Bottom Left of the Mitten

Michigan Hot Dog

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 A Michigan hot dog features a meaty, beanless chili that is ladled on top of an all-beef hot dog.

Michigan Hot Dog | Bottom Left of the Mitten

We eat hot dogs fairly often, but they can often get boring. So when I was researching new hot dog recipes, I came across the most perfect dish……the Michigan hot dog.  A hot dog with beanless chili that is named after my beloved home state?  Yes, please!

Michigan Hot Dog | Bottom Left of the Mitten

But I’ll be honest…I didn’t even know what a Michigan hot dog was!  However, I found this fabulous article, Hot Dog of the Week: Decoding the “Michigan Dog” of New York State by Serious Eats.  It set me straight.  Real straight.  Do you see the title?  That’s right, the Michigan hot dog is a staple of NEW YORK!?!  However, it originated in Michigan, be it almost 100 years ago, so I am staking a claim and feel safe to celebrate this chili dog as one of Michigan’s own.

Now you’ll say ‘Erin. You didn’t even know what a Michigan hot dog was. How are you going to even know if you did it right?’  For this, I trusted my husband’s taste buds since he has had them, so he was my guide to whether they were close or not. {PS. They were!}

Michigan Hot Dog | Bottom Left of the Mitten

I decided to go with a slight vinegar-based sauce. I LOVE vinegar (my favorite BBQ sauce is vinegar-based too) and in doing my research, it said that the sauce could be vinegar-based. Or may contain cabbage. Or water from the cleanest Lake in Michigan. Or secret saliva from a wolverine. You get the fact that I’m joking but finding a truly original recipe was very hard, so I improvised! I also used Nathan’s hot dogs as an homage to New York. Now let’s get started.

How to make Michigan Hot Dogs:

Prepare your hot dogs the usual way you would. I steam mine in the rice cooker.

Now time to make the chili.  Add the beef, onions, and all the spices right on the top. I do this because when the burger cooks, it sets the spices right into the meat. It’s my favorite way to cook beef.

zoomed in shot of Michigan Hot Dog Chili Sauce in a pan with a wooden spoon in it.

Once the beef is cooked, add the tomato sauce, vinegar, and ketchup to the pan.  Do not drain the beef.  Stir to combine.

When do you drain fat from ground beef?
For this chili recipe, I use a low-fat mixture of 90/10 so that I still have a little fat left to mix with the seasoning that I add at the beginning of the cooking process. But as a rule, I ALWAYS drain the grease from beef if I use any ground beef less than that.

Put on medium simmer for around 5 minutes.  It does not take long to thicken up.

all-beef hot dogs in buns in hot dog containers with chili chopped onions and hot dog buns in the background, shot from the side.

Now assemble your Michigan hot dog and add chili to the top along with mustard and the rest of your raw onion to the top.

If you’re looking to further your regional hot dog experience check out my Memphis Hot Dogs.

And here you are….

Michigan Hot Dog from Bottom Left of the Mitten

From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!

closeup of Michigan hot Dogs in containers topped with Michigan Hot Dog Sauce mustard and onions, shot from the side.

Michigan Hot Dogs

A Michigan Hot Dog features an all-beef hot dog with a tangy, beanless chili then is simply topped with onions and mustard.
5 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 8 Hot Dogs

Ingredients

  • 1 pkg hot dog buns
  • 1 pkg All Beef Hot Dogs
  • 15 ounces tomato sauce
  • 1 small onion chopped-1/2 for chili & 1/2 to top hot dogs
  • 1/2-1 pound ground hamburger use a low fat mixture because you don't want to drain the grease
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1 Tbs white vinegar
  • 2 Tbs chili powder
  • 1 Tbs garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • Mustard to garnish

Instructions

  • Prepare your hot dogs the usual way you would.
  • For the chili: Add the beef, onions, and all the spices right on the top. I do this because when the burger cooks, it sets the spices right into the meat. It's my favorite way to cook beef.
  • Once the beef is cooked, add the tomato sauce, vinegar, and ketchup to the pan. Do not drain the beef. Stir to combine. Put a medium simmer for around 5 minutes. It does not take long to thicken up.
  • Assemble hot dogs and add chili to the top along with mustard and the rest of your raw onion to the top.

Notes

Tips for making Michigan Hot Dogs:
  • When cooking the ground beef add the spices before cooking the beef. I do this because when the burger cooks, it sets the spices right into the meat. It’s my favorite way to cook beef.
Tried this recipe?Mention @mittenmommy or tag #mittenmovienight!

Originally published in July of 2016. Updated photos September of 2020. Post updated June of 2021.

*Affiliate links are included in this post. Please read my Discloser Policy.

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Last Updated on September 5, 2021 by [email protected]

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Comments

  1. Monica

    These bring back memories. My Dad was famous for his chili dogs. His chili was always requested at family gatherings. I always trust your opinion so I’m going to make your version but Shhh…don’t tell my dad I’m cheating on him!

    Reply

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