10+ BUDGET FRIENDLY CHILI DOG DINNER RECIPES (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient in hot dogs? ›

Sodium nitrite - A ingredient responsible for curing, sodium nitrite is 1)anti-oxidant which keeps hot dogs from quickly going rancid; 2) gives cured meats their characteristic pink color and their unique cured taste; and 3) inhibits many dangerous bacteria helping make the hot dogs much safer.

A chili dog is usually any type of hot dog in a bun topped with chili that has beans in it. A coney dog is specifically a beef frankfurter topped with an all-meat sauce made with a number of spices and no beans!

According to cooking blog, The Country Cook, hotdog chili is thicker than regular chili and uses tomato paste. The blogger also defines hot dog sauce as just a little thinner than hot dog chili. Another cooking blog, Gonna Want Seconds, however, defines hot dog chili as slightly thinner than regular chili.

Although canned chili will already have some seasonings, fresh herbs and spices will add bolder flavor. You can upgrade your chili using ingredients you likely already have on your spice rack, such as chili powder, ground cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper.

“You want to look for an uncured hot dog without nitrates, 100% beef (grass-fed is even better), chicken, turkey or pork, and typically water listed as the next ingredient. You want to find a label with the sodium content below 450 mg and the saturated fat content as low as possible.”

A Carolina dog usually has chili, slaw and onions; a Chicago dog has yellow mustard, chopped white onions, bright green sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, pickled sport peppers and a dash of celery salt and is served on a poppy seed bun.

Additional toppings may include cheese, onions, and mustard. The style has multiple regional variations in the United States, many calling for specific and unique sauce ingredients, types of hot dogs, or types of buns and referred to regionally under region-specific names.

A Coney dog is a beef frankfurter in natural casing, nestled in a soft, steamed bun. Its topping of an all meat, beanless chili, diced white onions, and yellow mustard distinguishes it from the ordinary hot dog.

For sides: I love potato or macaroni salad and potato chips. If you're having a party serve some fries so people have the option of chili cheese fries! For drinking: ice cold beer or a margarita come to mind for summer refreshing.

A chilli dog, or a chili dog if you're American, is simply a hot dog, in a bun, topped with beef chilli con carne. The majority of chilli dogs, particularly in America, the hot dog itself is just a standard frankfurter and there is much debate over what sort of chilli con carne goes on top.

How to thicken up hot dog chili? ›

Mix in Cornmeal

Another easy way to thicken chili is to add 1 to 2 tablespoons of cornmeal. According to Wofford, the ingredient will soak up the hot liquid, creating a creamy texture (like cooked polenta).

Stir some puréed pumpkin into your chili just after sautéing your aromatics (onions, garlic, etc...) and before adding any liquid. This will deepen and sweeten its flavor, making it a great balance for all the chile peppers and heat.

A smoother chili sauce with fine “grains” of ground beef / beef mince, rather than chunks like bolognese or chili con carne, works best for chili dogs. It's the Ben's Chili Bowl way!

Since the canned meal often doesn't include a variety of textures, Dunleavy recommended adding freshly chopped ingredients for a tasty contrast. "Adding fresh ingredients — like diced onions, cilantro, and jalapenos — will take any canned chili to another level," Dunleavy said.

What are hot dogs made of? Hot dogs are made from the emulsified meat trimmings of chicken, beef, or pork. This meat mixture is blended with other ingredients (like preservatives, spices, and coloring) into a batter-like substance.

An urban myth claims that sodium erythorbate is made from ground earthworms; however, there is no truth to the myth. It is thought that the origin of the legend comes from the similarity of the chemical name to the words earthworm and bait.

With raw or undercooked hot dogs, the concern is Listeria monocytogenes, not worms though… Most hot dogs are pre-cooked though. You just have to reheat them, which is still a very good idea, especially if you are at high risk for food poisoning. But the idea that hot dogs are teeming with parasites is fake.

A vegetarian hot dog is a hot dog produced completely from non-meat products. Unlike traditional home-made meat sausages, the casing is not made of intestine, but of cellulose or other plant-based ingredients. The filling is usually based on some sort of soy protein, wheat gluten, or pea protein.