Hot Dog Chili
This Southern Style Hot Dog Chili is made with ground beef, garlic, beef broth, tomato sauce and seasonings (no beans!) So much flavor!
SOUTHERN STYLE HOT DOG CHILI RECIPE
For me, the key is to a great homemade Hot Dog Chili recipe is that it won’t overtake the taste of the hot dog (cause I wanna taste that too). Plus, there are so many topping options for everybody to choose from when assembling their own Chili Dog, it makes it super easy to customize exactly how you like it. Serving Hot Dog Chili is a great idea at potlucks, parties, get togethers, backyard BBQ’s or just because. Just keep it on the warm setting in the slow cooker and let everyone serve themselves!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’S)
Hot dog chili is much thicker than soup chili. It also usually doesn’t contain beans. The meat in hot dog chili is also very finely ground whereas in soup chili, it is chunkier. Also, hot dog chili is usually made with tomato paste rather than tomatoes. Now obviously, this can vary by region and people’s personal preferences.
It’s made of beef, onion, garlic, and a bunch of herbs and spices. Again, this can vary by region but this is how we do it.
This chili wonderful served on tater tots and french fries. Throw some melted cheddar cheese on top and it’s over-the-top delicious. I also really love this chili on baked potatoes! Note: if you want the full Appalachian chili dog experience, you must add some Cole Slaw and a little Chow Chow on top of the chili!
I don’t recommend it. It only takes a few minutes to make on the stovetop, so what’s the point in dragging out the slow cooker. Besides, either way you make it, you’ll have to brown the beef first, so adding the slow cooker step just means more dishes. However, you can certainly add it to the slow cooker to keep warm if serving for guests.
Yup. If you like spicy Hot Dog Chili, feel free to add some diced jalapenos or diced green chiles to the mix.
Sure, if you think this Hot Dog Chili is a little too thick for you, you can add a bit more water, chicken broth, or beef broth to thin it out. Just add a little at a time until you get it to your desired thinness.
Sure. Make your chili for the hot dogs and keep it warm in a slow cooker. When ready to serve, you can do so from there. Or make it, then pop it in a covered container in the refrigerator and re-heat when ready.
This acts a thickener. You can leave it out if you want a thinner chili.
Put it in a covered container in the refrigerator and it will keep up to 5 days. You can also freeze leftover chili. Put it in a freezer-safe ziploc bag. Remove as much air as possible. Chili will keep in the freezer up to 3 months.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
HOW TO MAKE HOT DOG CHILI
Put a couple tablespoons of vegetable oil in medium sauce pan. On medium-high heat, saute onion until translucent, then add garlic.
Stir for about a minute, then add ground beef. As beef begins to brown, use a potato masher to grind up the beef into small bits. Once brown, add in the rest of the ingredients (if your beef produced a lot of grease, you may want to strain some of that out first before adding the rest of the ingredients.)
Give it all a good stir to combine then reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes. Do a taste test at this point to see if it has enough salt. If you want, you can transfer the chili over to a Crock Pot and put it on the keep warm setting.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
- Crock Pot Chili Cheese Dogs
- Quick Sauerkraut
- Grilled Hot Dog and Potato Packets
- Hot Dog Corn Casserole
- The Best Crock Pot Chili
- Copycat Wendy’s Chili
- 100 Ground Beef Recipes
Originally published: March 2011
Updated photos and Republished: March 2024
Homemade Hot Dog Chili
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- ½ onion, finely chopped
- 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 ½ Tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth (or water)
- 3 Tablespoons corn meal
- ½ Tablespoon kosher salt (or to taste)
Instructions
- Put 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil in medium sauce pan.
- On medium-high heat, saute 1/2 onion, finely chopped, then add 1-2 cloves garlic, minced.
- Stir for about a minute, then add 1 pound lean ground beef.
- As beef begins to brown, use a potato masher to grind up the beef into small bits. If your beef produces a lot of grease, be sure to strain it before proceeding to the next step.
- Once brown, add in 2 1/2 Tablespoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 3 Tablespoons tomato paste, 1 cup beef broth, 3 Tablespoons corn meal, and 1/2 Tablespoon kosher salt.
- Give it all a good stir to combine then reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes.
- Do a taste test at this point to see if it has enough salt.
Video
Notes
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Hi There: I was raised in Mi. Battle Creek to be exact, now living in Ca. In Mi. we had a couple little places that sold chile dogs, I believe they were Greek. The hot dogs were to die for. I sure miss them.
I live in NW Indiana about 3 miles from Lake Michigan. Sounds like your M-I-L worked at an A&W drive in. Quite a few responders live in NW Indiana. I've been looking for a recipe for chili dog sauce when I realized how much$$$ that little can cost. I'll have to give your recipe a try. Hello to your husband from the "Region".
Vicky
I also grew up in northern Indiana and dearly loved going to Hank's A&W Root Beer Stand for ice cold A&W root beer and a "Spanish" hot dog (which was his version of chili). My mouth is watering just thinking about those hot dogs. Oh my! I miss our midwestern food, too. Our local WalMart here in western North Carolina sells the split hot dog buns like you use. I am going to have to try this recipe real soon. We don't only fix hot dogs in the summer. In the winter, I do them in the broiler of my oven. Mmmmmmmmm!
My husband and I grew up in NW Indiana and I have been looking for years for a hot dog chili recipe like we used to get "back home". Can't wait to try this! So glad I found your site. I think I'm in love!
Can't wait to try this! My sister lives in Southwestern VA too (Dickenson County – and we love our dogs with chili and occasionally slaw as well! Originally from the extreme mountain part of KY and now living in Central KY:)
I made this recipe yesterday as well, & I loved it! we ate it on hotdogs & Frito pies too! Definitely a keeper! Thank you for your great recipe!
-Ashley
I made this yesterday in the slowcooker. We really enjoyed our chili dogs. No more canned chili!
We moved to KY about 5 years ago and whenever we make it back home to Chicago we ALWAYS make a pit stop at Portillo's!!! Can't wait to try this! Oh how I miss my midwestern fast food! :,( lol
Just made this except I didn't have cornmeal and I use chipotle chili powder for 1/2 TBSP of the chili powder, rest regular chili powder. YUM, YUM and YUM again!! A keeper of a recipe!
These look so good!!! I love me a good chili dog. I grew up in southern West Virginia and here we would put slaw on top of that chili. Good stuff.
I've never heard of the cornmeal in the chili but will definitely be trying that one soon.
I was born and raised in Southwest Virginia, who transplanted to the big city of Knoxville Tn. When I want good hot dog chili, I'll drive three hours to get my chili! Love your blog
Your Southwest Virginia Sister!
Hi Emily! Thank you so much! I did adjust the amount in the recipe. I had originally had (to taste) next to the salt amount. That amount of salt works for us but I realize saltiness is in the mouth of the beholder..lol. Glad you liked it though! Next time try adding the cornmeal. It really adds a little something special to this chili! 🙂
I made this today without the cornmeal and it was great, except, 1 T kosher salt was way too much. I had to do some damage control with a big can of diced tomatoes to tone down the saltiness. Still, a keeper! Thanks for sharing.
Made this today, it was sooo good! I didn't add the corn meal, but it was great regardless! Thanks for another awesome recipe.
Brandie – I'm WAY behind on my reading but I saved this one because we're going to have a shredding party at the office and I want to fix chili dogs… I've tried a couple of recipes that I wasn't totally happy with. since I've loved everything else you've made, I'm figuring this'll be a homerun! Happy 4th 😉 Kate
Visiting through Tidy Mom's I'm Lovin it Friday. Great recipe, nice and simple. We always use any leftover chili for chili dogs. Gotta have frech chopped onion and cheese on top though. I'll have to give this quick and easy chili a try in between the leftover pots.
Thanks.
Hooray!! So glad it was a hit with your family!!
I made this yesterday, exactly as shown in your recipe, and my house smelled good for the rest of the day. We are having it tonight for dinner, with hot dogs of course.
I'm laughing out loud because my first reaction was, "What's wrong with the way your husband says root beer?" Being from the Chicago area, I think he says it perfectly. Then, I saw your package of Hebrew National dogs and I knew you were a hot dog aficionado too. It's always nice when you know that's what's in there is not very, very gross.
Great recipe and fun post. 🙂
I tried making a dog sauce a few years ago, it did not turn out well at all! But with BBQ season coming up, I want to try again. Your sauce looks good and I like the touch of cornmeal to take up the slack, so it stays on the dog. thanks.
Hello.You have a great blog..the recipe are all yummy! This chili is such a treat for my kids.Thanks.. I am your newest follower. I hope you could come and visit my blog: http://www.cookiedropletsetcbymarelie.com
That looks delicious 🙂
This looks really good! I love chili sauce on hot dogs or fries…I can't wait to try this 🙂
My husband is with yours – he loves hotdogs – we use Hebrew nat'l too
I live in New England those buns are the best – I grill them before putting hotdog in them – butter both sides and grill in pan until golden brown
Mmm-mm! This looks really good. When I saw your link on a carnival (I forget which one), I saw that you said something about "tots." I was afraid you were going to say this was a good meal for kids…because I think it looks like a great meal for ME! 🙂