Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 pound bacon, cut into small pieces
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- 16-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons molasses or honey
- 2 tablespoons sweet paprika
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt to taste
For assembly:
- Hot dogs
- Hot dog buns
- Chopped red onion (for garnish)
- Shredded cheddar or jack cheese (for garnish)
Instructions
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Prepare the chili:
- In a large pot over medium heat, cook the bacon pieces until they begin to crisp.
- Add the chopped onion and sauté until it starts to brown.
- Stir in the ground beef, cooking until it’s well browned. As the beef cooks, mix in the chopped garlic.
- Once the beef is browned, add tomato sauce, molasses (or honey), and beef broth.
- Incorporate the sweet paprika, ground cumin, chili powder, and cayenne pepper (if using). Stir well to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer. Taste and season with salt as needed.
- Let the chili simmer gently for at least 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. If it becomes too thick, add a bit more beef broth.
-
Grill the hot dogs:
- Preheat your grill to medium heat.
- Place the hot dogs on the grill, cooking until they have light char marks and are heated through.
- For added flavor, you can briefly grill the buns until they’re lightly toasted.
-
Assemble the chili dogs:
- Place each grilled hot dog into a bun.
- Spoon a generous amount of chili over each hot dog.
- Top with chopped red onion and shredded cheese.
- Serve immediately, perhaps with extra napkins on hand due to their delightful messiness.