Hot Dog Chili Sauce

Today I’m bringing you our recipe for hot dog chili sauce. The term “sauce” is used loosely here because we drain the liquid out when we top our dog with it. It’s a highly seasoned loose meat sauce that takes dogs to a whole new level – and it is perfect to add to your summertime arsenal. This hot dog chili sauce recipe will transform your hot dog experience.

The great thing is that this recipe makes a lot so I usually make it once and freeze it in family sized portions to reheat later. One cooking session – lots of delicious hot dog meals with all the trimmings. Can’t beat that with a stick!

If you are new to make this hot dog easy sauce, no worries I walk you through hit. Great for birthday parties, summer cookouts and so much more. Pile on your favorite toppings like chopped onions, pickle relish, cheese, and more.

ingredients for Hot Dog Chili Sauce

Ingredients

  • ground beef
  • sal
  • chili powder
  • black pepper

How to Make

You’ll also need some water but most of us are tremendously blessed in that we have it just flowing out of the faucets.

ground meat in water in a pot

Place all of your beef in a large pot and add enough water to cover.

seasoning crumbled ground beef in water

Use your hands and smoosh all of the beef until it is completely spread out in the water like this.

I know this may seem gross to some of you but trust me, there are far worse things to have to do. We will not go into those now, but know that if examples did not immediately come to your mind, life will offer them up in due time and you’ll find yourself looking back on smooshing ground beef in water as one of the lesser happenings on the scale of grossness. Trust me.

Hot Dog Chili Sauce

Add all of your seasonings. 

stirring meat in water

Stir well and put over medium high heat. Bring to a boil.

Once it comes to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about an hour.

removing oil from the meat in water

Ladle the grease off of the top of the chili and discard. 

spoon with hot dog sauce on it

Use a slotted spoon to spoon it out and put it on top of your hot dogs. 

Hot Dog Chili dog on plate with chips and pickles

Some might look at this and say “But that doesn’t make sense. You’ve taken a meat hot dog and added another meat to it.” To them I would say “Yes I have, and your appreciation is noted.” 🙂

Recipe FAQs

Can I use ground turkey in replace of ground beef?

You are more than welcome to swap the ground beef for a ground turkey if you would like. You will follow the same ingredients as the recipe. It will just give the hot dogs a leaner take to them.

How to freeze leftover meat sauce for hot dogs?

Freezing the meat is super easy to do. Just take what you don’t eat and place in a freezer bag, or even a sealable freezer container. You can freeze the meat mixture for 3-4 months. Then when you are ready to reheat, simply thaw in the fridge overnight. Then reheat on the stove, microwave, or even a slow cooker.

How to make the sauce spicy?

If you want to spice up the sauce you can add some hot sauce in the mixture, or cayenne pepper. Either method will help amplify the heat. You can add in the sauce or the pepper as you are cooking the meat so it has time to soak into the meat and really infuse the flavor.

hot dog chili

Hot Dog Chili Recipe

Transform a regular hot dog with this easy, flavorful, and low-carb hot dog chili recipe.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: hotdog
Servings: 12
Calories: 297kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds ground beef
  • 4-6 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon salt more or less to taste
  • 1 tablespoon pepper more or less to taste
  • water enough to cover your ground beef

Instructions

  • Place enough water in a pot to cover your beef. Take handfuls of the beef and submerge in the water, smooshing it up with your hands. Add seasonings and stir.
    3 pounds ground beef, 4-6 tablespoons chili powder, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 tablespoon pepper, water
  • Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and boil gently for about an hour. Ladle off grease from the top. Remove chili with a slotted spoon to put on hot dogs.
  • Freeze leftovers for your next cookout!

Video

Notes

I first published this recipe back in 2009 but am republishing it with updated photos and a printer-friendly format. Hope you enjoy it!

Nutrition

Calories: 297kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Sodium: 701mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g
Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!

Tell me your favorite hot dog brand in the comments! You might also enjoy this recipe! Loose Meat Sandwiches

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129 Comments

  1. Favorite hot dogs…..#1 Sabretts. The dogs of NYC pushcart venders & the Yankees, Mets & Red Sox.
    #2 Nathen’s
    #3 Boar’s Head
    #4 Ball Park -All Beef
    #5 If the top 4 are sold out, Hebrew National but way to salty, but ok.

    * Publix is the only store here in the South that I can find Sabretts brand.

      1. When watching any food show from NYC, pay close attention to the background pushcart umbrella, it will be a Sabrett logo more than not. Fun comments today, keep up the great work.

      2. Nathan’s r much better then sabretts! What type of hotdog rolls do people prefer for their hotdogs? So far, Pepperidge farm seems to be my go to! I’m on a hotdog kick too!

  2. I prefer Nathan’s but hubby likes Ball Park. Either one would be fabulous swimming in this sauce.

    1. Local butcher shop makes hot dogs and bologna to fight over. Otherwise Mapleleaf Top Dogs are good. For the meat sauce after getting it to your stage, I would drain the whole mess, portion it into freezer bags and use for base. To make chili sauce a bag would go into my big skillet with, some onion and garlic powder, a bit more chili powder and depending on my mood cumin, parsley, oregano and or tomato sauce, to make a thick sauce, and even a can of chilis or black beans (drain the beans and rinse well

  3. Hey, girl! Happy new year, from Ina, in beautiful southern Illinois! I wanted to throw you a suggestion (if you & your hubby are still doing low carb!) “Nathans” brand of hot dogs have a measly 1 – yep one! carb per weiner! Just passing this into you! Blessings to y’all! xo…

  4. I PERSONALLY USE ZEIGLER’S NO POULTRY ADDED HOTDOGS! THEY ARE WONDERFUL! CHRISTY, I DON’T LIKE HAMBURGER IN CHUBS LIKE THAT SO I AM GOING TO USE FRESH GROUND BEEF! CAN’T WAIT TO TRY RECIPE! THANK YOU! HAPPY NEW YEAR CHRISTY!

  5. This looks really good , oh and by the way Christie , i like that Mexene chili power also.Anyway, my question is can u cook hamburger meat in a crock-pot? I get tired of chicken , roast and some other things i fix in it , but haven’t tryed hamburger meat yet.

  6. I agree with the 3 brands of dogs you mentioned–we like all beef nowadays. My mom’s hot dog chili is “famous” and hers is very similar to yours only she uses ketchup and probably less water than you do. You might want to try that!

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