April was a record sales month at my office. And we all know what that means. It’s PARTY TIME. We decided on a Hot Diggity Dog Party with all the fixins. I’ve been wanting to share my Hot Dog Chili Recipe and this was the perfect chance.

Hot Dog Chili is quite different from traditional chili…if there is a traditional chili. The main difference is the texture. Hot Dog Chili has a fine texture which works oh so nicely as a topping for your favorite hot dog.

Start with finely diced onion, sautéed until tender. Then add in minced garlic and sauté for an additional minute before adding the ground beef.

The key to achieving the fine texture is adding water while you are browning the meat. About a 1/2 cup of water per each pound of meat will do the trick.

Once your meat is cooked through and no longer pink, it’s time to season.

Because I was making this batch to serve to 50 people I kept the seasoning pretty tame. A combination of chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper and a pinch of cayenne.

Next comes a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and tomato sauce. Simmer the chili for about 20 minutes then adjust seasoning to taste.

I mentioned Hot Dogs and all the fixins. In addition to hot dogs and hot dog chili we had coleslaw, sauerkraut, baked beans, tossed salad, macaroni & cheese, a giant pot of homemade chili, and an amazing Frito Salad. As a bonus I’m sharing this super fun and hugely popular recipe that my buddy and co-worker Bethany brought today.

Frito Salad
1 full size bag (10.5 ounce) Fritos
1 green bell pepper, diced
4-5 Roma tomatoes, diced
1 cup shredded cheese
1 can Ranch Style beans (seasoned kidney beans)
1/2 – 1 cup Catalina Dressing

Combine peppers, tomatoes, beans, cheese and about 1/2 cup dressing. Right before serving toss with Fritos. Add additional dressing if needed.

All my best,
xo Libby

Hot Dog Chili

Libby with Lemony Thyme

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Cook Time 30

Total Time 30

Servings 6

Ingredients

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 cup water
1 tsp. olive oil
1 small onion finely diced
2-3 garlic cloves minced
1 Tbl. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
pinch cayenne pepper
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup tomato sauce
2-3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
Serve with hot dog buns hot dogs, diced onion & shredded cheddar

Instructions

In a Dutch oven over medium heat, sauté diced onion in oil until tender. Add in garlic and sauté an additional minute then add the ground beef and water.
Use a wooden spoon to stir the meat, breaking it into small pieces. Continue cooking; stirring frequently until meat is cooked through and no longer pink.
Add in seasonings, ketchup, tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer for 20 minutes. Adjust seasonings to taste.