Description
This isn’t just any chili dog; this is the ultimate Footlong Chili Cheese Coneys recipe. We’re not just making chili; we’re building a deep, complex, and smoky homemade coney sauce. By combining two types of meat (ground chuck and chorizo) with a rich blend of chili powders, spices, and a secret ingredient (red ale!), we create a chili that’s worthy of its own trophy.
Ingredients
For the Chili:
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1 tbsp Avocado Oil
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1 1/2 lbs Ground Chuck (80/20)
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1 lb Ground Chorizo
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1 large White Onion, diced
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1 tbsp Garlic, minced
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1 can (28 oz) Crushed Tomatoes
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1/2 cup Beef Broth
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10 oz Red Ale Beer
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2 tsp Ancho Chili Powder
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2 tsp Chipotle Chili Powder
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2 tsp Regular Chili Powder
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1 1/2 tsp Pasilla Chili Powder
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1 1/2 tsp Mexican Chili Powder
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1 tbsp Cumin
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1 tsp Allspice
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1 tsp Cinnamon
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To taste Salt and Pepper
For Assembly & Toppings:
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8-10 Footlong Angus Beef Franks
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8-10 Footlong Hotdog Buns
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2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
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1 cup Crushed Fritos
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Pickled Red Onions (For garnish, optional)
Instructions
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Brown the Meats: Place a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over direct, medium-high heat. Add the avocado oil. Once shimmering, add the ground chuck and ground chorizo. Cook, breaking the meat apart, until thoroughly browned, about 8-10 minutes. Remove the meat with a slotted spoon and set it aside.
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Sauté Aromatics: In the same pot (do not drain the fat), add the diced white onion and minced garlic. Sauté for 4-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and translucent, scraping up any browned bits.
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Combine and Bloom the Spices: Add the browned meat (and any juices) back into the pot. Add all the dry seasonings (all chili powders, cumin, allspice, cinnamon, salt, and pepper). Stir constantly for 1-2 minutes until the spices are fragrant.
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Simmer the Chili: Pour in the crushed tomatoes, beef broth, and the red ale beer. Stir everything together. Bring the chili to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and let it simmer for at least 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until the flavors have melded and the chili has thickened.
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Grill the Hotdogs: About 15 minutes before the chili is done, cook your hotdogs on a grill or in a hot skillet until charred and heated through.
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Toast the Buns: Toast the hotdog buns on the grill, under the broiler, or in a dry pan.
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Assemble Your Coneys: Load a grilled hotdog into each toasted footlong bun. Generously top with several large spoonfuls of the hot chorizo chili. Pile on the shredded cheddar cheese, followed by a crunchy sprinkle of crushed Fritos and pickled red onions. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Step 1 Tip: Don’t rush browning the meat! Getting a deep brown crust (the Maillard reaction) on the meat is the first layer of flavor.
- Step 3 Tip: “Blooming” the dry spices in the hot fat releases their oil-soluble flavors and deepens their taste. This is a crucial step!
- Step 6 Tip: This step is not optional! A good coney needs a sturdy, toasted bun to stand up to the chili.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Dinner, Game Day
- Method: Simmering, Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Footlong Coney
- Calories: 850 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 1900 mg
- Fat: 50 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg
