If you are looking for the Perfect Chili Recipe for the Perfect Hot Dog, you have come to the right place! If I am in the mood for a chili dog or burger, my thoughts first wander to past memories like my first chili dog at the Original Tommy’s off of Rampart and Beverly in Los Angeles or the chili dogs at Pinks in Hollywood. The stand itself at Tommy’s was certainly nothing to talk about. You had to stand up to eat your dog, but the experience was special. Especially at night if you had to work late and nothing would satisfy you quite like a Tommy’s chili dog.
Ever since I wrote about my recipe for making smash burgers, I started thinking I needed to work on a recipe that would remind me of those chili dogs of the past. Burgers need chili too! Check out my recipe here for my smash burger experience!
Some Chili Hints!
So after researching what ingredients and techniques to use in making the best Hot Dog chili sauce, I found a couple of new hints that would add to the flavor of your ultimate chili dog.
- If you are using 80/20 chuck, which is my go-to, you will have some leftover beef drippings after you brown your meat. Save those drippings and make a roux out of it to thicken your chili sauce.
- A lot of the recipes I saw used grated carrots to add a little sweetness to the chili. Make sure you use a fine grate and then chop them to get a much finer result.
- For two lbs of ground beef add 3/4 tsp of baking soda, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 2 Tbl of water to your meat and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Incorporate it well. This will help develop the browning of your meat to a greater degree without losing moisture.
So now your stomach is growling and I have you dreaming about how nice it would be to have a couple of chili dogs. However, I’m telling you this chili recipe will be great with anything, not only burgers and hot dogs. If you are still having memories about eating at Tommy’s, you know they have on their menu a tamale topped with chili and cheese. It just so happens that in my Town of Temecula we have Nana’s Tamales and More. Their tamales are excellent. They have a whole other menu of tacos, burritos, and much more that are definitely worth checking out. Anyway, I used some of my extra chili and their tamales to make a very tasty version of Tommy’s menu item.
Too many carbs? Do an open-face chili dog and use half or no bun and just go for a chili bowl. Do what makes you happy!
Sometimes all we want is a little comfort food from the past. I hope you enjoy my version of chili for your burger, hot dog, or tamale when cooking for the family. Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think! And as always, thanks for Spending Time in My Kitchen!
Tommy’s chili dog sounds incredible! If you’re a fan of Pink’s famous chili, you should definitely check out this Pink’s Hot Dog Chili Recipe – https://www.simplerecipebox.com/pinks-hot-dog-chili-recipe-unlock-secret-flavors-now/. It offers a step-by-step guide to recreating their iconic chili, ensuring you can enjoy those legendary flavors at home.