Not much more American than a good old hot dog! Top it will chili and it's amazing!
Homemade Hot Dog Chili
This is a Hot Dog Recipe that you can make ahead and freeze. Totally trumps opening a can.
The recipe that I use has evolved over the years , but came from my father who used to own a country store/lunch counter. He'd make jumbo batches in the slow cooker. His country store was THE SPOT for lunch in our small town and where all the kids went after school. I worked there a lot in the summer during lunch.
It is an easy recipe where you have most ingredients on hand….big plus!!
Hot Dog Chili
2017-12-26 07:17:03
Ingredients
- 3 pounds of ground beef
- 2-3/4 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons chili powder (more if you want spicy)
- 3 cups of water
- 1-1/2 cups ketchup
- 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
- 1-1/2 teaspoons of white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon of dry mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a stock pot, place your ground beef. I cover the ground beef with water. On medium-high heat, cook the meat until it is brown and crumbly. I like to cook it this way so that it has a very crumbly consistency. It will turn a light brown color when it is finished cooking. This will take around an hour.  Drain it in a colander. This is great to drain the fat.
- Return the cooked meat to the same pot.
- Add all of the ingredients except the 3 cups of water. Mix well.
- Gradually add the 3 cups of water mixing well.
- It will look quite soupy. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for approximately 1 hour until it has thickened and most of the water has evaporated.
- Stir occasionally. This is so easy and can be cooking while you are preparing other tailgating goodies or playing on Pinterest!
Notes
- I make a big batch of this. It is no trouble, but it is one of those recipes that is easy to freeze so why not? Keep out what you need for your group and freeze the rest. I let it cool then freeze portions in quart sized bags. For example, I froze into 3 bags that would be enough for 3 meals for our family of 4. We had enough for leftover lunch on Sunday after Saturday's tailgate.
Our Southern Home https://www.oursouthernhomesc.com/
This is the raw ground beef in the water. Cook it before adding your ingredients. This utensil is from Pampered Chef, but I found one on Amazon at a much cheaper price. It's great for breaking up the meat especially when browning.
After cooking the meat, I pour it into a strainer to drain all the liquid.
I blend all of the spices together and have ready while the meat is cooking.
Add all of your ingredients per the above recipe. Print for future convenience.
Let it simmer. It will be very soupy, but will cook down.
I make a big batch of this. It is no trouble, but it is one of those recipes that is easy to freeze so why not? Keep out what you need for your group and freeze the rest. I let it cool then freeze portions in quart sized bags. For example, I froze into 3 bags that would be enough for 3 meals for our family of 4.
You can easily make this for an even larger crowd. It is always apart of our tailgates and picnics! It's a summer staple in our home for lunches. Our college son lives on pizza and hot dogs for lunch!
~Clemson University~
Notice the hubby doesn't deck out all in orange! He is a UNC Tarheel fan. I graduated from Clemson and we are a short 20 minute drive away, so we enjoy season tickets as a family. I'm crossing my fingers that the kiddos go to Clemson!
UPDATE: Our son has been playing golf on a scholarship, but transferring to Clemson in the fall as a senior to finish his engineering degree. I got my TIGER!
Christy says
I usually prefer the buy brand names with ketchup, but shop at Aldi a lot these days and by their organic brand.
Kent says
Is there a particular brand of ketchup or any ingredients that you recommend?
Christy says
Thanks so much, Peg! Yes, it takes time, but worth it. That’s why I like to make a huge amount at the beginning of summer and freeze it!
Peg says
This is really good chili!!! Pretty time consuming but worth it. Thank you for the delicious recipe.
Christy says
Thanks so much, Dale! I hope you enjoy it!
Dale says
My Grandma lived in Anderson. When we would go from Greenwood to visit her, the was a little ice cream place (Dairy Twirl I think) on the left right as you get to Anderson that had the best hot dog I have ever eaten. Sure wish I had that recipe.
This recipe is great too.
Kellie Nix says
I was trying to find a recipe for larger amount than I normally make for our 4th of July shindig tomorrow, and finally happened across your recipe for actual Southern hot dog chili! And from someone who is in my backyard! I live in Easley, about 15 minutes from Clemson (GO TIGERS!) I don’t know why people from places other than the south don’t know what a HOT DOG is! Anywho, I make mine pretty much the same, but I also use a splash of teriyaki sauce! I’ll be making this tomorrow and I’m sure it’ll be a big hit!????????????????
SherryC. says
Need to make about a 5 quart crock pot of hot dog chili for band booster concessions. How much does this recipe make?
Mary Beth says
My family would love this! The last few weeks they have been asking me to make chili dogs and I kept putting off finding a recipe, but now, I have the perfect one!
Jane says
Christy, I had previously read your chili recipe and it looks awesome! My husband’s family ran a little country store that still sits across the street from where we live. His mother’s chili recipe was awesome, but I never can get it quite right. I may try making it in the Instant Pot because my mother always made hers in a pressure cooker. To me, a hot dog is all about the chili!!!
Christy says
Probably a little sweetness. You could always use less ketchup and more tomato sauce and adjust the spices.
Kris Dobbins says
Does this chili have a sweet taste due to ketchup?
Christy says
So glad to hear that! It freezes well!
James says
This is the best chili I have ever cooked, love it and my family loves it , thanks a lot for the recipe
Christy says
This is an old recipe on the blog before I used a recipe plug in. The recipe card has just been updated so it is now printable! Sorry for the inconvenience!
Joni Ginsburg says
How do I Print this recipe for Tailgate Chili Hotdogs? All of the icons for “printing”, and others, all tell you to Pin it which I have already done.
Christy says
Thanks so much for sharing your story, Steve! I hope you enjoyed it!
Steve says
Well, I’m a Clemson graduate and Anderson native and I have found that no other place in the South has chili hot dogs like here. I am 66 years old and remember several places in Anderson that had the absolute best hot dogs anywhere. Better than Skin’s too, which are the best available now. I will try your recipe as I have been looking for that great hot dog chili myself. That stuff in a can is made to immediately throw in the trash. The best hot dog I ever ate came from a little roadside diner just before Hartwell damn. I was coming home from Ga. and saw this little place called Pete’s if I remember correctly and having not had a real hot dog living in Ga. for a while I bought a couple. A few miles down the road I turned around to buy some more. They were that good. Got home, gave my Mom a taste along with her customers (she was a hair dresser) and wound up driving the 12 miles back to get more. Lol. The place is long gone but I wish I had that guy’s recipe. Thanks for your recipe, I’ll try it out.
Christy says
You are so right! What an amazing win. I’m still excited!!! I just may have to do that! Go TIGERS!!!!!
Robert Brown says
You can now rename this “2017 National Champions Clemson Tiger Chili”
Go Tigers
Christy says
Not sure, but Skins does have great dogs!
sallie Bendt says
The appearance of this hot dog chili looks a lot like the chili on the hot dogs at Skins in Clemson! Just wondering about the ketchup – Skins doesn’t seem to have ketchup in the chili.
Making it now for my father-in-law’s 95th birthday! He was “Hero of the Game” at the first Clemson game last year!
Go, Tigers!
Chloe Crabtree says
I love chili dogs and have never really searched for a recipe to make my own, and frankly the can of it I buy from the grocery store is not that good. In addition, I rarely use a whole can for one hot dog cookout, this is a great recipe, and I love that you can freeze it. I can make up a big batch and freeze it in small batches to use at my convenience with no waste! I have pinned this and bookmarked it to my recipe folder!
Christy says
Thanks so much! Hope you enjoyed it! Go TIGERS!!!
Tim says
I have been looking for a good chili recipe and this one looks like a good one. I will be cooking it tonight and thanks for sharing. I was also surprise that you live in the Clemson area and are a Clemson tiger. I graduated from Clemson in 72. Go tigers!
Bob in Napa, CA says
I’m a Clemson native (went to Daniel High School in the 80’s) and now live in California’s Wine Country. I’ve been scouring the internet for a good ol’ fashioned Southern hot dog chili like I remember from Skin’s Hot Dogs in Clemson. I think it’s ironic that I found your recipe–it’s exactly like I remember AND you’re from my old stompin’ ground! Thanks for posting your recipe and pics of Death Valley. (I share your hope that my children attend Clemson when they grow up!)
Christy says
Thanks so much! Glad you loved it!!
Jana Stewart says
I made this recipe today and I really can’t stop eating it. Great recipe and very flavorful! Thanks for sharing!!!
Christy says
Holy cow!!!! When I make a batch, I usually freeze 3 containers for future meals. I would say it would cover about 40 hot dogs possibly more. You are going to be busy!!! It is easy to make and transfer to a crockpot to keep warm. Any extra could be frozen. Good luck!!!
Justin Davis says
Considering using your recipe to make chili for a community block party our church is doing. How many servings do you typically get out of this recipe? I will need chili for 1,000 hot dogs so I was wondering the servings so I could calculate for how much I need. Thanks!
Christy says
Thanks so much!!! So happy you enjoyed! ~Christy
In Charlotte says
Just made this today and it was great. Can never use canned chili again! Many thanks.
Christy says
You are so very sweet!! Thanks so much, Barbara! We just finished up what I had in the freezer! I need to make more! Sure need to add some updated photos! My pics have evolved since starting the blog 2 years ago! So happy to have a fellow Carolinian visiting my blog! ~Christy
Barbara Pangle says
WOW! What great chili! I have tried several different chili recipes over the years, but this one is my family’s favorite. I took it to a family gathering this past weekend and had so many compliments and recipe requests! I knew it would be good when I saw how close you lived to me. (Often there are regional differences that can make or break the way one thinks a food should taste) This one was perfect!!We are from Western NC about an hour and half away. Thank you so much for the great recipe. I’ll be looking for more on your blog!
Christy Little says
Thanks Brenda! I hope you enjoy the chili. Thanks so much for stopping by. I appreciate the words of encouragement and support!!!
Brenda says
Hi Christy! Your chili dogs look so yummy! I’m going to pin the recipe. Good luck with your new blog – you’re off to a great start. I’m pretty new myself – I understand how long it takes to get things done!
Best wishes-
Brenda
Christy Little says
Hope you enjoy!!! That’s awesome about Clemson! Good luck to him!!! Go Tiger 🙂 I am hoping my son will go there as well for engineering. Thanks for stopping by~
Tricia SimplicityInTheSouth says
Hey Christy! I’ve been needing a good chili recipe! I’m pinning it so I won’t lose it. I’m hoping my oldest will go to Clemson next fall. He just turned in his application, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed!