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
