There's not much more satisfying, nor comforting, than taking the first bite of a hot dog topped with a savory, beefy coney sauce. Coney dogs have been an American restaurant staple for generations, but now, it's time to bring that coney sauce home. Coney sauce is quick and easy to make, and you can do it at home, just as good as any restaurant. Actually, you can do it better.
Today, we'll quickly cover everything you need to know to make an easy, one-pan, 15-minute coney sauce at home. Love chili? Add crunchy, cheesy, salty, over-the-top savory Frito Pie to your dinnertime lineup!
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CONEY SAUCE
Coney sauce is a chili, savory and slightly tangy, with just a hint of sweet from its ketchup base. Many hot dog sauce recipes call for an extended cook time on the stovetop to develop flavor, but this is really not necessary. With the right blend of spices and ingredients, you can make an incredible coney sauce in under 20 minutes.
HOT DOG CONEY SAUCE RECIPE OVERVIEW
- Brown ground beef.
- Add ketchup and spices.
- Simmer briefly.
- Add cornstarch slurry and simmer 2 minutes more.
WATCH THIS! HOW TO MAKE HOT DOG CHILI {VIDEO}
This hot dog coney sauce begins like all others -- with ground beef. The beef is quickly browned on the stovetop and then the ketchup goes in.
ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS
Ketchup makes for a quick and ready-made base for hot dog chili. In addition to the ketchup, there are two more ingredients that enable us to develop flavor quickly in this recipe -- tomato paste and soy sauce. These ingredients add an extra savory element to the sauce that works perfectly against the sweetness of the ketchup.
Next in the pan, a perfectly balanced addition of spices: Chili powder and cumin for a smoky element, dried mustard for tang, garlic powder and onion powder for flavor, and of course, salt and pepper. Then, it's time to simmer, allowing the sauce to reduce and giving all those flavors a moment to meld together.
HOW TO THICKEN CONEY SAUCE
The last step of this recipe is as simple as mixing cornstarch and water together to form a slurry and adding it to your coney sauce. The cornstarch slurry is what thickens the coney sauce and it is perfect for a quick-fix chili as it is both fast-acting and flavorless.
Only a 2-3 more minutes of simmering and you're all set to serve!
This hot dog coney sauce is quick and easy enough for a weeknight dinner, but also makes for the perfect addition to hot dogs on the grill at your next barbecue. Please, enjoy!
5 MORE AMERICAN CLASSICS YOU'LL LOVE
- Easy Homemade Hamburger Helper features savory, seasoned ground beef, a quick Cheddar sauce, diced onions, and peppers.
- Crispy Breaded Baked Pork Chops come equipped with a crispy panko breading. They're always tender and never dry!
- Homemade Salisbury Steak is a hearty, ground beef steak served with a heaping helping of brown onion gravy.
- Pizza Bagel Bites are made with miniature bagels, sauce, melty Mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni.
- Baked BBQ Chicken features crisp dark meat chicken, brushed with barbecue sauce and baked to perfection!
Coney Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound 80/20 ground beef
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 ½ teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons water, separated
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Instructions
- In a large saute pan over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and break it apart using a wooden spoon. Saute the ground beef for 10 minutes, or until completely browned and cooked through.
- If desired, spoon out the majority of the grease by first removing the pan from the heat or open flame. Then, using a spatula, push the meat to one side of the pan. Have ready a small bowl to collect the excess grease. Tilt the pan slightly and spoon out the grease. Wipe any drippings away, and return to the heat.
- Add the ketchup, tomato paste, soy sauce, chili powder, salt, garlic powder, ground mustard, pepper, onion powder, cumin and ¾ cup of water, and stir to combine. Allow the mixture to come to a simmer and reduce the heat to medium-low to maintain a proper simmer. Simmer for 4-6 minutes, or until the liquid has reduced by about half.
- In a small bowl, add the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of cold water. Whisk until combined, and pour into the sauce. Stir, and allow to simmer for 2-3 minutes more, until slightly thickened. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
Karen says
Like the name suggests, this recipe is perfect for hot dogs! I just needed to pick up a pound of ground beef because all other ingredients were already in my kitchen. So easy and quick to make! The only change I would make is to leave out the salt, because the soy adds the saltiness, and maybe adding onion?
Kelly Anthony says
Hey, Karen! Thank you so much! Feel free to make it your own 🙂 Best of luck and happy cooking!
Nikki says
What is the serving size in your calculations?
Kelly Anthony says
About 2-3 heaping tablespoons per dog 🙂
Claudia Lamascolo says
oh this chili sounds so authentic and I love that coney sauce it will really enhance any ho hum hotdog meal!
Marie – Not Enough Cinnamon says
Ok now I want to try your sauce and eat a million hot dogs! This looks amazing and so flavorful Kelly!
Tania | Fit Foodie Nutter says
Although I'm not a meat eater myself, my family would love this recipe I'm sure! It would be perfect for the Bonfire Night too! Thank you for sharing.
Kelly Anthony says
Thanks, Tania!
rebecca says
this chili looks delicious! Plus, great tip about the cast iron, I'll remember to not cook anything acidic in my skillet until it's well seasoned!
Mary Bostow says
Love Love Love this recipe! I'm sure these tastes are amazing! So YUMMY! Wonderful combination of ingredients.
ali randall says
Looks delicious. My kids will go crazy over this. They love hot dogs with a little special topping. This would be perfect for game day.
Elaine Benoit says
This hot dog chili sauce looks outstanding! I love how thick and rich it looks! Can't wait to try it and I may just have to eat it without the hotdog but in a bun! 🙂
Danielle says
That chilli looks so rich and thick. Such a great idea to put it on a hot dog too.
Dawn says
It's legit been, like, a million years since I've had a hot dog. Ok, not a million, but a long time. This looks like the perfect way to enjoy one again soon! Talk about hearty 🙂
Ginny says
Love the mixture of spices in that Coney sauce. I can't wait to make it!
Allison - Celebrating Sweets says
This is the perfect meal for football season! Trying it on our next game day!
Mirlene says
This is comfort food to the ultimate right here! I could just eat these hot dogs right off the screen. Definitely mouthwatering. Hearty and comforting.
Gloria says
I would for sure find lots of ways to eat this Coney Sauce...like by the spoonful LOL!! It would be great with eggs for breakfast. What a great dinner option.
Sues says
Oh man, these look heavenly!! And I'm pretty sure my husband would think he'd died and gone to heaven if I made these for him! It must be hard not to eat the sauce with a spoon!
Kelly Anthony says
Ha! Chili dogs are a heavenly thing, indeed 😉 Thank you, Sues!
Chichi says
This is absolutely delicious and easy to make. I love it.
Danielle Wolter says
I am def making this. I love hot dogs and never think to make a coney sauce to go with them, Great recipe!!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest says
This is my kind of hot dog topper for sure! Great for game-day eats and definitely perfect for 4th of July or any random Saturday barbecue! Saving this one.
Ipsa Faujdar says
Looks delicious. I would love to make vegetarian version. Can we replace meat and pork with scrumbled paneer or tofu?
Kelly Anthony says
Hi, Ispa! I wish I could be of more help, but I've never used those ingredients before. We're pretty carnivorous around here 😉
rebecca says
20 minutes?! yes please! I actually don't think I've had Coney sauce before, this will have to change
Lauren Vavala | DeliciousLittleBites says
I haven't had a hot dog is forever, but I am seriously craving one right now after seeing your beautiful photos! This recipe sounds just perfect to me!
Megan | Ginger Mom and Company says
I never knew coney sauce was just chili. My dad makes chili dogs all the time. I'm going to have to give this one a try and see what he thinks 🙂
Kelly Anthony says
Yes! Thank you so much, Megan!
Jeannette (Jay Joy) says
This recipe is perfect! I am from the Bronx, New York and used to go to Coney Island every summer as a child. These brought me so many good memories.
Amanda says
I haven't had a coney dog in so long, but this just gave me the biggest craving. I'm already starting to gather Super Bowl recipes, but I don't know if I can wait that long! Can't wait to try this.
Stine Mari says
I usually just use ketchup and mustard on my hot dogs, but this is a nice twist! It makes more of a complete meal out of the hot dog, I love it!
Sherri says
Totally craving a hot dog right now...with this killer coney sauce, of course! So hearty and flavorful! A perfect addition to hot dog night! 🙂
Jessica says
I love this kind of comforting sauces on hot dogs. The messier, the better! And I cannot believe it takes only 15 minutes to make!
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you, Jessica! Bonus, right?! Ha!
Analida Braeger says
What a great way to add pizazz to a hot dog party. Chili dogs are both filling and protein packed. Can you sub out ketchup to make it less sweet?
Aleta says
YES!!! My favourite type of dog is fully loaded with chili. I've never heard of Coney Sauce before but look forward to giving it a go next time I make hot dogs! Love that it can be made quickly. Yum!
Veena Azmanov says
I do love hot dogs but I think I'd eat all this sauce just on its own by the spoon. It looks so delicious. My kids would feast over this dish for sure. They love hot dog rolls. Saving this for later.
Dana says
This is a great way to dress up a hot dog and make it absolutely delicious! I'm pinning this for later use!
Jacqueline Debono says
I have never had a hot dog with coney sauce but it sounds scrumptious! Love all the spices in there!
Kiki Johnson says
I have never heard of coney sauce before...I think it's less common here in Canada! As I LOVE all things ground beef, this one would be right down my alley for sure! Your pictures got me drooling and the recipe looks straightforward and easy! LOVE
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you so much, Kiki!!! 🙂
April says
I love hot dogs. They work best for me when I am out far exploring a new area. I don't want to stop for too long but I don't want to compromise on the food either. But your recipe is... stunning!
Claire | The Simple, Sweet Life says
My parents' favorite coney island hot dog place that was around for most of their childhood and adult years recently closed down. I know my dad has been lamenting the fact that he can't get his favorite coney island chili dog anymore, so I'm definitely going to have to give this recipe a try!
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
Wow, now that looks like a hot dog! I can't believe I have been missing out! I can't wait to make this coney sauce.
Donna says
Oh yay, this comes at the perfect time. I just moved to Aus from the US and was craving a good ol American hotdog!! Now I can get that flavor I have been craving at home 🙂
Leslie Haasch says
I don't eat hot dogs, but I guarantee I can find a perfectly good use for this chili sauce! On top of nachos, directly in my mouth... hah!
Nicole says
Okay, so I am not a fan of chili dogs. But your photos definitely leave an impression. Definitely pinned!
Maddy says
I hate to admit it but I LOVE hotdogs.. I try to refrain but this coney sauce looks too good not to try! Definitely saving this for one of my cheat days. YUM! Thanks for sharing!
Gloria says
I have never tried coney sauce, but I am a chili lover. This sounds like my kind of topping. Meat on top of meat! A crowd pleaser for sure. Make lots, the guys at the party will eat at least 2 each!!
Tara says
To be honest, I can't eat hot dogs without Coney Sauce, and this one looks amazing. I can't wait to try it!
Stine Mari says
I've never tried this type of sauce on my hot dogs before, but I'd love to try it. It looks very delicious!
Geetanjali says
The coiny sauce looks so tempting and flavorful! Though never tried it before. But now I must prepare this. Thanks for sharing!
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you, Geetanjali!
Kacie Morgan says
Now THAT is what I call a hotdog. Please excuse me as I wipe the drool from my keyboard!
Jeannette (Jay Joy) says
YES, please! I want to bring that coney sauce home! I live in another country now but grew up in New York, going to Coney Island as a child in the summers. I can NOT wait to try this! Thanks!
Kelly Anthony says
Hey Jeannette! That is awesome! Yay! So glad you found it 🙂
Candiss says
This looks like the perfect thing to make to mix up the standard hot dog toppings at a summer cook out!
Jori says
I never knew these were called Coney dogs! They certainly make a boardwalk favorite even better.
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you, Jori!
Jacqueline Debono says
I have never had a Coney dog but I need to change that soon. These hot dogs look so good and flavourful. Can't wait to try them out!