Hot Dog Chili

4.67 from 15 votes

This sweet, tangy, and zesty hot dog chili sauce is the perfect topping to turn regular hot dogs into the best chili dogs!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword chili dogs, chili for hot dogs, chili hot dog recipe, hot dog chili, hot dog chili recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 40

Total Time 45

Servings people

Calories 72.3kcal

Author Blair Lonergan

1 lb. lean ground beef (I used 90% lean)
1 small onion, finely diced
1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
⅓ cup water
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
¾ cup ketchup
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
For serving: cooked hot dogs, hot dog buns, grated cheddar cheese, diced onion, pickle relish, mustard

Cook ground beef and onion in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until meat is no longer pink and onion is soft (about 7-10 minutes). Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat into very small pieces as it cooks. Add minced garlic and continuing cooking and stirring for 1 more minute. Add water, tomato sauce, ketchup, paprika, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt, and pepper.
Bring to boil; reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 25-30 minutes (or until chili sauce thickens slightly).
Spoon the chili sauce on top of hot dogs and finish with additional toppings of choice.

This chili sauce is designed to be a condiment that you serve on top of hot dogs, and therefore has a sweet flavor that's similar to ketchup. It is not a chili that you eat on its own in a bowl. If you're looking for a more traditional beef chili recipe that's not very sweet, try this or this Crock Pot version.
Use a wooden spoon or a potato masher to break up the beef into very small pieces as it cooks. A classic hot dog sauce doesn't contain any large chunks of meat.