Coney Island Hot Dogs

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

PHOTO 1: Start by browning the ground beef and onion. Add the spices.

PHOTO 2: Once the spices are added, stir everything together. You then want to cook it for about 3 minutes, to make sure the spices get nice and toasted.

PHOTO 3: Add in the tomato sauce, water, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.

PHOTO 4: Stir this all together, bringing it to a boil. The turn the heat down and let it simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the flavors are nice and combined.

Tips and Tricks

If your sauce gets too thick while it is simmering, you can add more water to loosen it up.

Instead of boiling the hot dogs, try using Air Fryer Hot Dogs instead!

This sauce can easily be frozen, and then thawed and reheated later.

Serving Suggestions

• Potato Chips
• Potato Salad
• Fresh veggies and dip
• Corn on the Cob
• Sweet Potato Tots
• Pasta Salad

More Hot Dog Recipes:

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Coney Island Hot Dogs

4.64 from 11 votes

Author: Deborah Harroun

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 hot dogs

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

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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, full of flavor, this is one hot dog recipe you’ll want to keep on file!

1x2x3x

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.

Recipe Notes:

Adapted from Every Day with Rachael Ray April 2010

Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should be used as a general guide. Nutrition information does not include toppings.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1hot dog, Calories: 490kcal (25%), Carbohydrates: 35g (12%), Protein: 25g (50%), Fat: 28g (43%), Saturated Fat: 12g (75%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 81mg (27%), Sodium: 1261mg (55%), Fiber: 3g (13%), Sugar: 8g (9%)

Keywords: chili dogs, coney island hot dog, coney sauce, hot dogs