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–+ servings
Two Cincinnati Cheese Coney hot dogs sitting on a white dinner plate, both dogs topped with large piles of shredded cheddar cheese.

Cincinnati Cheese Coneys

Course: Lunch / Hot Dogs
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Chili Preparation: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 716kcal
Author: Kris Longwell
These hot dogs are a Midwestern classic — fun and easy to make at home with juicy hot dogs, Cincinnati-style chili, onions, mustard, and plenty of shredded cheddar.
Print Recipe

Equipment

  • griddle, grill, steamer, or pot of boiling water for cooking the frankfurters
  • steam basket or See Expert Tip in blog post

Ingredients

Do Ahead - Make the Cincinnati Chili

  • Cincinnati chili

For the Cheese Coneys

  • 8 all-beef frankfurters natural casing
  • 8 hot dog buns
  • yellow mustard (optional)
  • 4 cups Cincinnati chili
  • 1 cup onion chopped, (optional)
  • 1 lb cheddar cheese finely shredded

Instructions

  • Prepare the Cincinnati chili (this can be done several days in advance). Heat the chili in a medium saucepan on the stove, griddle, or grill over medium heat.
    Cincinnati chili
  • Griddle, grill, steam, or boil the frankfurters until cooked through, about 5 minutes.
    8 all-beef frankfurters
  • In the last minute of cooking the dogs, steam the buns for 1 minute.
    8 hot dog buns
  • Build the Cheese Coneys: Place the frankfurters in the steamed buns. Add a zig-zag of mustard (optional) over the dog. Then add a generous spoonful of the warmed chili. Sprinkle on some chopped onions (optional), and then add a heaping pile of shredded cheddar on top. Serve at once.
    yellow mustard, 4 cups Cincinnati chili, 1 cup onion, 1 lb cheddar cheese

Video

Notes

NOTE: Watch the video near the top of the recipe for visual guidance.
Try and seek out natural casing all-beef hot dogs. You can find natural casing beef hot dogs (Dietz & Watson) in the deli section of many well-stocked supermarkets. Sabretts and Nathan's Natural Casing Hot Dogs are excellent, but not available all over. Check your local markets for availability. 
The chili can be made up to 3 days in advance, and even gets better if it's had a time to sit in the fridge for a day or two. The chili can be frozen for up to 2 to 3 months. Allow to thaw completely and then reheat in a saucepan until heated through and bubbly. 

Nutrition

Calories: 716kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 113mg | Sodium: 786mg | Potassium: 249mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1138IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 933mg | Iron: 3mg