Chili Cheese Dogs

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 4 to 8 servings
  • Total: 40 min
  • Active: 25 min
This top dog is perfect for game day. With minimal ingredients (and time!) you can make a slightly spicy beef chili and keep it warm in a slow cooker on the warm setting. Double the recipe for a hungry crowd and serve with extra toppings, like chopped raw onions, relish or french-fried onions.
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Ingredients

1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1/2 large white onion, chopped

8 ounces ground beef

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 cup canned diced tomatoes

1 1/2 teaspoons tomato paste

8 hot dogs

8 split hot dog buns

4 ounces shredded Cheddar 

Ketchup and mustard, for serving

Directions

  1. For the chili: Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the beef and garlic and cook, stirring and breaking up into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon, until the meat is brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add the chili powder, cayenne, cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring, until well combined, about 1 minute. 
  2. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste and 1/2 cup water to the pot. Stir well and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and keep warm.
  3. For the chili dogs: Preheat a grill or large grill pan to medium. Grill the hot dogs according to the package directions until grill marks appear and the hot dogs are warmed through, about 5 minutes. Working in batches, if necessary, grill the cut side of the buns until golden and toasted, about 1 minute. Build the hot dogs and top each with about 1/4 cup of chili spooned down the length of the hot dog. Sprinkle each with some cheese and serve with ketchup and mustard.

Let's Get Cooking!

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Teresa Sparks

Made this a few weeks ago and got rave reviews from family. We added a few more condiments (relish, Worcester Sauce, choice of mustards and hot sauces, pickle spears). Excellent recipe and a keeper for sure.

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