This easy and delicious Coney Island Hot Dog Sauce (AKA Hot Dog Chili) is an easy one pot chili topping great for serving with your favorite grilled or boiled hot dogs! Ready in just about 15 minutes!
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Easy and delicious Hot Dog Sauce recipe!
An easy recipe to spice up your average hot dog, this Coney Island Hot Dog Sauce (Homemade Chili Sauce) makes for a great chili dog when piled high on your favorite bun with a grilled hot dog and some shredded cheddar or cheese sauce!
Not just for hot dogs, this "Hot Dog Chili" also goes great piled high on Chili Cheese Fries! Best of all? it's ready in just about 20 minutes- no tomato sauce needed!
This classic Coney Island Hotdog Chili is perfect for football games, parties, and more! The fine texture of the chili makes it perfect for hotdogs, and easier to eat than regular chili! This Coney Sauce recipe is always a hit and makes the perfect chili dogs, and is even better the next day!
Get the flavor of your favorite Coney Island restaurants at home with this easy recipe!
Hot dog sauce recipe ingredients
To make this quick and easy hot dog chili for Coney Island Dogs, you will need:
- Canola oil, or another neutral oil, such as avocado oil.
- A small yellow onion, grated. Grating the onion helps it to cook quickly, and blend seamlessly into the Hot Dog Sauce.
- 2 cloves garlic, minced. (if you like, you could sub in about 1 of garlic powder, but I prefer fresh).
- A can of tomato paste. Unlike a traditional sauce or chili, this recipe uses tomato paste for a big boost of tomato flavor.
- Some ground beef (ground meat). You can use 80/20 or lean ground beef.
- A couple tablespoons Chili powder, smoked paprika (a teaspoon ground) and cayenne pepper. These are the main ingredients that really give the chili it's flavor.
- Ketchup.
- Worcestershire sauce.
- Brown sugar.
- Water.
- Hot sauce, such as Frank's Red Hot. (see recipe card below for full ingredients list and instructions).
- Salt and black pepper, to taste.
How to make Coney Island Hot Dog Sauce
This hot dog chili sauce is the perfect recipe for hot dog lovers everywhere! The cooking process is important to make sure you get the right consistency. Here's how to make it:
- In a large pot, heat the canola oil over medium heat.
- Add the grated onion and garlic, and season with salt and pepper.
- Cook 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add whole can of tomato paste, and stir to combine. Cook 2-3 minutes, until, color deepens.
- Add the ground beef (do not brown ground beef prior in order to get the perfect texture), spices, ketchup, Worcestershire, brown sugar, and water. Cook, breaking up with a potato masher until beef is a finer texture / consistency.
- Simmer 10 minutes until thickened. To serve, use a slotted spoon and get a good hot dog or good coney dog ready in a toasted or steamed bun! (see recipe card below for full instructions and ingredients list).
How to serve Coney Island Hot Dogs
To make a Coney dog, add your grilled or boiled hot dogs to some fresh hot dog buns, top with the simple chili sauce, and add some chopped white onion and yellow mustard!
More of a chili dog fan? Swap the onions and mustard for shredded sharp cheddar cheese or your favorite cheese sauce!
Serving suggestions
Make Ahead
If you want to make this Hot Dog Sauce recipe ahead of time for a party or bbq, you can keep it warm in a slow cooker and allow guests to build their own Coney dogs! I recommend reheating it on low, then turning it to warm so it stays hot, but doesn't scorch.
Storing and reheating the Hot Dog Sauce
To store the sauce, cool to room temperature, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also freeze the sauce for up to 2 months in freezer-safe containers!
To reheat, you can warm through on the stove in a saucepan, or reheat in a microwave safe bowl.
Why you'll love this recipe:
- It's quick and easy! Ready in just about 15 minutes!
- It's superfine (unlike traditional chili), thanks to the cooking method of breaking down the ground beef in the liquid.
- It's loaded with spicy sweet chili flavor.
- It's versatile! Try it on hot dogs, hot sausages, chili cheese fries and more!
Other ways to serve the Hot Dog Chili
This hot dog sauce recipe is great for a Coney Dog (with chopped white onion and yellow mustard), for and for chili cheese dogs.
Another great way to serve this wonderful sauce it is pile high on crispy french fries with plenty of cheese sauce and pickled jalapeños for a quick and easy Chili Cheese Fries!
This versatile meat sauce is a great addition where you'd like a little chili flavor! It could also be a great addition to a chili burger, or as the meat component to a walking taco!
More Great Easy Dinner Ideas
If you love this Chili recipe for Traditional Coney Dogs, you'll love these great recipes, too!
Made this hot dog sauce recipe? Leave a review and rating below!
I love to hear from you! If you make this recipe, please share your thoughts via a review, and tag me on social media!
Coney Island Hot Dog Sauce (Homemade Chili Sauce)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 small onion, grated on a box grater
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 6 oz can of tomato paste
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- a dash of cayenne pepper
- ½ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoon hot sauce
Instructions
- 1. In a large pot, heat the canola oil over medium heat. 2. Add the grated onion and garlic, and season with salt and pepper. 3. Cook 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally. 4. Add whole can of tomato paste, and stir to combine. Cook 2-3 minutes, until, color deepens. 5. Add the ground beef, spices, ketchup, Worcestershire, brown sugar, and water. Cook, breaking up with a potato masher until beef is a fine consistency. 6. Simmer 10 minutes until thickened. To serve, use a slotted spoon.
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Glennda Drescher says
I made this except I was taught to poach the ground beef in water or beef stock. I sautéed the vegetables. And then as soon as the meat is poached and drained well, add all together and allow to gently simmer for a few minutes to infuse the flavors.
Poaching the beef gives your chili dogs authentic texture and appearance! Promise you’ll enjoy version!
M says
What do you think the 2 cups of water is for? To POACH the meat! All you did with your version is add a lot of extra work and eliminate flavor. Follow the recipe, it is perfect as is.
Susan says
I made this exactly as written and my whole family loved it. My 17 year old grandson said it was the best and put it on his hotdog and hamburger. I’m making more right now for a church dinner. Thank you for the recipe.
Sharon Farnell says
Thank you, Susan! So happy you enjoyed the recipe!
Ta says
I might be stupid but I don’t see in the directions where I’m supposed to use the water. Please help
Sharon Farnell says
Hi! The water is in step 5 🙂
Sharon says
I didn’t see anywhere how much of each ingredient you use.
Sharon says
Hi Sharon,
all that info is in the recipe box at the bottom of the post. You can click "Jump to Recipe" at the top and it will take you right to the recipe and ingredients!
Vickie Plonski says
I have a question, what about the grease from the ground beef once it's browned? I'd like to make this for our community pool party/burger & hot dog bar this June.
Thanks for your help.
Sharon says
Hi Vickie,I would recommend using lan ground beef to avoid grease!
Vickie Plonski says
I did make this for our neighborhood party as written & it turned out great. Our committee chairperson told me she didn't read my label correctly & was surprised by the little kick it had. Said she only read the sweet part. Thanks for the recipe.
Sharon says
So happy you all enjoyed the recipe, Vickie! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Shawn says
Turned out delicious, but I had to add Cumin to the recipe, two-three teaspoons. That’s just me… chili isn’t chili to me without it. Also all I had was tomato (sauce) and it was still delicious.
Sharon says
So happy you enjoyed the recipe!
Teri says
I searched for years for a coney sauce we liked. This one is it! There is just my husband and I so we eat half and freeze half for another day. Works perfectly!
Sharon says
So happy to hear this, Teri! Thanks for sharing!!