Jeff's Classic Hot Dog Chili

Craving chili dogs? This simple, homemade hot dog chili is far superior to anything from a can.

How to Prepare Hot Dog Chili

The full ingredient list and step-by-step instructions are below, but here's a quick overview of the essentials:

Hot Dog Chili vs. Traditional Chili

Hot dog chili is typically a bit sweeter than traditional chili, which you’d normally eat by the bowl. It’s also often made with ketchup.

Ingredients for Hot Dog Chili

Here’s a list of affordable ingredients you'll need to make this homemade hot dog chili recipe (you might already have most of them in your kitchen):

• Beef: This hot dog chili recipe starts with one pound of ground beef. 
• Water: Cook the ground beef with ⅓ cup of water. 
• Tomato products: You’ll need tomato sauce and ketchup for the best flavor. 
• Seasonings: The hot dog chili is seasoned with chili powder, salt, black pepper, and onion powder. 
• Worcestershire sauce: A dash of Worcestershire sauce takes the flavor up a notch. 
• Sugar: A pinch of sugar lends subtle sweetness. 

Tip from orion3: Ground turkey can be swapped for ground beef. Just be sure to add a bit of oil to the pan before cooking.

How to Prepare Homemade Hot Dog Chili

Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect while making this delicious hot dog chili:

1. Cook the ground beef in water.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.
3. Simmer until the beef is fully cooked and the chili thickens.

How to Prepare Hot Dogs

Now that your homemade hot dog chili is ready, all that’s left is to cook the hot dog! Check out our How to Cook Hot Dogs 8 Different Ways guide to learn various methods, including grilling, boiling, pan-frying, microwaving, baking, slow cooking, air frying, and using the Instant Pot.

How to Store Hot Dog Chili

Keep any leftover hot dog chili in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat it in the microwave, on the stove, or in a slow cooker.

Can Hot Dog Chili Be Frozen?

Absolutely! You can freeze hot dog chili for up to three months. To reheat, thaw it overnight in the fridge and warm it up thoroughly.

Dinogo Community Tips and Feedback

One Dinogo community member shared, 'This recipe took me back to enjoying hot dogs with chili at the ballpark when I was a kid. Now, I can't enjoy a hot dog without making this simple and delicious chili to top it off. My friends all rave about it and love it!'

'I’ve been making this for years,' says Chris Hopkins. 'If you like your chili on the sweeter side (like I do), this recipe is for you. I add half a teaspoon of garlic salt, and it's always perfect on a dog with a cold beer!'

'The best hot dog chili I’ve ever tasted. Period,' raves macinnis_family. 'The only tweak I made was adding some chopped onion. This will be my go-to chili recipe from now on.'

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef

• ⅓ cup water

• 5 ounces tomato sauce

• ½ cup ketchup

• 2 ½ teaspoons chili powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

• ½ teaspoon white sugar, or to taste

• ½ teaspoon onion powder

• 1 dash Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

Gather all your ingredients before you begin.

Add ground beef and water to a large saucepan. Use a potato masher to break the beef into smaller pieces.

Add tomato sauce, ketchup, chili powder, salt, black pepper, sugar, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce to the pan and stir well.

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the beef is fully cooked and the chili thickens, approximately 20 minutes.

Serve the chili over hot dogs and enjoy the delicious meal!

Nutritional Information (per serving)