Best Ever Chili Dogs
These Chili Dogs really are the best we've ever had! They're smothered in our favorite hot dog chili and topped with freshly shredded cheese, onions, and optional jalapeños.
Ingredients
Hot Dog Chili
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes, canned
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp water
- 3/4 tsp sea salt, plus more, if needed
- Cracked black pepper, to taste
Chili Dogs
- 6 hot dogs
- 6 hot dog buns
- 1/4 yellow onion, diced
- Cheddar cheese, shredded
- Jalapeños, sliced
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pot over medium heat and add the beef. Season with ½ tsp salt and a couple turns of black pepper. Cook the beef for 8-10 minutes, breaking into small pieces. Remove the beef from the pot and set aside.
- Add onions and peppers to the pot and season with ¼ tsp salt. Cook for 6-8 minutes or until slightly softened.
- Add the cooked ground beef back to the pot.
- Make a well in the center of the pot and add tomato paste. Cook for about 1 minute and mix in with the meat and veggies.
- Mix in the spices, brown sugar, and cocoa powder and cook 1-2 minutes.
- Add in crushed tomatoes and broth, then bring the chili to a low boil.
- Reduce heat, cover with a lid, and cook for 30-40 minutes.
- Remove lid, skim off any fat from the top of the chili (optional but recommended if not using lean beef), and increase the heat to medium.
- Whisk together cornstarch and 1 tbsp water and stir into the chili to thicken.
- Prepare and Assemble the Chili Dogs
- Heat up the hot dogs in a pan, oven, or on the grill, and warm up the buns. Then assemble the hot dogs in the buns.
- Top each hot dog with a couple spoonfuls of chili, some shredded cheese, onions, and jalapeños.