This Instant Pot Southern hot dog chili gives you the deep, slow-simmered flavor in a fraction of the time. It's rich, savory, and hearty enough to spoon on your hot dog like a pro. Once you make this at home, you'll wonder why you ever settle for the canned chili. Your friends and family will go in for seconds and ask you to make it again and again.
"I do not have an instant pot and due to limited space, will not be buying one. However; I do want to let your followers know that this recipe works absolutely perfectly prepared in a heavy Dutch oven type container. Just cook slowly on burner for approximately an hour, stirring frequently. My husband does not like chili on his hot dogs. He is still talking about how great your recipe was on the hot dogs he devoured! He said it was the best chili he had ever tasted. I am ordering the meat grinder that you suggested just to achieve the consistency of the sauce as pictured on your site. I am thankful that I no longer have to research for a hot dog chili recipe that my husband enjoys. This is it! "
-★★★★★Jennie M
Once you top it on your favorite hot dog, you will know why making this homemade Instant Pot Hot Dog Chili is worth the little extra effort!
If you read my Portillo's Restaurant Review, you will know I LOVE hot dogs.
When it comes to a good old-fashioned chili and cheese dog, I want my chili homemade. I don't want that gross stuff out of the can. This recipe is very easy. Everyone of my friends and family have loved it. I hope you do too. Enjoy! Xoxo -Katie.
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Watch how to make Instant Pot hot dog chili
Ingredient notes and substitutions
You need the following ingredients for this Instant Pot Southern hot dog chili:
- ground beef-You can substitute with ground turkey.
- onion-Yellow or white onion.
- ketchup
- apple cider vinegar-Apple cider vinegar gives it a really nice tang. You can substitute with rice vinegar or white vinegar.
- brown sugar
- mustard-I use yellow mustard, but you can add a stone ground mustard.
- Worcestershire sauce
- celery salt (find out how to make homemade celery salt)
- chili powder
Steps
Follow these simple steps to make hot dog chili.
- Turn on saute setting on Instant Pot.
- Saute meat and onion until meat is cooked. (I use the meat grinder tool while I saute it to grind the meat into small pieces.)
- Turn off Instant Pot. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.
- Cook on Manual, High Pressure for 10 minutes.
- Fast release when done.
Can you freeze hotdog chili?
The hotdog chili freezes well also. I double batch it every time I make it so that I can freeze the extra batch. It is nice to have the extra on hand when I don't have time to make any from scratch.
Can you substitute ground turkey for beef?
If you want to make this recipe a little healthier, you can use ground turkey in place of the beef. Ground chicken also works great.
The sauce will flavor the poultry and you will not be able to taste much of a difference.
*This post contains affiliate links.
Cooking Tip
I have this great little hamburger grinder tool I got from Pampered Chef that I used to break down the meat. You don't have to use one, but I recommend it because that is what grinds the meat into tiny pieces. This Amazon version: Chopstir Nylon Chopper does a great job also and it is a little cheaper.
Please leave me a comment below if you make this Instant Pot hot dog chili recipe, and tell me what you thought about it. I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.
Also post your picture of your Southern hot dog sauce on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Southern Hot Dog Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 1½ cups ketchup
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ¼ cup mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon celery salt
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- pepper to taste.
Instructions
- Turn on saute setting on Instant Pot.
- Saute 2 pounds ground beef and 1 cup chopped onions until meat is cooked. (I use the meat grinder tool while I saute it to grind the meat into small pieces.2 pounds ground beef, 1 cup chopped onions
- Turn off Instant Pot. Add 1½ cups ketchup, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, ¼ cup mustard, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, ½ teaspoon celery salt, and 1 tablespoon chili powder1½ cups ketchup, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, ¼ cup mustard, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, ½ teaspoon celery salt, 1 tablespoon chili powder
- Cook on Manual, High for 10 minutes. Fast release when done. Stir and serve.
Robert Rossi says
I'm giving it a 5 even though I prefer a sauce that's not near as red I just can't find a recipe that's like a local shop nick and lou's coney island is kinda thick not red and the owner shared a few secrets white pepper for spice and cracker meal to thicken but I don't know what to use for the base sauce is but this sauce is very good
Derek says
Hopefully previous poster Kathi never made this recipe... with her undoubtedly real (though debunked by decades of research) allergy, the natural glutamates in the ketchup and worcestershire sauce in this recipe would send her into a tailspin. Anyway, just wanted to thank you for such a quick and tasty recipe, it's a real upgrade over any kind of chili in a can, and even my picky daughter doesn't want to eat a hot dog any other way now!
Kathi says
I am highly allergic to MSG so really have to watch what I eat. I love that this hot dog chili has no beans. I don't have an insta pot - I have a Power Pro EL that I absolutely love, but that will work fine too. I have been using pressure cookers since the 1960's. Thank you so much for posting it.
Candice says
Wow! This chili is delicious. My pot is sensitive so I add a little water before I put the lid on. I will use this recipe from now on!
Savita says
This was so delicious, my family loved it. It was so easy to make, I think this is going to be a repetitive meal for us.
Allie Mulhearn says
The third type of bean out there that you might want to look into is called the "large-mouth" bean. These are often sold as "little bean-shaped chilies" and are very popular with many of the people who are making chili for those who cannot eat too much meat.
Jo Ann says
Hi, I tried the recipe to the "T" and it was GREAT! BUT..I too got a burn message twice even though my Instant Pot was clean? So I just simmered it on low for about 10-15 minutes on the stove in a pot and it was still delicious. I will use this from now on.
Vicki Quesenberry says
Love this chili recipe! I've made it in the InstantPot and in an electric skillet, and it's turned out great both ways! Thanks for sharing!
Sarah says
I made with ground venison so if you have any very lean meat, it worked perfectly! Easy and delicious, tangy and just the right spicy heat. Will be freezing some for future hot dogs. Pinned the recipe!
Adrienne P says
We did everything in the frying pan and used half the ketchup. I love garlic so I added like 1/2 teaspoon of garlic but otherwise came out phenomenal!
David says
Fast, easy, and tastes great.
Mindy Peters says
LOVE this recipe but I got the burn message twice. Rarely ever happens to me so I’m a bit perplexed. But, the flavor is fabulous—just then way I like my hot dog chili so I’ll tolerate the burn message. I, too, was born and raised in WV and we ALWAYS had chili on our hot dogs. I can’t imagine any other way!!! Also, hot dog chili should NOT taste like chili with beans that you serve in a bowl. This one is just right!!!
Not sure what to do different—after first burn message I made sure the bottom of the pot was scraped “clean” (well, it was “clean” the first time, as well) but it still happened. Like another reviewer I also drained off the rendered grease. Maybe next time I’ll leave it to have a little more liquid. Bottom line—5+++ stars for taste, 4 stars only for technique.
Shannon Lecompte says
Help! I'm cooking this for the 4th. I keep getting a burn notice before it comes to pressure to do the 10-minute cook time. The only thing I did that was not in the recipe was to drain the fat and juices from the meat and onions before adding the remaining ingredients. Is that not supposed to be done? I even put in on low pressure to see if that would help, but I still got the burn notice.
Katie says
I am sorry. I don't know why you had a burn notice. Sometimes the pots are more sensitive than others.The only thing I can think of is if your meat was sticking to the pan before you turned it on? Did you mix it real good to make sure nothing was sticking to the pan? Sorry I can not be more helpful.
JimG says
Here is tip or hint. I'm from Northern WV where hot dog chilli is an art firm. Do not fry or saute the meat; boil it and attack the meat with a potato masher while it cooks. Drain and use. You lose the fat and gain the right
mouth feel.
Jennie M says
I do not have an instant pot and due to limited space, will not be buying one. However; I do want to let your followers know that this recipe works absolutely perfectly prepared in a heavy Dutch oven type container. Just cook slowly on burner for approximately an hour, stirring frequently. My husband does not like chili on his hot dogs. He is still talking about how great your recipe was on the hot dogs he devoured! He said it was the best chili he had ever tasted. I am ordering the meat grinder that you suggested just to achieve the consistency of the sauce as pictured on your site. I am thankful that I no longer have to research for a hot dog chili recipe that my husband enjoys. This is it!
Victoria Ruiz says
You think this would come out well on slow cook?
Katie says
You would have to saute everything on stovetop and throw it in the slow cooker... So I would think it would be better to just do it in a large pot on stove top and cook it on low heat for an hour, stirring occasionally rather than do a slow cooker.
gracie says
am i the only one whos pot keeps saying burn? really good stuff though
Teresa says
Wow...mine has never said "burn."
heather says
This came out great. My hubby hates hotdog sauce but one bite and he said we will be making more for the freezer. This was also good with tortilla chips and some shredded cheese. I also see this as stuffed avocados also.
karrie @ Tasty Ever After says
I love hot dog chili like this! J is a HUGE hot dog guy (he had a hot dog stand in high school) and he's very picky about what kind of chili tops his dog. I showed him this and he asked me if we could make it this weekend. Thumbs up here!