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Overhead view of chili cheese dogs on a striped platter. Each hot got bun has a hot dog topped with homemade chili, shredded cheddar cheese, and diced onions.

Ultimate Chili Cheese Dogs with Homemade Chili

These ultimate chili cheese dogs are made with brioche buns that are filled with hot dogs and smothered in a generous amount of homemade beef chili, shredded cheddar cheese, diced onions, and optional jalapeños.
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Prep Time:15 minutes
Cook Time:50 minutes
Course: Main Course, Meat & Seafood
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Easy, summer
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Homemade Chili

  • 1 pound lean or extra lean ground beef
  • 1/2 red bell pepper diced
  • 1/2 onion diced (can use yellow, sweet, or red)
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 cup crushed tomatoes canned
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 3/4 tsp sea salt, divided plus more, if needed
  • Cracked black pepper to taste

Chili Dogs

  • 8 hot dogs
  • 8 brioche hot dog buns
  • 1/4 onion diced (can use yellow, sweet, or red)
  • Cheddar cheese shredded
  • Jalapeños sliced (optional)

Instructions

Make the Homemade Chili

  • 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.
    1 pound lean or extra lean ground beef, 1 tbsp olive oil, 3/4 tsp sea salt, divided, Cracked black pepper
  • Add onions and peppers to the pot and season with ¼ tsp salt and cracked black pepper. Cook for 6-8 minutes or until slightly softened.
    1/2 red bell pepper, 1/2 onion, 3/4 tsp sea salt, divided
  • 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.
    1 tbsp tomato paste
  • Mix in the spices, brown sugar, and cocoa powder and cook 1-2 minutes.
    2 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • Add in crushed tomatoes and broth, then bring the chili to a low boil.
    1 cup low-sodium beef broth, 1 cup crushed tomatoes
  • 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.
    1 tbsp cornstarch, 1 tbsp water

Assemble the Chili Cheese Dogs

  • Heat up the hot dogs in a pan, oven, or on the grill, and warm up the buns in the oven or toaster oven. Then place the hot dogs in the buns.
    8 hot dogs, 8 brioche hot dog buns
  • Top each hot dog with a couple spoonfuls of chili, some shredded cheese, onions, and jalapeños, if using.
    1/4 onion, Cheddar cheese, Jalapeños