Cincinnati Chili Dogs
A game day favourite! Hot dogs served in soft buns, topped with mustard, Copycat Skyline Chili, diced onions, and shredded cheddar cheese.
These Cincinnati Chili Dogs are a game day favourite! Hot dogs served in soft buns, topped with mustard, Cincinnati chili, diced onions, and shredded cheddar cheese. Serve them up undressed, surrounded by toppings and you’ve got a winning hot dog board.
What is Cincinnati chili?
Cincinnati chili is more of a meat sauce than a chili, despite the name. It doesn’t contain any beans or chopped vegetables (like onions, peppers, etc.) that are commonly found in chili. Its flavour profile is more mediterranean in nature, similar to a Greek meat sauce. It’s loaded with chili powder, but also cinnamon, cumin, allspice, and cloves. Further, it’s never eaten on its own in a bowl. Instead it’s served on spaghetti or hot dogs (like we’re doing here). Whatever you call it, it’s absolutely delicious and totally worth making!
How to make Cincinnati chili dogs
Cincinnati chili is a breeze to make! There’s no fussing with beans or chopping vegetables. Start with a simmering pot of water, tomato paste, and chocolate. Add the spices and seasonings. Crumble in the beef. Cook for 60-90 minutes. While that’s simmering away, all that’s left to do is cook up your hot dogs, warm the buns, prepare any other toppings (like shredded cheese and diced onions) and you’re ready to go.
Step 1: In a large pot, add the water, tomato paste, and chocolate. Bring to a simmer over medium heat to melt the chocolate. Stir to combine.
Step 2: Add the vinegar, plus all the spices, salt, sugar, and seasonings. Using your hands, crumble in the ground beef. Using a meat chopper, potato masher, or spatula, break up the beef into small pieces. Bring to a boil over high heat.
Step 3: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for 60-90 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened. You want a nice thick chili so it stays put on top of your hot dog.
Step 4: Prepare the hot dogs, using your preferred cooking method (I recommend grilling them on the BBQ or cooking them in an air fryer). Warm the buns. Arrange the hot dogs in their buns. Top with mustard, chili, diced onion, and shredded cheese.
How to cook hot dogs in an air fryer? Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Cook the hot dogs for 4-5 minutes (or until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F), turning halfway through cooking. Done!
How to serve Cincinnati chili dogs
Hot dog + bun + mustard + chili + onion + cheese. That’s how local Cincinnati chili parlour Skyline Chili serves their chili dogs (aka “cheese coneys”). Topped with mustard, covered with chili, diced onions, and a mound of shredded cheddar cheese. To make serving easy, simply set out all the individual toppings and let people top their own dogs.
Looking for more game day recipes? Try my cozy, cheesy, Creamy Baked Mac & Cheese, or my French Dip Sandwiches made with tender Instant Pot roast beef, softened onions, melted cheese, and delicious jus.
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Cincinnati Chili Dogs
Ingredients
- 8 hot dogs
- 8 hot dog buns
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 white onion, diced
- yellow mustard
For the chili
- 4 cups water
- 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 lb ground beef
Instructions
- In a large pot, add the water, tomato paste, and chocolate. Bring to a simmer over medium heat to melt the chocolate. Stir to combine.
- Add the vinegar, plus all the spices, salt, sugar, and seasonings.
- Using your hands, crumble in the ground beef. Using a meat chopper, potato masher, or spatula, break up the beef into small pieces.
- Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for 60-90 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened. You want a nice thick chili so it stays put on top of your hot dog.
- Cook the hot dogs. Warm the buns. Arrange the hot dogs in their buns. Top with mustard, chili, diced onion, and shredded cheese.
Notes
Chili recipe adapted from The Chunky Chef.
