Chili dogs

Name: Chili dogs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: Serves 6
Cuisine: American recipes
Ingredients: For the chilli; 1 tsp vegetable oil; 6 smoked streaky bacon rashers, finely chopped; 250g beef mince; ½ tsp onion powder; ½ tsp garlic powder; ½ tsp chilli powder; 500ml tomato passata; 1 tbsp tomato ketchup; 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce; 1 tsp chipotle paste; For the hot dogs; 6 large hot dog sausages; 6 hot dog buns; 6 tsp grated cheddar or red leicester; Sliced pickled jalapeños or finely chopped red onion to serve; American-style mustard to serve

Pollyanna Coupland
Food producer, delicious.

Published: 11 Jul 25
Updated: 11 Jul 25

Chili dogs are an American icon. Learn how to make these hot dogs topped with simple chilli and embrace the messiness. Napkins at the ready!

Barbecue favourite: Chili dogs are an easy crowd-pleaser for barbecues and summer parties. The chilli is different to a proper chilli con carne with its long, slow cooking time. It was developed for maximum flavour in minimum time, especially to be served on the hotdog, with no chunky beans or peppers making it more tricky to eat.
Easy make-ahead recipe: Chilli is always better reheated, so do make up a batch in advance if you’re entertaining a big crowd.

Browse more brilliant barbecue recipes, including hot dogs, burgers and plenty of meat-free options.

Serves 6
Prep time 10 min. Cook time 30 min

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Ingredients

For the chilli

1 tsp vegetable oil
6 smoked streaky bacon rashers, finely chopped
250g beef mince
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp chilli powder
500ml tomato passata
1 tbsp tomato ketchup
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp chipotle paste

For the hot dogs

6 large hot dog sausages
6 hot dog buns
6 tsp grated cheddar or red leicester
Sliced pickled jalapeños or finely chopped red onion to serve
American-style mustard to serve

Method

Begin by making the chilli. Heat the oil in the pan, then add the bacon and mince and cook on a medium-high heat for 7-8 minutes until browned and caramelised. Add the rest of the ingredients, then simmer for 20 minutes. Taste and season.
Make a few diagonal slits across the hot dogs on both sides, then cook in a hot dry pan (or on a griddle) until hot and crisped up. Add them to the hot dog buns, then spoon over some chilli. Finish with a handful of cheese and some jalapeños or red onion and a squirt of mustard.

Recipe from August 2025 Issue

Nutrition

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 549kcals
Fat: 29g (10g saturated)
Protein: 28g
Carbohydrates: 41g (11g sugars)
Fibre: 3.2g
Salt: 2.5g

delicious. tips

Making little slits in the hot dogs gives you more texture in the form of nice crispy bits, and the chilli gets in there too.

Choose whatever % fat beef mince you prefer, but 15-20% fat mince will give you the most flavour.

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Chili dogs

Ingredients

Method

Nutrition

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delicious. tips

Or, how about...?

Vegan hot dogs

Classic chilli con carne

Tex-Mex inspired cheeseburger

Smash burgers

Sauerkraut hot dogs with spiced shallots

Currywurst with sticky-onion oven fries

More to discover