Julie Clark
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Hot Dog Chili Sauce
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This famous Hot Dog Chili Sauce is meaty, slightly sweet and full of flavor. Great on hot dogs, fries and as a chili base! Simmer it in the slow cooker to deepen the chili flavor.
Do you love hot dogs or oven baked brats? One thing I cannot resist is a hot dog cooked over the fire. But really, anytime there is a hot dog loaded with hot dog chili sauce and cheese, all bets are off.
Set aside the ketchup, mustard and pickle relish this summer and try something new on your hot dogs!
What makes our hot dog chili sauce recipe so famous?
There is a little hot dog shop near my hometown in Northeast Ohio that serves an amazing chili dog. Unfortunately, since we’re not in the area anymore, I don’t get to go there much. But thankfully, a friend gave me this copycat recipe for their famous chili sauce back when I was in high school, over 30 years ago!
I’ve compared the “real thing” to this copycat recipe in a side-by-side comparison, and this hot dog chili sauce recipe is about as close as it gets.
If you love coney dog sauce, then give this easy hot dog chili a try. And there’s no beans in this hot dog sauce.
Ingredients Needed
One thing to note is that there is a bottle of sauce called “chili sauce” you can buy in the store. This is not the same thing. That chili sauce we use in my Grandma’s meatball recipe, but in this recipe you’re combining ingredients to make a meaty sauce called hot dog chili sauce.
You’ll need:
- Ground beef. Use 80% lean ground beef.
- Onions, garlic, salt and pepper, for flavoring.
- Flour. This flour thickens the sauce. Use more or less as you’d like.
- Tomato sauce and water. This is the base of the chili sauce recipe.
- Chili powder. Yes. This recipe calls for ½ cup chili powder. It’s not a typo! Add less if you’d like but give it a try sometime with the whole ½ cup! You can also make your own chili powder at home.
- Pimentos. Pimentos can sometimes be hard to find in the grocery store but look near the olives and pickles.
- Sugar. I love that this sauce is slightly sweet. Sweet and spicy, just like our award winning chili!
Simmer in the Slow Cooker
In the summer, I like to let my hot dog chili recipe simmer all day in the slow cooker instead of the stovetop. It completely fills my 6-quart slow cooker.
How to Serve Hot Dog Chili Sauce
- Not only does this hot dog chili sauce make an average hot dog like a gourmet chili cheese dog, but spoon it over some french fries or a baked potato and you’ve got chili cheese fries that rival the best.
- Another idea? Eat it on top of macaroni and cheese. This makes an amazingly wonderful combination.
- And lastly, a chili cheese hot dog pizza! One of my favorite ways to eat this sauce.
Can you freeze hot dog chili sauce?
This makes a large batch of homemade hot dog chili sauce. Make half a recipe if you prefer, but I like to make a large batch once and have it on hand in the freezer for the summer.
Any leftovers freeze well. Just portion it out in smaller containers, freeze, and you’re ready for game day, Friday, or whenever that craving hits.
Hot Dog Chili Sauce
This famous Hot Dog Chili Sauce is meaty, slightly sweet and full of flavor. Great on hot dogs, fries and as a chili base! Simmer it in the slow cooker to deepen the chili flavor.
Servings 30
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 pounds ground beef
- 4 small onions chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (spooned into the cup and leveled)
- 38 ounces tomato sauce equals 2 15-oz cans and 1 8-oz can
- 30 ounces water
- 4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup chili powder
- 1/2 cup chopped pimentos
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar to taste
Instructions
- In a large stockpot (at least 6 quarts) over medium-high heat, brown hamburger, onions and garlic together, until the meat is totally cooked. Drain off any fat. 4 pounds ground beef, 4 small onions, ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Stir in the flour to ground beef and mix well. 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- Add the remaining ingredients to the stockpot. Mix well and simmer, uncovered, for about 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Cooking this long breaks down the ground beef and gives it a nice texture. 38 ounces tomato sauce, 30 ounces water, 4 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoon black pepper, ½ cup chili powder, ½ cup chopped pimentos, ¾ cup granulated sugar
- Place a hot dog in a bun and top with chili sauce, shredded cheddar cheese and diced onions. Serve over french fries, too.
Notes
- Add less flour if you like your chili sauce a bit more runny. Add more or less sugar, depending on how sweet you like it!
- This makes a large pot full of chili sauce. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. You can also store the sauce in the freezer.
- Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks. The calories shown are based on the recipe making 30 servings, with 1 serving being 1/30 of the sauce. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. **
Nutrition
Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 541mg | Potassium: 308mg | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 240IU | Vitamin C: 5.9mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1.9mg
This looks amazing!! I’m looking for a hot dog chili recipe to serve at a kids party — I think I’ll try this!! Thank you for posting!!
Thank you so much for posting this recipe. Not only do I have one great Chili Dog recipe, but I also use it for my chili base now!! Everyone loved this chili dog sauce!!
I believe they use the same recipe. I haven’t been to the Warren location for sometime since the Girard location is much closer. Actually went just a couple weeks ago, the kids love the chili cheese fries.
This looks yummy can’t wait to try it. Reminds me of The HotDog Shoppe and/or JibJab HotDog Shoppe. Pinned!
Shared on Twitter https://twitter.com/kstar0330_/status/779310269847642112
I shared on FB!!
https://www.facebook.com/paige.durkinlewandowski/posts/1172577232800992
Mmm
This sounds really good and I am going to make it. By the way, do you give out your recipe for Chili Powder?
I would love to have it too, if that is something you can do.
Thank you so much
Ellen
Could this be canned in a pressure canner…. have done a recipe similar (sloppy joes). Wasnt sure if anyone had tried. Freezer space is precious in our house and almost non existent…
This looks delicious! My husband LOVES chili dogs, so this will be a recipe to try. One question, should your recipe read “8 oz. can tomato PASTE” instead of sauce? Just checking. Thanks
How many hot dogs will this quantity serve?
Great recipe, followed exactly and turned out great. Have a freezer full for future use. Don’t pass this recipe up.
Looks like a “Yocco Hot Dog” from my area of PA. Great chili sauce. Has been around for over 60 years! Thanks for sharing.
This chili sauce looks great!
Stopping by from What’s Cooking Love. Pinned to my food board. Have a great day!
Hot Dogs are simply wonderful. Thanks. Fantastic post. Clickfoodsnearme
Our favorite too even though we live close enough to get the real thing! It’s just nice to freeze it in small containers and pull it out when you want. We definitely use less flour in ours – in fact, I think last time we left it out completely!