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Crockpot Hot Dog Chili

A cozy and simple chili recipe made in a slow cooker, perfect for topping hot dogs, fries, or nachos. This savory and slightly tangy chili is easy to prepare and budget-friendly.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 310
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main ingredients
  • 1 lb lean ground beef (90/10 preferred) Use 90/10 beef for less grease.
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce Canned tomato sauce keeps it smooth.
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1 tbsp yellow mustard Adds bright tang.
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp chili powder Adjust to taste.
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp onion powder or 1 tbsp minced onion

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Heat a skillet over medium. Add the ground beef and 1/2 cup water. Cook until no pink remains and the edges start to brown.
  2. Drain excess grease and transfer the browned beef to a slow cooker.
  3. Pour in the tomato sauce and ketchup. Add mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, salt, pepper, sugar, and onion powder. Stir until evenly mixed.
Cooking
  1. Cover and set the cooker to LOW. Let it cook for 2 to 2½ hours.
  2. Stir before serving. Serve over hot dogs, fries, burgers, or nachos, and garnish as desired.

Notes

For a time-saver, brown the beef the night before and refrigerate. To thicken if too thin, stir in a tablespoon of tomato paste or cook uncovered for the last 20 minutes. Variations include adding smoked paprika or hot sauce for extra heat.