!
~Donya
To be honest, I wasn’t expecting this sauce to be this good. I made it as directed except; 1: I didn’t have tomato paste (I don’t think 1Tbls. would be missed). 2: Added water only at the end to reach the consistency I wanted, I only needed about 1/4 to 1/3 cup. Good recipe, I’d defiantly make it again.
Hey there Butch!
I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, it sounds like you made a delicious Hot Dog Chili. Thank you so much for your kind words of support and your rating, if you ever have any questions about a recipes I’d be more than happy to help!
~Donya