Best Vegan Chili Dog Recipe (2024)

This tasty Vegan Chili Dog recipe features a vegan hot dog in a bun smothered with veggie chili, vegan cheese, and onions! This American classicrecipe is made vegan while still keeping it easy to make, delicious, and filling, too. It’s like the vegan corn dog, super indulgent, delicious, and party-worthy!

We sat at the Dreamy Weenie restaurant on the outskirts of the French Quarter anxiously awaiting our meal to arrive. It’s not every day we get to order a Vegan Hotdog with Veggie Black Bean Cajun Chili, Vegan Cheese, and a Sweet Pepper Relish.

I couldn’t wait to get back from New Orleans to recreate my own vegan chili dog recipe. And that’s exactly what I did.

What are Vegan Chili Dogs?

Youmake a vegan chili dog by stuffing hot dog buns with your favorite vegan hot dogs. Top these with vegan chili, vegan cheddar shreds, and any of your favorite toppings, such as chopped onions.

Since hotdogs are something you typically eat at the ballpark, then let’s just say this one is a grand slam. And, now you can even find vegan hot dogs at Costco! You may already know, but I love shopping vegan at Costco!

A chili dog smothered in homemade bean chili, cheese, and onions is a perfect weeknight dinner. Add some favorite toppings to make every hot dog chili-infused bite even better!

Key Ingredients

You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe:

• Olive oil
• Veggie hotdogs — I love using Lightlife jumbo vegan hot dogs
• Hotdog buns— Look at the labels to make sure they’re vegan or make your own vegan hot dog buns
• Vegan cheese — Vegan cheddar shreds work great, or you can use whatever flavor you prefer
• Onion— Chopped red onion works great here, but green onions will work too
• Garlic— You’ll need a few cloves to add to the vegan chili (or use garlic powder)
• Black beans— Use 1 can of black beans or kidney beans for this simple vegan chili
• Veggie crumbles — These are optional but they add texture and plant-based protein
• Chili powder — Use plain chili powder or from a chili seasoning packet
• Petite stewed tomatoes — You can use diced tomatoes here, too

How to Make Vegan Chili Dogs

It’s easy to make vegan chili dogs! Here’s a synopsis of the steps:

1. Cook the vegan hot dogs — You can use a grill, a skillet, or even boil them in a saucepan
2. Make the vegan chili — This is a pared-down, super-simple recipe with all the right flavors
3. Toast the hot dog buns — Toasting the hot dog buns is important. You can even add a slather of vegan butter
4. Assemble the chili dogs — Add cooked hot dogs to the buns, and then top them with chili and more of your favorite toppings.

Here’s a visual guide to the instructions.

Step One: Cook Vegan Hot Dogs

Begin by placing some vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is heated, place the hotdogs in the skillet and cook until the sides are browned. Use tongs to turn the hot dogs to cook them evenly.

Place the cooked hot dogs in an oven on low to stay warm.

Step Two: Make Easy Vegan Chili

Place the oil and chopped onions in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook the onions until they are tender and translucent.

Stir in the remaining vegan chili ingredients. Cook the chili over medium heat until it begins to simmer. Give it another stir and then allow it to cook until some of the liquid has cooked out and you’re left with a nice, thick chili. See? It’s so fast!

If you’re in a hurry, use my easy vegan chili recipe!

Step Three: Toasted Hot Dog Buns

While the skillet is still hot, drizzle it with some more olive oil and place hotdog buns (or brat buns) face down. Rub the buns in the oil and cook each one for a few minutes until toasted, and then set them aside.

Step Four: Assemble Vegan Chili Dogs

Place a cooked hotdog in each toasted bun. Top each hot dog with vegan chili and vegan cheese. Place the hotdogs back in the skillet and leave them there for about 5 minutes to allow the steam to melt the cheese.

Add your favorite toppings. Ready for something spicy? These red chili substitutes deliver lots of great ideas!

If you’re in a hurry (like I usually am), microwave them for a minute or so.

Eating Vegan Hot Dogs

We were poor when I was a kid. And that means we ate a lot of hotdogs, the unhealthy, super-cheap kind.

I ate hotdogs boiled or sliced down the middle and fried. I even ate them cold; the slimy surface leaving behind a coating in my mouth.

Now as an adult I think about what I ate as a child. Now we know what ingredients were in those cheap hotdogs, and I cringe.

Today I eat hotdogs made from soy. My hubby and I joke about what parts of the tofu bean is used to create these veggie hotdogs. Could it be soy lips? Soy intestines? Who knows!

Bell Pepper Aioli

Add this optional bell pepper aioli, by combining these ingredients in a food processor:

• 1/2 cup chopped red bell peppers
• 2 tablespoons vegan mayo
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon ground flax seed

Pulse until smooth. It will thicken after a few minutes.

Alternatively, you can add a teaspoon or two of sriracha to 1/4 cup vegan mayo.

Tofu Hot Dog Recipes

Sure, you love this vegan chili dog recipe, but it leaves you wanting more. Be sure to check these out:

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See Also

Gluten Free Quinoa Pizza Bites Recipe - WonkyWonderful

This post was originally published on June 14, 2013, and was updated to include new photos, new text, and an updated recipe in 2020.