Confession: Hot Dogs are truthfully one of my all time favorite foods.

When I was little I’d sneak in the kitchen, grab the Kraft singles, rip open a package of Oscar Mayer and I was one happy kiddo. Give me Gilligan’s Island and a weenie in a bun and life was golden.

Whether topped with kraut, slaw, mustard, grilled, roasted, straight out of the fridge, or my favorite Chicago style dog (insert drool here), I think they should be their own food group. So in honor of National Hot Dog Day, today I’m sharing my recipe for Homemade Hot Dog Chili. This makes a good size batch and freezes well.

So what’s your favorite hot dog and toppings?

Homemade Hot Dog Chili

• 1 pound lean ground beef (You can also use ground chicken or turkey)
• 1 medium onion, minced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bottle chili sauce
• 1/4 cup yellow mustard
• 1 tsp. brown sugar
• 1 tsp. smoked Paprika
• Salt & pepper to taste

Add onions and oil in a medium pot and cook over medium heat. Continue to cook about 7 minutes or until onions are softened. Add garlic and cook another 3 minutes. Add ground beef and cook through.

Add remaining ingredients to your beef mixture. Stir well. Reduce heat and bring to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 15-20 minutes. This chili is great for hot dogs, chili cheese fries and nachos!

Life’s too short to eat ugly food y’all.