Deliciously Easy Chili Dog Recipe
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Tell me, what is better than sinking your teeth into a chili dog?! If you’re craving a chili dog that’s a breeze to make and even better to eat, you’re in the right place. Whether you want a quick dinner, a crowd-pleaser, or just a fun bite with family, I’ll show you how to make the most simple, satisfying, and delicious chili dog. Let’s do this!
Complete the meal with a creamy cucumber salad and some corn on the cob!
Everyone loves a chili cheese dog
A chili dog is the best hot dog recipe around! It's made with a simple, bean-free chili that gets piled high on top of a hot dog. Then we add some cheddar cheese which melts on the chili then a sprinkle of green onions finishes off this whole delicious mess.
WARNING: make sure to have a few napkins at hand; you'll need them!
And if you have some leftover chili in your fridge (maybe from one of our many chili recipes), you can use that and sit down to a chili dog feast in mere minutes.
Chili cheese dog recipe ingredients
Made from all familiar ingredients, these chili dogs are delicious and simple to whip up. Gather these ingredients:
- For the chili: Lean ground beef, onion, garlic, honey, chili powder, and diced tomatoes come together to make our chili.
- Hot dogs or smokies: An essential part of your chili dogs!
- Hot dog buns: I love getting the brioche ones.
- Toppings: Cheddar cheese and green onions top it off! You can always add your favorites in, like mustard or mayo.
How to make chili dogs
This recipe is deliciously uncomplicated. If you're using leftover chili, you can skip right past the first step and move on to cooking the dogs.
- Make the chili. After browning the ground beef and sauteing the onion and garlic, add a can of diced tomatoes and season it with chili powder, honey, salt, and pepper. While the chili recipe is very basic, it's richly flavored and perfect on top of hot dogs.
- Grill the hot dogs over a fire (always the best!), on your BBQ, or even in a pan on your stove.
- Warm the bun. Spread a little butter on the inside of the bun and place it face down on your grill or in a pan for a minute to toast.
- Assemble your dog. You know how this goes … hot dog in a bun and chili, mustard, cheese, onions, anything else you like on top.
What to serve with chili dogs
Chili dogs are a fun and easy lunch or dinner all by themselves. But some veggies on the side can help round out the meal.
Our favorite chili dog toppings
There is no reason to hold back on the toppings here. These dogs are deliciously messy, so go ahead and overload your bun!
- Make it a chili cheese dog with a generous pile of shredded cheddar cheese.
- Onions – minced red onion, chives, or green onion all work great.
- Crispy bacon.
- Pickled jalapeños or banana peppers.
Chili cheese dog recipe FAQs
What type of buns should I use?
We always use brioche buns when making hot dogs. They're perfectly soft and toast well without becoming dry. They're also the only buns that freeze really well, so we always have some in our freezer.
But if you've got a different kind of hot dog bun on hand, use that! These chili dogs will be delicious on any bun you like.
What type of hot dogs should I use?
We almost always use all-beef hot dogs from our favorite local butcher. But sometimes we go big with a smokie or bavarian sausage. There is no wrong answer about what kind of hot dog to use. If you have a favorite kind, use that. It will be delicious!
How long does hot dog chili last?
The chili will last for three days in your fridge. If you have leftovers and want to eat it by itself, add some beans or corn when you warm it up for a heartier chili.
Can I freeze this hot dog chili recipe?
Yes! Chili freezes excellent. We love these reusable Stasher freezer bags to freeze all sorts of things, including chili. The chili will keep well for 3-4 months in your freezer.
Popular chili recipes
If you're feeling adventurous, try these chili dogs with one of our many chili recipes:
Chili Dogs Recipe
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion (minced)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons chili powder (or more if you like it spicy)
- 14 ounce can diced tomatoes (fire-roasted tomatoes are great in this recipe!)
- 1 teaspoon EACH: sea salt and pepper
- 8 hot dogs or smokies
- 8 brioche hot dog buns (gluten-free buns, if needed)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped green onions (to serve)
- Add the ground beef to a small pot over medium heat. Let it cook until you see some fat in the pan then add the onion and garlic. Continue to cook until the meat is no longer pink and the onion is soft, about 5 minutes.1 lb lean ground beef, 1 medium onion, 4 cloves garlic
- Add the honey and chili powder to the pot and stir well. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes to caramelize the honey then add the diced tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Let the chili simmer on low heat while you prepare the dogs and buns.1 tablespoon honey, 2 tablespoons chili powder, 14 ounce can diced tomatoes, 1 teaspoon EACH: sea salt and pepper
- Cook the hot dogs and warm the buns over a fire, on a grill, or in a pan on your stove. When they're ready, put a hot dog in each bun and top with ¼ cup of the chili, 2 tablespoons of shredded cheddar, and some green onions. (See notes)8 hot dogs or smokies, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, Chopped green onions, 8 brioche hot dog buns
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
For more inspiration, check out all of our hot dog recipes!
Made 1/2 recipe and only used 1 tsp honey – left the rest of the recipe as written- Was DELICIOUS. I will NEVER buy canned “hot dog chili” ever again.
I had a craving for something summery so made these and just cooked the hot dogs in a pan. They were really good! Even the chili had great flavor. Thanks for letting me pretend it was summer!