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A cooked hot dog in a bun topped with chili sauce and cheese, ready to serve
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Hot Dog Chili Sauce

Bring the flavor to your next cookout with this easy Hot Dog Chili Sauce! Made with ground beef, spices, and a touch of tang, this thick, savory sauce is perfect for topping hot dogs. No beans, no fuss—just bold, nostalgic flavor in every bite. Great for parties, gameday, or family dinners.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 35 minutes
Total Time1 hour 40 minutes
Course: Main, Snack
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 316kcal
Author: Claire | Sprinkle and Sprouts
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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon oil (Note 1)
  • 1 lb ground beef (Note 2)
  • 2 tablespoons onion flakes (Note 3)
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 2½ teaspoons cumin
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1½ teaspoons paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (Note 4)
  • pinch red pepper flakes (Note 4)
  • 2½ cups water
  • 1 cup ketchup (Note 5)
  • ¼ cup brown sugar (Note 6)
  • ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

  • Pour the oil into a large skillet or frying pan and heat over medium heat.
    1 tablespoon oil



  • Add the ground/minced beef and cook for 6 minutes. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to break the meat apart as you brown it.
    1 lb ground beef



  • Add the onion flakes, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, paprika, salt, black pepper, dried thyme, dried oregano, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir well to coat the beef in the spices.
    2 tablespoons onion flakes
    1 tablespoon garlic powder
    2½ teaspoons cumin
    2 teaspoons smoked paprika
    1½ teaspoons paprika
    ½ teaspoon salt
    ½ teaspoon black pepper
    ½ teaspoon dried thyme
    ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    pinch red pepper flakes



  • Add the water and stir until well combined with the spiced meat. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and cook, uncovered, for 60-70 minutes or until all the water has evaporated (Note 7).
    2½ cups water



  • Add the ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce.
    1 cup ketchup
    ¼ cup brown sugar
    ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce



  • Simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce has thickened fully.

Notes

  1. Any neutral oil will work here. I use canola or vegetable oil.
  2. Go for ground/minced beef with some fat content; it will help the sauce have that rich mouthfeel. I typically buy 85% beef/15% fat. If you purchase lean beef, the finished sauce will taste drier.
  3. Onion flakes add an excellent onion flavor without the need to chop onions into tiny pieces. You can use onion powder but use half the amount.
  4. The cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes add a little kick to the chili; feel free to adjust the amount to suit your family's taste. Or leave them out completely.
  5. I use Heinz Ketchup, but you can use your favorite brand here. In Australia and New Zealand, it is commonly referred to as tomato sauce.
  6. You can use regular white sugar instead. But the brown has a more complex flavor and does work better in the sauce.
  7. The exact time it takes to cook your sauce depends on the heat of the flame and the construction of your skillet or frying pan. You want all the water to have evaporated but not so much that the mixture is dry and starting to stick to the pan.

Nutrition

Calories: 316kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 778mg | Potassium: 516mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 853IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 3mg
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