Homemade hot dog chili is so much better than the canned stuff and making this Instant Pot Southern hot dog chili recipe is simple and easy!
Unlike the traditional versions where you cook the chili long and slow; this recipe is made in a short time.

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!
Watch how to make Instant Pot hot dog chili
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.
What ingredients do you need?
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
- 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
- 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 it?
The hotdog chili freezes well also. I will make a big batch and freeze half for later use.
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.
The sauce will flavor the turkey and you will not be able to taste much of a difference.
*This post contains affiliate links.
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.
For other quick Instant Pot recipes, check out:
- 15 Minute Instant Pot Salsa Verde Chicken
- 20 Minute Instant Pot Jalapeño Mongolian Beef
- Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
- Instant Pot Orange Chicken
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
- 2 cups ketchup
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup 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 lbs ground beef and 1 cup chopped onion 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 2 cups ketchup, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, ¼ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup mustard, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, ½ teaspoon celery salt, and 1 tablespoon chili powder.2 cups ketchup, ¼ cup 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.
Savita
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
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
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
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
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
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
Fast, easy, and tastes great.
Mindy Peters
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.
Katie
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.
Shannon Lecompte
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.
JimG
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
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!
Katie
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.
Victoria Ruiz
You think this would come out well on slow cook?
Teresa
Wow...mine has never said "burn."
gracie
am i the only one whos pot keeps saying burn? really good stuff though
heather
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
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!