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There is something special about enjoying a Smoked Chili Hot Dog and watching a baseball game. I have had my share over the years and to be honest not all have been, well, great. For this recipe, I did some research on what really makes the perfect smoked chili hot dog. Here it is…
If you like chili as much as I do, you have to check out my over the top smoked white chicken chili. Also, check out a fan favorite the shredded Italian beef sandwich. While it’s not a chili, this meaty, beefy sandwich is the real deal!
Table of Contents
Game Day Chili Dogs
Spring or fall, chili dogs are always a good idea. Savory, smokey, rich flavors warming you up on those crisp game days.
A simple hot dog, while good, can be boring and not as filling. Add a heavy scoop of meaty chili and you have a meal! Now, there are a ton of chili recipes out there. While hearty, chunky chili’s are delicious, they are not good on a hot dog. You want a finer, simpler yet still super flavorful chili to cover your hot dog, but not overpower it in flavor.
This smoked chili hot dog recipe will show you how to achieve the perfect balance of delicate beefiness and hot dog heaven.
Ingredient list for a Smoked Chili Hot Dog.
- Ground beef: Go with a learner 90/10 ground mix. It’s the perfect balance of lean to fat ratio.
- Water: crucial ingredient to make the perfect hot dog chili.
- Beef broth: adds savory, beefy flavor to the chili.
- Mustard: adds tanginess to the chili and breaks up the rich savoriness.
- Worcestershire sauce: adds a level of tangy savoriness and salt.
- Tomato sauce: creamy base for the chili.
- Onion: finely chopped up yellow onion to texture and crunch in the chili.
- Seasoning: the perfect blend of paprika, cayenne pepper, chili powder, onion powder, garlic, salt, pepper and brown sugar.
- Hot dog: use kosher beef hot dogs for maximum flavor.
Start by making the smoked chili.
Can’t have a smoked chili hot dog without the chili itself. For me, it’s about the simplicity and fineness of the chili. I do not recommend using a traditional chunky beef chili recipe that you would enjoy in the fall. Hot dog chili needs to have a much finer consistency and melt in your mouth texture.
Start by preheating the grill to a medium heat at 300 degrees Fahrenheit and set it for direct heat. Don’t have a grill or prefer to use the kitchen, replicate this recipe on the stove top using the same steps.
While the grill is heating up, finely chop up a yellow onion.
Place a dutch oven on the grill and add in the onion along with olive oil and beef bullion concentrate. Mix the ingredients together and sauté the onions over medium heat until they are soft and translucent.
Recipe Tip
By chopping the onion very fine, it will disintegrate into the chili. You will get the tasty onion flavor without the added texture.
Time to add in the meat. Add 3 pounds of ground beef to the mix and start breaking it apart. This is where things get a little different. Add equal parts water and beef stock and allow the beef to boil in the liquid. Cover the dutch oven with a lid and simmer over low to medium heat for 30 minutes. This process will help break down the beef into super fine pieces making the texture and consistency perfect for a smoked chili hot dog.
This might not look very appetizing, but TRUST ME, it will cook down into the perfect chili.
Next, remove the lid, stir the chili and break up any bigger pieces. Make sure you have fine pieces of beef. This time, let it smoke uncovered for 30-45 minutes. Continue cooking it over medium heat.
Leaving the Dutch oven open will also infuse the mixture with a layer of smokey flavor that will result in a perfectly smoked chili hot dog.
For the final step, add some flavor! Add in all the pre-measured seasonings including paprika, cayenne pepper, chili powder, onion powder, garlic, salt, pepper and brown sugar. You will also need tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Mix everything together and cook for another 30 minutes, uncovered.
Do a final taste test to make sure salt and pepper levels are to your liking. If you followed the process, you will have the perfect hot dog chili. Very fine, not too watery, meaty, tasty goodness! This type of chili is the perfect topping for hot dogs, fries, pretty much anything!
Make a smoked chili hot dog
Once the chili is done and you can smell all the amazing savory aromatics, it’s time for the hot dogs.
The trick to add more flavor to your smoked chili hot dog is placing the kosher beef hot dogs into the chili itself. Submerge them in the mixture and cook for 10 minutes allowing the hot dogs to absorb the chili flavor and warm up.
While that’s cooking, steam the hot dog buns.
To serve, place the flavorful warm hot dog into the steamed bun, drizzle some yellow mustard and pour a spoonful of the smoked chili over the top. To make it extra special, add some shredded cheddar cheese and bite in! You get the creaminess of the chili that is full of amazing flavors, the bite of the hot dog and softness of the bun. You have to try this!
Have any leftovers?
The best part of this smoked chili hot dog recipe are the leftovers. The smoked chili is so good, it can be reused all week long!
Transfer the leftover chili into an airtight container and store it in the fridge. It can sit there for up to a week.
Make chili cheese fries, add some of the chili over your eggs for breakfast, make nachos or add you a baked potato. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely. This smoked chili hot dog recipe requires the hot dogs to be submerged into the smoked chili and left uncovered on the grill to heat up. This will allow additional smokiness from the grill to infuse into the hot leaving for a delicious treat.
The most common protein in chili is ground beef. However there are so many other alternative options. You can use such as a ground pork and beef blend, mix beef with Italian sausage or chorizo, left over brisket is another great option. For vegetarians, beans is a great protein option.
Delicious chili recipes to try:
If you tried this Smoked Chili Hot Dog or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the📝 comments. I love hearing from you!
Smoked Chili Hot Dog
Ingredients
- 8 Kosher beef hot dogs
- 8 Hot dog buns
- 3 lbs Ground beef
- 1/2 Yellow onion
- 1 tbsp Beef bullion concentrate
- 2 cups Water
- 2 cups Beef broth
- 1/2 cup Tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup Ketchup
- 2 tbsp Yellow mustard
Seasoning Mix
- 3 tbsp Chili powder
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp Brown sugar
- 1/2 tbsp Onion powder
- 1/2 tbsp Garlic powder
- 2 tsp Cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp Paprika
- Pinch of salt and pepper for taste
Instructions
- Start by preheating the grill to a medium heat at 300 degrees Fahrenheit and setting it up direct heat.
- Finely chop up 1/2 a yellow onion and place it in a dutch oven with olive oil and beef bullion concentrate. Place the dutch oven on the grill, mix the ingredients together and sauté the onions until they are soft and translucent.
- Add in the ground beef and start breaking it apart. Add water and beef stock and allow the beef to boil in the liquids. Cover the dutch oven with a lid and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Remove the lid and break up the beef one more time. Continue cooking uncovered for 30-45 minutes. Cook until most of the water to evaporate from the dish leaving a mushy consistency of the beef.
- Add in the seasonings, yellow mustard, ketchup, tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce. Mix everything together and cook for another 30 minutes, uncovered.
- Do a final taste test to make sure salt and pepper levels are to your liking.
- Drop the hot dogs in the chili mixture and cook for 10 minutes allowing the them to absorb the chili flavor and warm up.
- To serve, place the flavorful warm hot dog into the steamed bun, drizzle some yellow mustard and pour a spoonful of the smoked chili over the top. To make it extra special, add some shredded cheddar cheese and bite in! Enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure to finely chop up the onion. This will blend in with the ground beef making for a fine, non chunky chili.
- Use an 90/10 beef blend for optimal lean to fat ratio for flavor.
- Make sure to taste and adjust seasonings.
What if you don’t have a smoker? Can this be made on the stovetop?
Yes. All my recipes can be replicated in the oven, stove top or any grill you have. Hope you enjoy!
Outstanding recipe! This will be on repeat for sure!
Looks so delicious! Can I make it on the stovetop or in the oven instead? Our grill is currently out of commission.
Yes, follow the same recipe on your stove top. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
Hands down, the best way to make hot dog chili! I hope you give this recipe a try!