Description
This Homemade Coney Island Hot Dog Sauce recipe delivers a flavorful, savory meat sauce perfect for topping classic hot dogs. Richly spiced with chili powder, allspice, and a hint of cinnamon, this sauce is simmered to a slightly runny consistency that complements hot dog buns, onions, mustard, and melted cheddar cheese for an authentic Coney Island experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- ½ tsp salt (or more to taste)
- ¼ tsp ground allspice
- ¼ tsp ground mustard
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ⅛ tsp ground cumin
- ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon
- ⅙ tsp freshly ground black pepper (or more to taste)
- ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 2 cups water
Hot Dogs
- 12 hot dogs
- 12 hot dog buns
Toppings
- 2 large onions, finely chopped
- Prepared yellow mustard, to taste
- Optional: Shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Brown the beef: In a medium-sized pot or pan, heat the olive oil and cook the ground beef over medium heat until fully browned. Drain off any excess liquid to prevent the sauce from becoming greasy.
- Add onions: Stir in the finely chopped onions with the browned beef and cook until the onions are softened and translucent to build a flavorful base.
- Mix spices: Combine chili powder, salt, allspice, ground mustard, garlic powder, cumin, cinnamon, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Add these spices to the meat and onions, mixing thoroughly to coat evenly.
- Incorporate tomato paste and water: Stir in the tomato paste until well blended. Pour in 2 cups of water and give everything a good stir to loosen the mixture.
- Simmer the sauce: Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer gently for 1 to 2 hours. This slow cooking allows the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly, maintaining a somewhat runny consistency typical of authentic Coney Island sauce.
- Prepare hot dogs: While the sauce is simmering, cook the hot dogs according to your preference—boiling, grilling, or pan-frying—then place them in hot dog buns.
- Assemble and serve: Spoon the warm Coney Island sauce over each hot dog, then top with finely chopped onions, a drizzle of prepared yellow mustard, and shredded cheddar cheese if desired. Serve immediately for a classic and delicious hot dog experience.
Notes
- The sauce can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Adjust cayenne pepper to control the heat level to your preference.
- The simmering time can be flexible; longer cooking deepens flavor but keep the sauce slightly runny.
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and make draining easier.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with textured vegetable protein or lentils and vegetable broth for water.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Simmering, Browning
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 hot dog with sauce and bun
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: Coney Island hot dog sauce, homemade hot dog sauce, chili dog sauce, ground beef sauce, American hot dog recipe
