People may disagree on what makes an authentic Coney Island Hot Dog, but you will agree that this Coney Island Hot Dog Recipe is delicious! Perfectly spiced and full of flavor, this is one hot dog recipe you’ll want to keep on file!
Top it with chili! Try some other chili topped recipes, like these Chili Dog Nachos or this Cincinnati Chili Recipe.
If you’ve been following Taste and Tell for awhile, you know that I kinda love hot dogs. In fact, I have posted full weeks filled with hot dog recipes. Well, it’s been way too long since I’ve even talked about a hot dog, so I decided to repost this Coney Island Hot Dog Recipe.
Would you believe I made this Coney Island Hot Dog Recipe 4 times to get it how I wanted it? Let’s just say my family has had their fill of coney dogs for the next little while. (Me, on the other hand? I don’t think I could ever get sick of them!!)
What is a Coney Island Hot Dog?
I have read article after article online about traditional coney dogs, and I am convinced that no one will ever agree on what a “true” coney island hot dog recipe is. And that’s ok by me. I’ve never been to Coney Island, and I’ve never had an authentic coney island hot dog. And I find it funny that it doesn’t seem like they even originated on Coney Island – but from Greek and Macedonian immigrants in Michigan.
One thing that everyone will agree on, though, is something that sets this hot dog apart from a chili dog – the sauce is an all meat sauce. No beans.
I do love a good chili dog (with beans!) but you won’t find that same sauce on a coney dog.
Another thing that distinguishes a coney dog is serving it topped with onions and mustard.
Ingredients
Ground Beef: If you use a fattier ground beef, make sure to drain off the fat. I usually like to use a 90% lean ground beef.
Onion: Diced yellow or white onion will work.
Spices: The spice mixture is super important! You’ll use a mixture of chili powder, cumin, salt, garlic powder, and celery salt.
Tomato Sauce: You’ll want a plain tomato sauce, not a marinara or ketchup.
Mustard: You’ll need yellow mustard for the sauce, and it will also be used as a topping.
Worcestershire Sauce: This will bring in some great depth of flavor.
Hot Dogs, Buns, and Toppings: I like to use a good all beef hot dog, and soft buns. For toppings, you’ll just need mustard and onions. I also do like to add a little bit of grated cheese.
How to Make the Coney Sauce
- Start by browning the ground beef and onion.
- Add your spices, followed by the tomato sauce, water, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Simmer the mixture until it is thickened, about 20 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
- Potato Chips
- Potato Salad
- Fresh veggies and dip
- Corn on the Cob
- Sweet Potato Tots
- Pasta Salad
More Hot Dog Recipes:
Bread it and fry it – this Corn Dog Recipe is perfection!
These Hawaiian Hot Dogs are the perfect sweet and savory recipe.
Can’t decide between pizza or hot dogs? Have them both with these Pizza Dogs!
I always love a bit of Tex-Mex, and these Mexican Hot Dogs are the perfect way to get my fix.
Skip Taco Tuesday and make these Taco Dogs instead.
Coney Island Hot Dogs
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
- 2 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 8 hot dog buns
- 8 hot dogs
- Shredded cheese finely diced onion, and yellow mustard, for serving
Instructions
- Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef and the onion. Cook, breaking up the beef as it cooks, until the beef is browned and the onion is soft. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, salt, garlic powder, and celery salt and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Stir in the tomato sauce, water, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes, or until thickened. (If the chili becomes too thick, add more water to loosen it up.)
- While the sauce is simmering, heat the oven to 300ºF. Wrap the buns in foil and place in the oven and bake until heated through, about 10 minutes.
- Put the hot dogs in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook the hot dogs until they are heated through, 5-8 minutes.
- To serve, place the hot dogs in the buns and top with the chili. If desired, top the chili with shredded cheese, finely diced onion and yellow mustard.
Roshni says
We loved this recipe!
Beth Acheson says
Just made these; absolutely delicious. Everyone here loved them. Thanks for the recipe!
Lois Katona says
This is definitely not a Flint MI style coney sauce.
Jesse says
Simple, delicious and completely coney dog chilli flavoured
Donna May says
I grew up in upstate NY and now live in the Midwest. I sure do miss the cuisine. This sounds like it could take me home.
Luke says
Made this a few cookouts ago and have been asked to bring “my chili” every hotdog/hamburger cookout since. Great hotdog chili recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Ric Whiting says
Not quite what I was looking for so I played around with the basic recipe. 1st, I added 1/2 cup of refried beans and a bit more water. (A big step in the right direction). Next I bumped up the cumin by 1/2 tsp. Still not the flavor I remember as a teenager (55 years ago) but darn close.
Rob says
Hi can anyone tell me if the tomato sauce in this recipe is a classic Italian tomato sauce, ketchup or a just a bulk standard jar tomato sauce.
Thanks
Chef Chares says
Made it.
Way too deep a chili powder flavor. Did not even come close to Sonic’s chili dogs. This came up in Google search as such.
Bitter, almost a burnt flavor. No, I did not burn it or over cook it as I wanted it to be right.
A waste of seasonings and ground meat.
Sorry, but this was nasty. I tossed the entire thing after only one spoon full.
Deborah says
I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it. Hopefully you’ll be able to find what you are looking for!
Joe Y. says
Hi Deborah: This is an excellent recipe. Made it a couple weeks ago. Great balance of flavor and not too salty. I did increase the cumin a bit. I was trying to get the taste of the chili cheese dog at Casey’s Corner at Disney World. Very close. I’ve added this to my recipe journal!
2pots2cook says
Will taste and will tell ! Thank you !
dandydog says
It looks so good. My son love it.
Bob says
Okay folks, I suggest you try this some time. To this Coney sauce recipe, which is not chili BTW, add 1 tbs turmeric and 1 or 2 tsp balsamic vinegar. Chop up a hot dog and put it in a blender with about 1/3 of the meat sauce. Whiz it up until smooth, adding some water if needed and stir the blended mixture back into the remaining meat sauce. This will give your Coney sauce a much more interesting flavor and texture. Lastly, assembly of a Coney Island is usually bun, mustard, hot dog, Coney sauce, cheese, onions.
Donna May says
I grew up in upstate NY and now live in the Midwest. I sure do miss the cuisine. This sounds like it could take me home.
Kate @ Framed Cooks says
Well, you already know that I love a good chili dog! Thanks for including my post, and looking forward to exploring the other fabulous recipes! 🙂
Ukulele Kris says
See, I love watching American food programmes like Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, and Man V Food.
And it makes me crave classic American foods like this, so much.
I want to try kettle corn, and corn dogs, and chilli dogs.
…One day I will have my own bar, doing awesome food like this in the UK
Heather of Kitchen Concoctions says
Um….. you’re only supposed to get crazy food cravings when your pregnant??? I must have missed that memo!
LP @dishclips says
Guilty pleasure, but I don’t think I would turn these down.
Chels R. says
Ya know, this past Sunday, our church has a snack bar that my sister runs and they serve hot dogs, drinks, nachos, and pretzels, etc. During the middle of our church service, all of a sudden the waft of hot dogs overwhelmed me and I was drooling. I couldn’t stop sniffing the air. So Josh leaned over to my sister whom I was sitting next to and told her to save me one, in case I didn’t make it to the snack bar in time (because those hot dogs go fast) let me tell you- IT WAS THE BEST HOT DOG EVER!!! I love chili dogs too though. My dad used to make chili dogs with a side of Kraft Mac and Cheese when I was little and it was my turn to be with him. I loved those lunches! Okay, now I’m hungry 🙂
r young says
I like mustard , chilli , onions , and slaw on hot dogs . Thats the way they are served back at home, this is an excellent chilli recipe though .
grace says
a CHEESE coney, that’s what i want. 🙂
Donna says
I havent had one of these babies for years! Must put this on my “Must Try” list for summer!
Cassie says
I’m not pregnant, yet I sometimes crave a chili dog. There is just something about that chilli and cheese combo piled on top of a hot dog. Love this!
Joanne says
I’m actually really excited (and kind of scared) to someday have pregnancy cravings! I find them fascinating.
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
I’m so glad you were craving this! I’ve always wanted to try homemade chili dogs!
Karly says
I’m the weiro that eats a fully loaded hot dog minus the actual hot dog. Those things creep me out, man.
This looks like it would be a fabulous hot dog minus the hot dog recipe. Yum!
Deborah says
@Karly, that seriously cracks me up! I have never heard of anyone eating a hot dog minus the dog, but you are right – this would be the perfect one if you are planning on skipping the dog!
Thomas Gardner says
its not a hot dog
Bev Weidner says
I LOVE coney dogs! Now I might need to make them again, but your way! Looks. so. good.
And thank you for the linkage lovage. 🙂
Aggie says
Ok seriously, I can’t resist a chili dog. I sometimes wish I was pregnant again just so I can enjoy the cravings to their fullest 🙂
Looks delicious and you can always count on RR!