Get ready for these delicious Vegan Chili Dogs. They're plant-based hotdogs smothered in a rich, homemade, easy-to-make chili topped with a vegan cheese sauce. It's an easy, delicious, filling vegan version of an American classic.
Here's a fun fact about me that might surprise you - I don't recall ever eating a hotdog as a kid. Fast forward to adulthood, and I only tried a hotdog two to three times before saying goodbye to meat forever. Shocking, right?
It turns out that I unknowingly dodged a bullet for over 50 years, considering what’s actually in those traditional hotdogs. But hey, I love them now that they’re vegan and smothered in delicious chili and cheese.
For other delicious hotdog recipes, take a look at 10+ Vegan Hot Dogs and Vegan Sausage Dog Recipes. For more game-day recipes, check out 13+ Vegan Game-Day Recipes.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Just like BBQ Jackfruit Sliders and Chipotle Black Bean Burgers, this dish is great for summer barbeques, game day celebrations, tailgating, or a simple, delicious dinner or lunch at home.
- This recipe is perfect for kids and adults alike.
- With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, you’ll have these delicious dogs ready quickly.
- This recipe makes a big batch of chili and cheese sauce, which is great for gatherings and meal prepping.
Recipe Ingredients
You’ll need these ingredients to make amazing vegan chili cheese dogs. See the recipe card for details and quantities for each.
- Chili: For this recipe, we'll be making the chili from scratch, but it's a simple, pared-down recipe that's ready quickly. The key is to use vegan chorizo that you can find at major chains like Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and King Soopers. This creates a vegan chili with a meaty texture and perfect consistency to top the vegan hotdogs.
- Cheese Sauce: I love this Easy Vegan Cashew Queso for this recipe, but if you want to make it even easier, substitute the cheese sauce with a store-bought vegan brand like Bitchin Sauce or purchase your favorite vegan cheddar cheese shreds. If using shredded cheese, consider baking the hotdogs as described in the recipe card notes to ensure the cheese melts properly.
- Bread: Choose any hotdog bun you like—whole wheat or even pretzel buns—but double-check they're vegan.
- Veggie Hotdogs: There are many vegan hotdogs on the market today. This guide to meatless hotdogs from VegNews is a good place to start when exploring or take a look at the list below to investigate some popular brands before purchasing. In case you're curious, I'm partial to the Upton's Naturals brand.
- Chorizo: This veggie chili features vegan chorizo (the kind that comes in a casing and crumbles when removed), offering a unique flavor and ideal texture for topping hotdogs.
Meatless Hotdogs To Try
With even Oscar Myer getting into the vegan hotdog space, it's never been easier to veganize this American classic. There are many different plant-based options today, so don't give up until you find one you like.
- Upton’s Naturals Updog
- Lightlife Smart Dogs
- Field Roast Frankfurters
- Tofurky Jumbo Hot Dogs
- Yves Veggie Dogs
- MorningStar Farms Veggie Dogs
Variations
- Add sliced fresh or pickled jalapeños on top for an extra kick of heat.
- Drizzle your favorite hot sauce over the chili cheese dog.
- Sprinkle shredded vegan cheese instead of cheese sauce. For varied flavors, try different types of vegan cheeses, such as cheddar or pepper jack.
- Add diced raw onions or sautéed onions for a slightly sweet and savory crunch.
- Top with sliced avocado or a dollop of easy guacamole for a creamy addition.
- Drizzle with Homemade Cherry BBQ Sauce for a smoky, tangy flavor.
- Crush some potato chips or tortilla chips on top for a crunch.
- Add crispy fried onions for an extra layer of texture.
How To Make Vegan Chili Dogs
Here’s a visual guide to the instructions. See the recipe card for detailed instructions.
Step 1: Make the chili first in a medium-sized pot. This takes about 35 minutes.
Step 2: While that is simmering, make the cheese sauce.
Step 3: Place the hotdogs on a preheated grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
Step 4: During the last two minutes of grilling on a BBQ grill, place the hotdog buns on the grill until golden brown. If using a pan, remove the hotdogs and toast the buns.
Step 5: To assemble the hotdogs, spread mustard, ketchup, and pickle relish on the bun. Add the grilled hotdogs and top with a generous layer of chili.
Step 6: Top the hotdogs with cheese sauce and any optional toppings listed in the recipe card.
Recipe Tips
- Vegan hotdogs can also be boiled if you don't have a BBQ grill or don't want to use a skillet or grill pan.
- Eat immediately to prevent the buns from getting soggy. The main culprit is the relish, so if you want to avoid soggy buns, add the relish on top right before serving.
- Don't skip toasting the buns. This adds a delightful texture and keeps the buns' integrity. If you're in a hurry, lightly toast them in a toaster or oven.
- Leftovers - I always have leftover chili and cheese sauce that I use up the next day by making loaded nachos. See Easy Vegan Nachos for topping ideas.
- Prep Ahead: You can make the chili and cheese sauce ahead of time and store them in the fridge. Just reheat and assemble when you’re ready to serve.
- If you have leftovers from Vegan Chili With TVP or Black Bean Quinoa Chili, use that for a protein-packed chili. And if chili is still lurking in the fridge, try it on Vegan Chili Cheese Fries or try Vegan Chili Mac and Cheese for another crowd-pleasing favorite!
Serving Suggestions
- Pair your Vegan Chili Cheese Dogs with grilled corn on the cob, Classic Vegan Coleslaw, and Sweet Vegan Macaroni Salad.
- Serve with a side of crispy sweet potato french fries or classic potato wedges, or try Delicious Air-Fryer Fries.
- A side of crunchy pickles or pickled jalapeños adds a zesty contrast to the rich flavors of the chili and cheese.
- Round out the meal with a light dessert like fruit salad or Homemade Vegan Banana Ice Cream.
Chili Dogs FAQS
Yes, you can make the chili the day before or up to 5 days and store it in the fridge.
Yes. A great easy option is the Bitchen Sauce, now found in most major grocery chains and at Costco.
Depends. Generally, they are made from plant-based ingredients like soy protein, wheat gluten, pea protein, or a mix of vegetables, spices, and natural flavorings. For a healthier version, use brown lentils.
Vegan hotdogs have really upped their game. According to my husband, who I would consider well-versed in the traditional hotdog world, they taste, look, and feel much like traditional hotdogs. With spices and natural flavors, they recreate that familiar taste. I think they’re super tasty, especially with your favorite toppings.
Store any leftover chili in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze it for up to 3 months after it has cooled completely. The vegan cheese sauce should be kept in a separate airtight container and refrigerated for up to 4 days. For the hotdogs and buns, store them separately—cooked vegan hotdogs will last 3–4 days in the fridge, while buns are best enjoyed within 2 days.
More Vegan Sandwich Recipes
Vegan Chili Dogs
Ingredients
Vegan Chili
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional for heat
- 1 heaping tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 package vegan chorizo
- 2 15 ounce cans kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 1 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- juice of 1 lime
For the Vegan Chili Dogs
- 12 vegan hotdogs
- 12 hotdog buns check they're vegan!
- mustard
- ketchup
- pickle relish*
- 1 batch Easy Vegan Cashew Queso
Additional Toppings (pick one or all!)
- green onions/red onions
- diced onions
- jalapeños
- chopped fresh cilantro
- vegan sour cream
- diced tomatoes
- crispy onions
Instructions
- Sauté the Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and sauté until the onion is translucent.
- Add Seasoning: Add chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, and cayenne pepper (if using). Stir well to combine all the ingredients and saute for about one minute.
- Caramelize Tomato Paste: Add the tomato paste and mix well. Cook for a couple of minutes. This will enhance its flavor by caramelizing the natural sugars and concentrating the taste, adding a richer depth to the chili.
- Simmer: Stir in the chorizo, kidney beans, crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, salt, and pepper. Bring the chili to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer for about 30 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. This allows the flavors to meld together.
- Finish: Stir in the lime juice for a bright finish. Adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
- Make Cheese Sauce: While the chili simmers, make the cheese sauce and set aside.
- Grill the Hotdogs: Now, preheat your grill or grill pan over medium heat. Grill the vegan hotdogs for about 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally until they’re heated through and have grill marks.
- Toast the Buns: During the last 2 minutes of grilling the hotdogs, place the opened buns on the grill to lightly toast them. If using a grill pan, remove the hotdogs and place the open buns inside down to brown them.
- Assemble: Squeeze desired amounts of mustard, ketchup and relish into the inside bottom of each bun. Then, put a hotdog inside each bun, a few spoonfuls of chili, and top with vegan queso sauce.
- Toppings: Optional toppings include scallions, vegan sour cream, jalapenos, crispy onions, chopped cilantro, diced tomatoes, or diced red onions. Serve immediately.
Hailey says
These were a great idea for dinner tonight! We bought the Uptons and loved them.
Regi Pearce says
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.