The Best Hot Dog Sauce Recipe (Homemade Chili Sauce)

This hot dog sauce recipe makes the most delicious savory beef topping for hot dogs. It’s perfect for chili cheese dogs or the classic Coney Island dog!

This great recipe is a simple chili sauce that is perfect for adding to your next hot dog bar. Also known as “coney sauce”, this recipe is even better than the real thing!

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This is our take on the iconic chili topping for the classic Coney Island hot dog. Perfectly rich and savory, this meat sauce is great for adding to just about anything!

This is our favorite way to create the best hot dog chili recipe! This easy recipe is a summer time staple in our house – I like to cook up a big batch to use throughout the week or take on a weekend camping trip.

Hot Dog Sauce Details

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Start with a few of my favorite supplies for creating in the kitchen!

Supplies

• Medium stock pot – this white enamel cast iron dutch oven is my favorite!
• Wooden spoon
• Can opener
• Cutting board
• Henkel knife

Ingredients

Here are a few of the basic grocery store staples that you will need to get started with this easy recipe.

• Lean ground beef – Costco has the best deal on ground beef, I buy a large pack at least once a month.
• Onion, finely diced
• Can of tomato sauce – we like to use Hunts brand.
• Brown sugar
• Chili powder

Instructions

1. In the stock pot, brown ground beef on medium heat.

2. Break up the beef so that it forms very small pieces of meat.

Tip: a potato masher may be used to help with this!

3. Add the diced onion and cook over medium-high heat until the onion turns translucent.

4. Add the remaining ingredients to the pot, stir to combine and continue to cook on low heat for at least 30 minutes.

5. Serve the sauce on hot dogs and top with cheese.

This recipe makes enough sauce for at least a dozen hot dogs. Be sure to pair it with this Nacho Cheese Sauce for a truly epic dog! We love to serve hot dogs with french fries or potato salad all summer long.

Topping Options

While this makes the most delicious topping for hot dogs, here are a few more ideas!

• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Pickle relish
• Hot mustard
• Diced white onion
• Nacho cheese dip
• BBQ sauce

This hot dog sauce is amazing when paired with the best nacho cheese sauce poured overtop! Or try one of these hot dog varieties…

Must Try Hot Dog Varieties:

• Chili cheese dogs
• Coney Island hot dogs
• Chicago style hot dogs
• New York hot dogs
• Smoked dogs
• Mexican hot dogs
• Mini hot dog appetizers
• Bacon wrapped hot dogs

How Long Do You Cook Hot Dogs?

• Hot dogs may be cooked in a slow cooker on high for 2 hours or low for 3-4 hours.
• When boiling hot dogs cook them for 4-6 minutes. Learn how to boil hot dogs in this post.
• Hot dogs can be cooked on the BBQ grill for 7-10 minutes.
• Smoked hot dogs take 60 minutes to cook when smoked at 225 degrees F.
• Baked hot dogs in the oven take about 15 minutes at 350 degrees F. Learn how to bake hot dogs in this post.

I like to make a big batch of this hot dog chili sauce recipe. Leftover chili may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

We use leftovers on sloppy joes, nacho chips and tacos! The kids love to make sloppy joes using hot dog buns – hot dog not required.

I am always experimenting in the kitchen! Change up this recipe by adding tomato paste, worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, ground pork sausage, dry mustard or garlic powder. Have fun with it!

Be sure to check out these 20+ MUST TRY Hot Dog Recipes too!

If you love this easy hot dog sauce recipe, please give it a five star review and help me share it on Facebook or Pinterest.

Recipe

Hot Dog Sauce Recipe

This hot dog sauce recipe makes the most delicious savory beef topping for hot dogs. It's perfect for chili cheese dogs or the classic Coney Island dog!

4.44 from 41 votes

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Author: Heather Painchaud

Servings: 12 servings

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Ingredients

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• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 medium onion finely diced
• 28 oz can of tomato sauce
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tsp of chili powder
• 1/2 tsp salt and black pepper

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Instructions

• In a medium stock pot, brown ground beef on medium heat.
• Break up the beef so that it forms very small pieces of meat.
• Add the diced onion and cook over medium-high heat until the onion turns translucent.
• Add the remaining ingredients to the pot, stir to combine and continue to cook on low heat for at least 30 minutes.
• Serve the sauce on hot dogs and top with cheese.

Video

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Hello, I’m Heather!

I'm an active mom of twin boys who is always looking for opportunities to inspire creativity through fun crafts, do-it-yourself projects and delicious recipes. This blog has been an integral part of supporting my little family and I am so grateful to have you become a part of our journey! Let's create together... Read more...