Ultimate Chili Cheese Dogs with Homemade Chili

These chili cheese dogs with homemade no-bean chili are the ultimate comfort food! Made with brioche buns that are filled with hot dogs and smothered in a generous amount of homemade beef chili, shredded cheddar cheese, diced onions, and optional jalapeños (if you like a spicy kick), there’s nothing basic about these chili dogs. They’re easy enough for a weeknight dinner and great for late summer potlucks.

Author: Cooking with Conks

Meal Type: Peanuts Free

Cuisine: American

Difficulty: EASY

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings: 8 Servings

Calories: 428 kcal per serving

Ingredients

1 lb - lean or extra lean ground beef
½ - red bell pepper
½ - onion
1 tbsp - tomato paste
2 teaspoons - chili powder
1 tsp - cumin powder
½ tsp - onion powder
¼ tsp - garlic powder
1 tbsp - unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp - brown sugar
1 cup - low-sodium beef broth
1 cup - crushed tomatoes canned
1 tbsp - olive oil
1 tbsp - cornstarch
1 tbsp - water
¾ tsp - sea salt
Cracked black pepper
8 - hot dogs
8 - brioche hot dog buns
¼ - onion
Cheddar cheese
Jalapeños

Instructions

Heat oil in a pot over medium heat and add the beef. Season with ½ tsp salt and a couple turns of black pepper. Cook the beef for 8-10 minutes, breaking into small pieces. Remove the beef from the pot and set aside.
Add onions and peppers to the pot and season with ¼ tsp salt and cracked black pepper. Cook for 6-8 minutes or until slightly softened.
Add the cooked ground beef back to the pot.
Make a well in the center of the pot and add tomato paste. Cook for about 1 minute and mix in with the meat and veggies.
Mix in the spices, brown sugar, and cocoa powder and cook 1-2 minutes.
Add in crushed tomatoes and broth, then bring the chili to a low boil.
Reduce heat, cover with a lid, and cook for 30-40 minutes.
Remove lid, skim off any fat from the top of the chili (optional but recommended if not using lean beef), and increase the heat to medium.
Whisk together cornstarch and 1 tbsp water and stir into the chili to thicken.
Heat up the hot dogs in a pan, oven, or on the grill, and warm up the buns in the oven or toaster oven. Then place the hot dogs in the buns.
Top each hot dog with a couple spoonfuls of chili, some shredded cheese, onions, and jalapeños, if using.

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