These Chili Cheese Dogs are classic homemade comfort food! Perfect for a back yard BBQ or tailgate, this rich, savory chili recipe is the star of the show. Combined with juicy grilled hot dogs, red onions and melted cheddar cheese, this is a bite you won't soon tire of!
I'm not going to lie, for many years I would not have considered myself a fan of chili dogs. Most of the time when we had them growing up the chili was straight from the can. Heated up to luke warm temps, it was slopped on your hot dog with some shredded cheese right out of the bag. This is not that kind of chili dog.
This beef chili is top quality. It's great on a chili dog, served over cornbread or eaten straight out of the pot with a spoon. Made in the Texas style (no beans) with just the right amount of seasoning, you will never go back to the canned stuff.
Top these dogs with freshly shredded cheddar cheese, diced red onions and a few pickles and you will be in hot dog heaven. Enjoy!
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Equipment
For this recipe you will need:
- Cutting board and sharp knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Pot
- Grill or grilling pan
- Meat chopper (optional): I like chopping the ground beef really finely for this recipe to give the chili a smoother consistency. This Meat Chopper from Amazon is one of my favorite kitchen tools. But you could also just use a wooden spoon.
Ingredients
- Hot dogs: You can go for traditional hot dogs, though I recommend choosing a good quality dog. Or smoked sausages are delicious as well!
- Hot dog buns: I highly recommend using a brioche bun. They hold up well with the chili and cheese and have good flavor.
- Cheese: I like using a classic sharp cheddar but you can use whatever you prefer. I do recommend that you shred the cheese yourself rather than buying the kind in the bag. In my opinion freshly grated cheese has much better flavor and texture.
- Red onions (optional): You could also use sliced green onions.
- Pickles (optional): I like the kick of vinegar adding pickled to your chili dog has.
- Ground beef: I tend to go for an 85/15 meat to fat ratio. The fat give the meat extra flavor, but you don't want too much that it becomes greasy.
- Garlic and onion
- Crushed tomatoes
- Tomato paste
- Beef broth
- Spices: Chili powder, paprika, cumin, oregano, cinnamon, onion powder
- Yellow mustard
- Salt & pepper
Time needed: 1 hour
How to make the best chili cheese dogs.
- Make the chili.
Drizzle a little olive oil into the pan and cook the ground beef over medium high heat for a few minutes. Add onions and garlic and cook until softened. Then add spices and tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes. Pour in broth, crushed tomatoes and yellow mustard and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper and simmer for at least 30 minutes up to 2-3 hours, adding more broth if needed.
- Grill the hot dogs and toast the buns.
Grill hot dogs on a preheated grill at medium heat for 7-10 minutes until cooked through.
Add the buns during the last 30 seconds to a minute and toast. - Assemble your chili dogs!
Place the hot dog in a bun with a drizzle of yellow mustard. Top with chili then add shredded cheese, diced onions and pickles. Enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
This is entirely up to you! I know that some people like to assemble the chili cheese dogs and then bake them in the oven to get the cheese really melty. It's delicious and you can absolutely do this.
Personally I find that if you pre-assemble too many dogs at once then they can get quite soggy, but the really melty cheese might be worth it to you.
Another popular method of making chili cheese dogs is to cook the chili down and then throw half of it in the blender. I believe is more of northern/mid western tradition and you can absolutely do it if like a more sauce-like consistency to your chili.
You can use ground turkey as a substitute for beef in this recipe.
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Made this Chili Cheese Dog recipe? Let me know what you think in the comments!
Recipe
Chili Cheese Dogs
Equipment
- Cutting board and knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Pot
- Grill or grill pan
- Meat chopper optional
Ingredients
For the Beef Chili
- 1 lb ground beef 85/15
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- pinch of cinnamon
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 14 oz canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- salt & pepper
To Assemble the Chili Dogs
- 12 hot dogs
- 12 hot dog buns
- shredded cheese I recommend cheddar
- diced red onions optional
- yellow mustard optional
- dill pickle slices optional
Instructions
Make the beef chili
- Preheat a pot over medium high heat. Drizzle in a little olive oil then add in ground beef. Use a meat chopper or wooden spoon to chop the meat into fine pieces. Cook for 2-3 minutes then add in onion and garlic. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook until tender, 3-4 minutes. Add in chili powder, paprika, cumin, oregano, onion powder and a pinch of cinnamon. Then add in tomato paste. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Stream in beef broth, crushed tomatoes and yellow mustard. Stir and bring to a simmer. Simmer for at least 30 minutes up to 2 hours (adding additional beef broth if it gets too dry). Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Remove from the heat and serve on chili dogs.
To assemble the chili cheese dogs
- Preheat the grill on medium heat. Once hot, add hot dogs and grill for 7-10 minutes until cooked through. During the last 30 seconds to 1 minute place buns split side down on the grill to toast. Remove the hot dogs and buns from the grill and assemble the chili dogs. Spread some yellow mustard on the bun then add a hot dog. Spoon on homemade chili and top with shredded cheese, diced onions and pickle slices if desired. Serve and enjoy!
Carline
I made this Chili Cheese Dogs recipe over the weekend, and my family loved it. So easy to make and delicious. Thank you!
Aida
These chili cheese dogs look like the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Messy in the best possible way! I love how hearty and comforting they are, especially for summer cookouts or game days.
Andrew
Thes are the best chili cheese dogs I've ever made. TEN stars.
jamjarkitchen
So glad you liked them!
Andrea
This is the best! The only ting I changed was leaving off the onions. The kids loved this as much as we did.
Tess
Very tasty hot dogs - especially liked the homemade chili.