Gwynedd Stuart
The best hot dog chili is different from the canned chili you buy for other purposes. I didn’t realize it until I started shopping for our initial hot dog chili taste test, but hot dog chili (aka hot dog chili sauce) is an entire chili genre unto itself. So what’s the diff? Hot dog chili tends to be less chunky, (mostly) bean-free, and more like a puree (mmmmm…pureed meat). If you like the sort of chili that comes out of a dispenser at 7-Eleven, you’ll like the best canned chili for hot dogs, too.
Another thing I didn’t realize prior to our first hot dog chili taste test: People are very passionate about chili dogs. Like, damn, readers really came for me when I didn’t include their regional chili brand of choice. Because I’m a people pleaser, I attempted to source most of the brands that people shouted out in the comments for our second hot dog chili taste test, minus the ones that are just too difficult to access. And I have to give y’all credit—one of the reader recs is now among the best hot dog chili on this list.
We recently sat down for yet another hot dog chili taste test. We re-tasted chilis we’d previously ranked alongside some chilis we hadn’t tried before. Sure enough, we found a new favorite. Whether you’re craving a classic gas station dog or an authentic Coney, the best hot dog chili turns a plain ol’ dog into a satisfying meal. The next time a chili dog craving strikes, reach for a can of the best hot dog chili sauce we found in three separate taste tests.
- Skyline Original Chili
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If you’ve never had Cincinnati’s famous Skyline Chili before, I gotta say, it’s a pretty wild ride. Scattology alert: Canned Skyline Chili looks like something you’d find in a dirty diaper. In terms of flavor, it’s a little sweet and tinged with spices that make it taste “Christmassy,” as Sporked editor-in-chief Justine Sterling put it. (The can only says “spices,” but dupe recipes online indicate it contains cinnamon, clove, and allspice.) Anyway, if it’s not something you grew up eating (on dogs or spaghetti or, nowadays, in ice cream), it might take a sec to warm up to Skyline, but it’s some of the best hot dog chili for people with adventurous palates. Its mild sweetness plays nicely off of the salty, savory flavor of a hot dog. It works. It may not be the best canned chili for hot dogs for everyone—and, if you’re from Cinci, it probably doesn’t live up to the restaurant stuff—but it’s definitely the most interesting hot dog chili sauce we tried.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- So-Good Coney Island Sauce
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If you like a lot of diced onion on your hot dogs like I do, this is the best hot dog chili sauce. It’s a ketchup-based sauce, which may make it anathema to Chicagoans, but it’s really different and interesting. It’s like a mix between hot dog chili and that onion condiment Sabrett sells. It’s very oniony and very ketchupy. There’s a vinegary tang that hits the sides of your tongue and it’s a really nice complement to a salty one-note food like a hot dog. If Skyline is the most interesting hot dog chili, this is the best hot dog chili for people who want something totally different with savory rather than sweet undertones.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Hormel Chili Cheese
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Hormel has a line of canned hot dog chili now, which is fun. The cans are very cute and nostalgic—major mid-century boardwalk vibes—and they make chili dogs seem very appealing. (I’ll be honest: Chili dogs pretty much always seem appealing to me.) Besides being bean-free (which is the hot dog chili way), the defining characteristic of this particular Hormel hot dog chili is its mellow cheesiness. Beneath the beefiness and spice, you definitely get a creamy American cheese sort of flavor. That flavor alone makes it some of the best chili for hot dogs. Another good thing about this canned hot dog chili? It’s easy to find. You won’t have to order this on Amazon at a premium.
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Tony’s Packo’s Hot Dog Sauce
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Tony Packo’s hot dog chili sauce came highly recommended by readers. Tony Packo’s is an institution in and around Toledo, Ohio, and their hot dog chili is popular enough that you can buy it in a can on Amazon or via their website, along with Hungarian hot dogs and pickled peppers. We cracked open this cute little can, heated its contents in the microwave, and unanimously agreed that Tony Packo’s makes some of the best hot dog chili. It’s fatty and beefy and redolent of chili powder and onion. The saucy consistency is perfect for a chili dog or a chili burger (those are big here in L.A. thanks to Original Tommy’s). It’s incredibly savory and has great spice—and it was the best hot dog chili on this list, but in our most recent taste test, we found something with even broader appeal.
Credit: Liv Averett / Tony Packo’s
- Castleberry’s Original Hot Dog Chili Sauce
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In our most recent hot dog chili taste test, Castleberry’s was favored by all our taste testers, ultimately dethroning Tony Packo’s. This is by far the best canned hot dog chili we’ve tried in terms of texture. It contains pureed beans, which gives it a wonderfully smooth and creamy consistency. The meat is finely ground, but this isn’t as saucy or soupy as some of the other best hot dog chili sauces on this list. It’s a touch tomatoey and the umami really complements a salty dog. The best part? It doesn’t taste like can. It’s really good stuff—and for now, it’s the best chili for hot dogs, if you ask us.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
Best Unique
Best Oniony
Best Cheesy
Best Reader Rec
Best of the Best
Other products we tried: Great Value Hot Dog Chili Sauce, Southgate Hot Dog Chili Sauce, Chef-Mate Hot Dog Chili Sauce, Patterson’s Beef Hot Dog Chili, Texas Tailgate Chili Sauce
Jordan Myrick
Navya Hari
All bullcrap. Castleberry’s, Packo’s, and especially Skyline can get lost. None of these even come close to the glory of a Detroit coney. The good news is that National has finally manufactured a canned coney chili that has the right flavor if simmered for a bit. Don’t waste your time or tastebuds on anything here.
Castleberry reminded me of my days working at 7-11 and that chili pump that never got cleaned. There was not much to like about this dog food. Thank God I put it on my Nathan’s frankfurter and had some Ba-Tampte Deli Mustard to save it. Worst reviewed product I have had that you ladies liked. You lost your street cred.
If you ever want to try some award winning hot sauces that I have extra of in my house, let me know. I do not sell anything, but I give awards at the end of the year since 2010. I won’t send anything crazy hot because flavor over fire wins every time. Just a few of my favs from all over the US that I think you will enjoy.
Oh man. Get me some store bought tots, air fry CRISPY, add some sharp cheddar, and a hot can of castles! 🤌 yes!
I wanted to try Castleberry’s, but after looking at the ingredient list and seeing it had no meat in it. I think I will pass.
Ingredient list: Water, Crushed Beans, Beef Fat, Tomatoes, Mustard & Mustard Bran (Water, Vinegar, Mustard Seed, Mustard Bran, Salt, Turmeric), Less Than 2 Percent: Salt, Soy Protein Concentrate, Brown Sugar, Monosodium Glutamate, Flavorings, Caramel Color, Oleoresin Paprika.
Try it anyway. You won’t miss meat. It has beef fat combined with TVP, and it’s delicious.
I grew up on Castleberry’s, and it does hit that nostalgia spot for me, but Tony Packo’s is leaps and bounds better.
My Kroger (Cincinnati area) stocks the Tony Packo’s Hot Dog Sauce. It sells for $3.49.
Much cheaper than Amazon.
I don’t know guys. I’m looking at castleberrys ingredients list and there is literally no meat in it. Beef fat and textured soy protein only.
You are correct, but as a person who considers themself a bit of a “canned hot dog chili sauce aficionado who has tried EVERY one of the sauces they had as well, Castleberry’s is the best, for sure.
It is the best, I’ve worked at grocery stores all my live, the chili dog enthusiasts customers always recommended that one for years, and they were correct, it is the best.
Coney Islands are from Detroit not Ohio. No wonder those people from the South like Tony packo’s greasy chili. At least Klinger was a Greek lol
I’ve noticed on labels that say no beans still have mashed beans in them such as Wolf brand and others. Does anyone make the real chili sauce or bean free chili?
William Richard
I grew up in toledo if you liked Tony pakos you’d love Rudy’s hot dog sauce its less greasy available by mail order thanks for the review
Wait a minute!… Didn’t you rate ‘HORMEL Chili Coney Island Inspired’ as the best awhile back? I can’t seem to find your review anymore.
Texas tailgate hot dog chili is my favorite can chili but it doesn’t take long to whip up some traditional Greek chili sauce for the real deal.
My thoughts exactly
Castlebery’s Hot Dog Sauce is a very good chili sauce for hot dogs. Great on burgers too. Is this available in your area to comment on? In South Florida it’s available at Publix and Winn-Dixie grocery stores.
Castleberry is the best hot dog chili I’ve ever eaten.
I agree! Castlebery’s Hotdog Chili is the best! It’s the only one I buy!
How can you rate the best of the best chili dog sauce when your spoon guide has it last?
Custard Stand hot dog chili is popular in West Virginia.
Soooo, the #2 chili has 9.5 sporks but the #1 “best of the best” is only a 7.5/10?
I saw that too. Confused.
A hot dog chili taste test that doesn’t include Patterson’s from Sanford, NC is bogus. Sanford, NC is less than an hour from Buies Creek, NC.
Come visit Detroit, the birth place of the Coney Island hot dog.
Haha.. I’m glad someone said it.
I have had Skyline at Skyline and it is awesome. But the canned Skyline is FULL of grease and almost inedible! And at almost $5 per can, I wont buy it again.
If you want to try the best coney sauce you should check out the NATIONAL CONEY ISLAND.inc brand out of Detroit it’s the brand that most Coney Island restaurants use in Detroit and is sold online or at Meijers and Gordon Foods in Michigan plus smaller stores..
Thanks I have heard of this and want to try it.
As a southern Ohioan I respect the Skyline rating since you didn’t grow up eating it lol, I myself prefer Goldstar which is way less attainable than skyline nationwide or going to a local place. If anyone is in cincy for whatever reason Camp Washington is my personal recommendation! Guy has been there so you see stuff about him too if you’re a fan like me
Coney Island Dogs are from Detroit, not New York
New York city?! Get a rope!! No one from Detroit eats Hot dog chili out of a can. Are any of those cans from Detroit ?I don’t think so. National Coney Island sells in grocery stores in the refrigerated section in a tube
Need to add Wolf brand chili without beans made in Texas to that list.💯
Yes, it’s much better than Hormel.
I just bought it on Amazon! Cant wait to try!!!
Coney Island hot dog chili (coney dogs) are not from NY or Coney Island. They are from Detroit.
Yes, it is very confusing. Get Chef Josh to spend hours reading about it.
You are depressing. Just make real chili. Anyone who uses canned garbage for their hot dogs, doesn’t have the right to eat them. Go buy a pre-made one at family dollar and, leave it to yourself.
They’re hot dogs…. Not a 3 Michelin star dish.
You might need to travel and see more before commenting on things you can’t compare to. Come to Detroit and eat at the 2 famous Coney Islands in downtown. Everywhere else is a sham.
Tony Packo’s Hot Dog Sauce is THE best. Hands Down. Hormel is garbage.
Skyline only gets a 7.5?! This is outrageous! I am a Ohio native and have no bias at all!!!!
It’s not Coney island chili though. It’s the stuff they throw in top of spaghetti
I’m in Louisville and Skyline (Cincy style) is boss here. I’m ok with keeping here and the west coasters miss out. They are hogging “In ‘n Out” anyway
Isn’t that the truth! I moved here to Ohio from San Diego 30 years ago and boy do I miss In-N-Out! I’m also suffering from Wiener schnitzel withdrawals!
Tony Packos chili sauce. Clingers Favorite. “Mash”
Came here to bring up Packo’s!