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West Virginia hot dog

My Dad's West Virginia Hot Dog Sauce

A simple, West Virginia-style hot dog sauce recipe that's perfect for all your summer cookouts. Whether you call it a hot dog sauce or a hot dog chili recipe, you'll love this thick, savory beef topping on all your dogs this year.
4.50 from 18 votes
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Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 232kcal

Equipment

  • Large skillet

Ingredients

  • pounds 85/15 ground beef
  • 14.5- ounce can beef broth
  • 1 yellow onion, peeled and finely diced
  • 1 hot pepper, such as jalapeño or cherry pepper, trimmed and finely minced
  • 1 small red bell pepper, trimmed, seeded, and finely diced
  • 7- ounce can tomato paste
  • 1–2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne powder, more or less to taste
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • 12- ounce jar Heinz chili sauce or use ½ cup ketchup
  • Salt, pepper, and sugar if needed

Instructions

Brown the beef:

  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon for 15–20 minutes until browned and cooked through. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Transfer the cooked beef to a paper towel-lined plate and discard all but 2 teaspoons of fat in the skillet.

Cook the onion and peppers:

  • Return the skillet to the stove over medium heat. Add the onion and both diced peppers and cook until softened, about 5–7 minutes. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  • Add the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, cayenne powder, paprika, and turmeric. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add the tomato paste and mash it into the skillet. Cook for 1–3 minutes until it deepens in color.
  • Return the beef to the pot and toss to combine.

Simmer the hot dog sauce:

  • Pour in the beef broth and add the chili sauce. Taste and add more salt, pepper, and a pinch of sugar if needed. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for at least 30 minutes until thick.
  • Stir the hot dog sauce occasionally as it cooks. If the liquid evaporates too quickly, add a splash or two of water.
  • If the hot dog sauce is too thin, turn the heat up a touch and continue simmering until the liquid evaporates.
  • Taste and season once more before serving.

To serve:

  • Serve the hot dog sauce on top of your favorite hot dog. Be sure to warm the buns first! I like to microwave them so they’re soft, but toast or grill them if you prefer. Serve with ketchup, mustard, and finely minced yellow onion on top. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 232kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 13g | Sodium: 819mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin C: 7mg
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