Elevate your hot dog game with this quick and easy Skillet Hot Dog Chili.
My mother loved hot dogs. She loved hot dogs better than she loved her luggage. Not only did she like to order hot dogs in restaurants, she liked to eat them at home. Chili dogs were her favorite. Somewhere along the line, she came upon a recipe for homemade hot dog chili. From that day forward, she never bought a package of hot dogs without buying a pound of ground beef to make the chili. Hot dogs and chili were for ever united in our home.
I never knew where she got the recipe. She wasn’t secure enough in her cooking skills to attempt recipe development. While the skillet chili was good the was she made it, I’ve updated somewhat, but it still contains the essence of her recipe.
Hot dogs with this great skillet chili, deserve equally as great sides. Serve you chili topped hot dogs with Sweet and Spicy Jalapeno Coleslaw or Cajun Crispy Fried Onions or Fried Potatoes . All will round out a hot dog meal in a most delicious way.
Have you ever tried making homemade hot dog buns? Check out this great recipe for Keto Hot Dog Buns if keto is your lifestyle. If air fryer is your game, don’t sleep on these Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs .
Can I use ground turkey in place of ground beef in this Skillet Hot Dog Chili?
You can use ground chicken or ground turkey which is very lean and might not brown as well as ground beef. If that’s the case, consider adding some cooking oil to the skillet.
What are crockpot instructions for this skillet chili?
Honestly, I don’t recommend using a slow cooker for this recipe for several reasons. One the ground beef wouldn’t brown. Secondly, this recipe only takes 15 minutes using the skillet method. It would take hours in slow cooker. If time is a consideration, make the chili ahead of time, store in the refrigerator and reheat when ready to use.
Is hot dog chili the same as hot dog chili sauce?
While this recipe is centered around browned and crumbled ground beef, chili sauce uses a cooking technique where raw ground beef is boiled in liquid. My skillet chili has a different texture and less liquid in the final product.
Directions for Skillet Hot Dog Chili
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- Heat a 10 in cast iron skillet on medium heat. When hot, add ground beef and diced onion.
- Stir to brown and crumble and brown the beef.
- When cooked, drain excess grease or sop it up with paper towel.
- Stir in tomato sauce.
- Add remainder of ingredients and stir well.
- Continue cooking, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes or until heated thoroughly and most of the liquid is cooked out.
- Serve hot atop hot dogs.
Skillet Hot Dog Chili
Equipment
- 1 10 inch cast iron skillet (aff. link)
Ingredients
- 1 pound 80/20 ground beef
- 1 medium sweet onion diced
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Heat a 10 inch cast iron skillet over medium heat. When hot, add ground beef and onions. Stir frequently to brown and crumble. When done, remove some of the excess grease by draining or dabbing with paper towel.
- Stir in tomato sauce.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir. Cook for 5 minutes or until heated through and most of liquid is absorbed, stirring frequently.
- Serve hot on hot dogs.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
Aww, such a lovely post. I grew up without hotdog chili. In Maine, we had toasted buns and the hotdog was cooked on a griddle and the onions were slowly, slowly cooked in salt pork fat and they were served with mustard and relish. I was always the outlaw because I wanted ketchup on mine as well.
Jackie Garvin says
Caramelized onions on a hot dog sounds divine! Thanks for inspiration, Maureen. 😉
tirerooster says
Nice pic. Love me some ketchup on a chili dog.
Jackie Garvin says
Thanks tirerooster! Hope you give it a try. 🙂
Adam J. Holland says
Bless Mama! And all mamas who have a hot dog night! These look divine. Thanks for sharing your story. 🙂
Jackie Garvin says
Thanks for reading, Adam!
Danny says
Betty did lay out a mean chili dog….that’s for sure. The steamer pot was a key ingredient to the mix as I see it as there is no better way to eat a dog than with a nice steamed bun. I guess most kitchen’s in our part of the country had one of these boilers/steamers on had an used frequently. Betty’s chili was adopted by mother somewhere along the way because that is the same one I use today….like Mutt and Jeff..they go together!!! Thanks for the wonderful memory of sharing those tasty treats at your table!!!
Jackie Garvin says
Danny,
Did Esther put mayo on her hot dog,too?
I keep looking on eBay for a vintage hot dog/ bun steamer pot. I wouldn’t use it to boil the hot dogs because I prefer them grilled. But, I sure could figure out something to do with it.
Danny says
Yes we all used mayo on everything…hahaha…well, except biscuit’s…but I would not eat a hot dog or burger without mayo up until about 3 years ago. When I moved to Wisconsin I found they often would eat burgers and dogs with nothing on them…just dry..ugggg…but when condiments were offered it was just mustard and ketchup….so I’ve weaned myself off mayo almost entirely.
I have looked for a steamer but can’t find one….haven’t looked online much but I’m sure there out there somewhere.
Oh…I do use chopped onions as well…and 3 dill slices as too!!!
Chris Thomas says
Great post. My sister did something similar after mom passed away. She cared for mom during the last 3 years of her life.
I was never a big fan of chili dogs. They weren’t popular where I grew up. Growing up in NYC, I miss those times spent with my grandfather at Coney Island. We’d play Skee-Ball, pinball, tabletop bowling, bump’n go cars and go to the shooting gallery; where they used real Rossi pump .22’s. It was always topped off with a trip to Nathan’s Famous. There we’d get 2 (ea) of Nathan’s finest tube steaks (hot dogs), slathered with spicy Kosher deli mustard, then a little Bavarian sauerkraut, topped off with some of that day-glow green emerald relish. That was accompanied by a basket of chips (fries) and washed down with an ice cold Nedicks Orange Drink. It didn’t get much better then that.
God bless
Jackie Garvin says
Chris,
You have wonderful food memories and a talent for describing them. I always enjoy your comments.
Rachel Sipchen says
I am sorry you had a bad hot dog experience in Wisconsin, Danny! I grew up in central Wisconsin, and we always had a choice of catsup, mustard, onions, pickle relish, and sauerkraut! No dry hot dogs were ever served here!
I lived in N. C. for 7 years and grew addicted to Lexington style chili and slaw. I’ve lost my recipes for them and not having much luck finding the exact duplicates.