Here’s a classic, hearty Homemade Chili Cheese Dogs recipe—messy, cheesy, and perfect for game day or comfort food nights.
🌭 Chili Cheese Dogs
🧾 Ingredients
🌭 Hot dogs
- 8 hot dogs
- 8 hot dog buns
- 1 tbsp butter (optional, for toasting buns)
🍲 Chili topping
- 500g ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (400g) kidney beans (optional)
- 1 can (400g) crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt & pepper to taste
🧀 Toppings
- 1–2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Mustard or ketchup (optional)
🍳 Instructions
1. Make the chili
- Cook ground beef in a pan until browned
- Add onion and garlic, cook until soft
- Stir in tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, spices, and beans
- Simmer 15–25 minutes until thick
2. Cook hot dogs
- Grill, boil, or pan-fry hot dogs until heated through
3. Prepare buns
- Lightly toast buns with butter (optional but tasty)
4. Assemble
- Place hot dog in bun
- Spoon hot chili over it
- Top with shredded cheddar cheese
🍽️ Serve hot
Best enjoyed immediately while cheese melts into the chili.
💡 Tips for best flavor
- Let chili thicken so it doesn’t make buns soggy
- Add a pinch of sugar if tomatoes are too acidic
- For extra heat, add jalapeños or hot sauce
🧠 Variations
- 🌶️ Spicy chili cheese dogs (add cayenne or hot sauce)
- 🧄 Garlic butter buns for extra flavor
- 🧀 Loaded version with onions, pickles, and relish
If you want, I can also give you:
- A slow cooker chili version
- Or a “Coney Island style” chili dog recipe 🌭
