Big Daddy's Chili Dog
Big Daddy's Chili Dog
Michelle's chili dog sauce — not too spicy, packed with flavor, and perfect for tailgating or backyard gatherings.
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Recipe credit: Michelle. She worked on several versions before landing on this one — and it's a winner. Not real spicy but packed with deep flavor. This chili sauce is the perfect topping for hot dogs while tailgating or hosting family gatherings.
🌭 What You'll Need
- 2 lbs ground chuck
- 1 cup water
- 10 oz tomato sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp sugar
- 4 tsp smoked chili powder
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard
- ½ tsp liquid smoke
- Pinch of cinnamon
- Hot dogs and buns of your choice
How to Make It
- Place ground chuck in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the water and bring to a simmer.
- Break apart the meat as it simmers until completely cooked through and very fine in texture.
- Strain all the water and grease from the meat.
- Add the meat back to the saucepan and add all remaining ingredients — tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire, onion powder, salt, pepper, sugar, chili powder, mustard, liquid smoke, and the pinch of cinnamon.
- Stir to combine and simmer on low for at least 1 hour — longer is better. The longer it simmers the deeper the flavor gets.
- Cook your hot dogs to your liking and build the dog with the chili and whatever other toppings you love.
🔥 Big Daddy's Tips:
- The longer this simmers the better — 2 hours is ideal. Make it the day before and reheat for even better flavor.
- Breaking the meat down very fine while cooking is key to a great chili dog sauce — you want it smooth enough to pile on a bun without everything falling off.
- Don't skip the pinch of cinnamon — it sounds odd but it adds a warmth and depth that you can't quite put your finger on but definitely notice when it's missing.
- This sauce freezes perfectly — make a big batch and freeze in portions for easy game day prep all season long.
- Classic toppings: yellow mustard, shredded cheddar, diced onion. Build it your way!
Make It Your Own
This chili sauce isn't just for hot dogs — it's great on burgers, over fries (chili cheese fries!), on nachos, or as a dip with chips. Make a double batch and find out how many ways you can use it.
GET YOU SOME! 🔥
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