Best Chili Dogs
The Best Chili Dogs are made with a quick and easy hot dog chili and grilled hot dogs for a family favorite meal. Great for busy weeknights, summer cookouts or game day gatherings.
Chili is one of our favorite comfort food meals and it makes the best BBQ Frito Chili Pie Burgers, Chili Baked Potatoes and of course Chili Dogs. This delicious hot dog chili is made with ground beef and is a no bean chili that everyone loves.
Best Chili Dogs ~ Family Favorite Dinner
Chili cheese dogs can be completely made ahead for a quick and easy meal for those busy weeknights when there’s no time to cook. A must-have for any big game, tailgating and summer barbecues.
Ingredients Needed:
Hot Dog Chili:
- Bacon
- Onions
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Ground Chuck or lean ground beef
- Brown Sugar
- Green Chile Powder
- Granulated Garlic
- Kosher Salt
- Chili Powder
- Ground Cumin
- Tomato Sauce
- Petite Diced Tomatoes
- Ground Chili Flakes
For the Chili Dogs:
- All Beef Hot Dogs
- Hot Dog Buns or Hoagie Buns
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Sour Cream
- Candied Jalapeños
- Ketchup
- Yellow Mustard
- Cucumber Onion Salad
- Sweet Pickle Relish
How to Make the Hot Dog Chili:
- Slice bacon into small pieces and cook in a dutch oven over medium heat until crispy. Remove to a paper towel lined plate and set aside.
- Cook diced onions, bell peppers and carrots in the bacon drippings until vegetables are softened, about 10 minutes.
- Add ground chuck and break up with a wooden spoon as it cooks, until browned.
- In a bowl mix the chili seasoning together: brown sugar, green chili powder, garlic, salt, chili powder and cumin. Stir into the chili mixture.
- Stir in tomato sauce and diced tomatoes.
- Add crispy bacon, stirring to combine. Continue to cook for about 20 minutes, stirring often.
Chili can be kept warm in a slow cooker, set to warm if you are serving for a party or family gathering and can be made up to 2 days in advance. Chili actually gets more flavorful the next day.
This hot dog chili sauce makes a big batch and leftover chili can be frozen up to 3 months.
How to Make Chili Dogs:
- Grill hot dogs over indirect fire for about 8 -10 minutes. Hickory or pecan is great for adding smoke flavor.
- Hot dogs should have char marks on the outside and may start to split open when heated through.
- Remove from grill.
- Alternately, hot dogs can be cooked in a large skillet with about a cup of water over medium-high heat. Once hot dogs are heated through, drain the water and return hot dogs to the burner, cook 1- 2 minutes until hot dogs are seared on the outside.
- Spoon chili into buns, top with hot dogs.
- Add additional chili and cheese.
- Return chili dogs to the grill for a few minutes or under oven broiler until cheese is melted and buns are lightly toasted.
- Top with favorite toppings and serve immediately.
How to Store and Reheat:
Store hot dogs in a zip top bag in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Reheat in a pan with a couple of tablespoons of water over medium heat, until heated through. An air fryer is also a great way to cook or reheat hot dogs. Cook for about 3 minutes at 350°.
Chili can be reheated in a pan over low heat, stirring often. Add 1 – 2 tablespoons of water if chili is too thick. Continue to cook until heated through.
Best Occasions for Chili Dogs:
Homemade chili takes these chili dogs to the next level of deliciousness. We will often create a Hot Dog Charcuterie Board for cookouts and special occasions like the Fourth of July or the Super Bowl. It’s the perfect way to make a hot dog bar or hot dog cart for a crowd.
The best hot dog chili recipe is thick and doesn’t usually include kidney beans like a traditional hearty chili. No bean chili is traditional for a coney dog topped with yellow mustard and sweet onions. The best part about this easy chili dog recipe is that everyone can choose their favorite toppings, making even the picky eaters happy.
More Chili Dog Toppings:
- Red Onions
- Barbecue Sauce
- American Cheese or Pepper Jack Cheese
- Green Chiles
- Honey Mustard Sauce
What to Serve with Chili Dogs:
French Fries or Air Fryer Tater Tots are classic sides for chili dogs. Homemade Mac and Cheese, Creamy Coleslaw or Easy Potato Salad are also favorites with the whole family.
Make a batch of the best hot dog chili for an American classic chili dog. It’s a very filling and budget friendly meal that is perfect for feeding a crowd.
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Best Chili Dogs Recipe
Ingredients
For the Hot Dog Chili:
- 4 slices bacon
- 2 cups diced onion
- 2 cups diced bell peppers
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1 pound ground chuck or lean ground beef
- 6 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons green chile powder
- 2 tablespoons granulated garlic
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 29 ounces tomato sauce
- 28 ounces petite diced tomatoes
- 1/8 teaspoon ground chili flakes
For the Chili Dogs
- 16 all beef hot dogs
- 16 hot dog buns or hoagie buns
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- condiments for serving:
- ketchup
- mustard
- jalapeños
- sweet pickle relish
- cucumber onion salad
- diced onions
Instructions
- Slice bacon into bite size pieces and cook in a dutch oven or large pan over medium heat until crispy. Remove to a paper towel lined plate and set aside.
- Add onions, bell peppers and carrots to the pan with bacon drippings, stirring often. Cook until vegetables are softened, about 10 minutes.
- Add ground chuck, breaking up as it cooks, until browned.
- Mix brown sugar, green chili powder, garlic, salt, chili powder and cumin in a bowl and add to ground beef and vegetables.
- Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and cooked bacon, stirring to combine. Continue to cook for about 20 minutes, stirring often. Lower to simmer and keep warm until serving.
- Prepare grill to 350° fire with hickory or pecan for smoke flavor.
- Cook hot dogs over indirect heat for about 8 -10 minutes.
- Remove hot dogs from grill.
- Alternately, hot dogs can be cooked in a large skillet with about a cup of water over medium-high heat. Once hot dogs are heated through, drain the water and return hot dogs to the burner, cook 1- 2 minutes until hot dogs are seared on the outside.
- Spoon chili into buns and top with hot dogs.
- Add more chili and top with cheese. Place on a baking sheet.
- Return chili dogs to the grill for a few minutes or under oven broiler until cheese is melted and buns are lightly toasted.
- Top with favorite toppings and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
