Guilty Pleasures: Chili Dogs!

Chili dogs!

I love them.

Every greasy, salty unhealthy crumb.

They used to be my hangover cure. Now they're just my dirty little culinary secret.

I was at Meijer searching for the ingredients of a braised chicken dish when it hit – A craving from deep in my belly. It felt like a need greater than that of oxygen in my very lungs.

I had to have a chili dog - or four.

Not some fancy frank with a special homemade blend of sauce and fresh-made bun. I wanted a regular hot dog smothered in canned chili and delivered on wonder-bread. The kind of chili dog that will increase the chance of a heart attack by 37,000 times if eaten to often.

This dog isn't what you want to make if trying to impress a date or ingest for energy to run a 5K. A vegetarian would have an instant nervous breakdown at the sight of one of these dogs being devoured.

Yes indeed. A cheap package of hot dogs and a 10.5 oz can of no-bean, Hormel chili are essential to this sensational feast. I prefer diced red onion and shredded cheese as a garnish, and I always toast the buns.

Together these sinful treasures culminate in pure culinary bliss.

I probably eat chili dogs like this once every three or four months, I don't know if it's some pychological disorder or what, but I really do have a craving for these things, and I think they taste amazing!

Eat well, cook often ...

THE RECIPE
1 10.5 oz can of Hormel chili
8 hot dogs
8 hot dog buns
1/4 C diced onion
1/2 C shredded cheese (cheddar or jack)

Heat chili in a sauce pan on the stove or microwave in a micrwoave safe bowl. Cook dogs on a grill or on the stove. Toast buns. Place dog on bun, slather with chili, sprinkle with onion and cheese. Devour! 

Custom Hot Dog Bar

Printable version

Hot dogs are a year-round guilty pleasure for myself, especially with chili! It’s the summer time though – when dogs seem to be synonymous with campfires and grills – that I eat them most. They’re one of the easiest meals that can be produced on a fire and only require hands to devour, making them ideal for backyard parties and 20 minutes snacks before heading off to the ball park.

Hot dogs can also be taken to another level of flavor with a few simple toppings. A can of chili, some nacho cheese or a slice of bacon and dressing from the fridge are all that is needed to put a flavor twist on this American classic. There are limitless combinations of garnishes that can be used, which make hot dogs an ideal center piece to a bar of toppings for a summer party.

This post contains a few suggestions for toppings that will create three distinct and delicious hot dogs, but adding more or mixing the toppings creates endless snack possibilities for around the campfire.

BEHIND THIS BITE

Custom Hot Dog Bar

This is the first time I have created my weekly print column and used only one photograph to illustrate the recipe, in fact there are 3 recipes in one photo! I just thought the best way to illustrate a column about a hot dog bar was to photograph three custom dogs with all of the ingredients visible.

It only took one shot!

This is a big moment in the four-year history of my food column! I’m not going to start doing one-photo recipes all the time, but if it makes sense to illustrate my concept in general, I will gladly try the one photo approach. In fact, I have already done it again with another column that I haven’t published yet but will in the next couple of weeks.

I really like how this turned out, there is something very magazine about one bold picture. I love the detailed multiple-photo approach that most of my columns feature, but I have to admit there is something very yummy about one big ol’ pic of delicious food!

Eat, well, cook often ...

THE RECIPES

Custom Hot Dog Bar

NACHO DOG
Nacho cheese, pickled jalapeno, crushed tortilla chips and a sprinkle of cumin.

REUBEN DOG
Corned beef, sauerkraut, swiss cheese and 1000 Island dressing

AVOCADO DOG
Avocado, bacon, tomato, onion and squeeze of lime

Homemade Chili Dogs

Printable version

When it comes to hot dogs there is one item that stands alone as the best topping – chili. Chili dogs are my favorite guilty pleasure, I don’t indulge in them very often, but when I do – I go crazy.

Years ago, I used to eat chili dogs after a late night out on the town. There was something comforting and hangover-curing about a hot dog smothered in Hormel chili that seemed to get the day going for me. Not sure if the dogs contained a little magic or it was just what a 20-something guy living in New York City needed to get his ass off the coach after a late night of beer swilling.

For this recipe, I make my own chili sauce for the dogs. I started by browning the ground beef. While it cooked I made sure to completely break it up into fine little bits. When it was finished I draining most of the fat away. The aromatics were next and when ready I mixed in a little tomato paste to help thicken the final product. I returned the meat, stirred in the spices and beef broth then brought it to a simmer. I cooked the mixture until most of the liquid had evaporated and was thickened into a nice sauce to coat the meat.

The end result is a meaty chili, loaded with flavor and perfect on top of a frank. I finish the dog with a little cheese and raw red onion. Then it was time to devour a couple or 6!

BEHIND THIS BITE
This is the second dog inspired by a hot dog bar I created recently for a gathering that I attended. No hot dog bar could be complete without chili for chili dogs, it wouldn’t be a hot dog bar without it. The last time I made chili for chili dogs I went with a Cincinnati-style chili which included cinnamon and clove. This time I stuck with a more traditional chili flavor and made a meatier sauce than usual. The chili reminded my of a Mexican bolognese. It had that fine textured meaty quality to it. I thought it held the flavor well and made a nice topping for the dog.

If I were to do this same sauce again I may add a half cup of crushed tomato or tomato puree just to make it more saucy. That’s all I would change though because this really packed a great chili flavor and was perfect for dogs. It wasn’t bad eating alone either - I ate about a third of it just snacking on the chili while I took pictures of the dogs for the blog.

Eat well, cook often ...

THE RECIPE
Makes 16 hot dogs; 45 minutes
2 lbs Ground beef
1/2 C Onion, diced
1/4 C Jalapeño seeded, diced
2 Tbs Tomato paste
1 Tbs Garlic, minced
1 C Beef broth
2 Tbs Chili powder
1 Tbs Cumin
2 tsp Mexican oregano
16 Hot dogs
16 Hot dog bun

FOR GARNISH
1 C Cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 C Onion diced

Brown beef
In a pot over medium heat brown ground beef, 6 to 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove to a paper-towel lined plate and drain all but 1 tablespoon of the drippings.

Create chili base
Add onion and jalapeño to pot and cook until soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in garlic and tomato paste, cook 2 minutes more.

Make chili
Return ground beef to pot, add chili powder, cumin, oregano and broth. Bring to a simmer and cook 35 minutes or until thickened slightly. Adjust seasoning if necessary and remove from heat.

Cook and assemble dogs
While chili simmers, cook hot dogs on a grill over medium heat until cooked through, turning often, 6 to 8 minutes. On a bun layer hot dog, chili, cheddar cheese and diced onion. Then serve.

Ranch Coleslaw Bacon Dogs

Printable version

Hot Dogs are a summertime staple. I couldn’t imagine going an entire summer without having at least one at either a family gathering or a cookout. I think they’re as American as apple pie. I will eat a hot dog with just ketchup and mustard, but I love to dress them up with everything from chili to lettuce and tomato.

For this recipe, I adorn my hot dogs with one of my favorite flavor combos of all-time - bacon and ranch. The creamy coleslaw is really a vehicle for the ranch flavor in this and acts as a relish and condiment all-in-one. When I assemble it I place a full strip of bacon right beside the dog before topping with the slaw.

The two combine to give this summer classic a great flavor that will have you going back for seconds and possibly thirds.

BEHIND THIS BITE
I recently put together a hot dog bar for a church gathering that included chili, cheese, sauerkraut and a few other toppings usually found on hot dogs. This inspired me to create a couple of new ones here at the blog.

The hot dog bar that I made for the church was put together with all store-bought items for convenience and cost effectiveness. I couldn’t believe how well it went over. I was worried that people would be turned off by the dogs and their reputation for being unhealthy, but to my surprise they were a huge hit and everyone was able to make a dog the way they wanted it to be.

I hope that I get the opportunity one day to go all out and cater an event that requires a gourmet hot dog bar. It would be a fun way to feed a crowd, and a great way to come up with some outstanding new dogs to gobble down for those mid-summer cookouts.

Eat well, cook often ...

THE RECIPE
Makes 8 dogs; 20 minutes active; 50 minutes total
3 C Coleslaw mix
1/3 C Mayo
1 Tbs Vinegar
1 Tbs Sugar
1 Tbs Vegetable oil
1 1/2 Tbs Ranch seasoning mix
8 strips Bacon
8 hot dogs
8 hot dog buns

Make slaw
In a bowl mix together cabbage, mayo, vinegar, vegetable oil, sugar and ranch seasoning. Refrigerate and let sit for at least half an hour.

Cook bacon, dogs
On a broiler pan in a preheated 425° oven, cook the bacon until crisp, 15 minutes. On a prepared grill cook hot dogs until cooked through, turning periodically. 6 to 8 minutes.

Assemble dogs
Place a dog and strip of bacon in a hot dog bun and top with coleslaw, then serve.