Vegan chili dog: When only a coney will do

This hearty vegan chili dog is loaded with three bean chili, non-dairy cheese, pickles, and mustard for good measure.

At least a couple times a year, I get an intense craving for a vegan chili dog that I just can’t shake.

I don’t know if it’s the baseball weather or promise of summer cookouts to come. I just know that when that longing comes, there’s only one remedy.

There’s no restaurant in town that sells a veggie dog, let alone a vegan chili dog. So when this urge hits, it’s all on me.

Luckily, a coney is easy to make – even if you prefer to make chili from scratch like, I do.

See how easy it is to make vegan three bean chili in this video:

First, I turn to my favorite vegan three bean chili. It’s filled with pinto, Great Northern, and black beans, fire roasted tomatoes, onions, garlic, and spices.

After the flavors in the chili have had a chance to co-mingle and the liquid has reduced a bit, I give the quickest of blitzes with an immersion blender into the chili.

I don’t leave it in long enough that it becomes a chili bisque. It only stays in the soup pot for a few seconds, so that some of the beans are broken up, and it thickens the texture.

That thicker texture means that it can hold its own on a vegan chili dog without slipping off or instantly making a soggy bun.

(For a change of pace, lentil chili is also an excellent choice!)

Vegan chili dog

As for the frankfurter, there are lots of vegan hot dogs out there.

Field Roast frankfurters are my usual choice. They have a good bite to them and smoky flavor.

They come 6 to a pack, which is more hot dogs than I need at any one time.

But what’s handy is that they freeze well. So you can just cut off a couple of the links, let them thaw, and then when another craving strikes, cut off the amount you need from the line.

(Although, if you have a large family, this may well be a non-issue for you.)

I like to top my vegan coney with green onions, stone-ground mustard, and a single pickle plank. (Those long, thin Trader Joe’s planks are the perfect size on a hot dog bun.)

If you feel like adding a sprinkling of non-dairy cheese, that would not go amiss. I like to grate some from a Daiya cheddar block by hand.

Instead of using standard bakery hot dog buns like I usually would, this time I went with pretzel buns. They added a subtle sweetness. And their denser size meant that they could stand up to the chili without disintegrating.

With savory chili, a smoky frankfurter, a hit of vinegar from the pickle & mustard, and finally a gentle squish of the buns, this is a full meal that you can hold in one hand.

But if you’d like to pair it with vegan coleslaw or a pile of fries, hot out of the air fryer, I wouldn’t blame you.

Vegan chili dog

There are some days when only a vegan chili dog will do. When that urge strikes, do it up right with homemade three bean chili, a browned frankfurter, non-dairy cheese, plus pickle & mustard for good measure.

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Course: Sandwich

Cuisine: American, Vegan

Keyword: chili, kid friendly, main course, party food

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 247kcal

Author: Cadry Nelson

Ingredients

• 1/2 teaspoon organic canola oil or a spray of oil
• 4 vegan hot dogs
• 4 hot dog buns
• Slathering stone-ground mustard
• 4 long pickle planks
• 1 cup vegan three bean chili divided
• 1/4 cup non-dairy cheese optional
• 2 green onions sliced (ends removed)

Instructions

• Heat a non-stick skillet with a half teaspoon of organic canola oil or a spray of oil.
• Put the vegan hot dogs in the skillet and brown them evenly, turning occasionally, for a few minutes until they are fully warmed. Remove from skillet and set aside.
• Add sliced hot dog buns to the skillet, cut side down. Allow them to toast for a couple of minutes, until they have a nutty brown color. Remove from skillet.
• Slather the cut side of the buns with stone-ground mustard. Add a pickle plank and hot dog to each one. Top each hot dog with a quarter cup of vegan three bean chili.
• Top each hot dog with a Tablespoon of non-dairy cheese, if using, and a sprinkling green onions. Serve right away.

Nutrition

Calories: 247kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1038mg | Potassium: 304mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 5.8% | Vitamin C: 3.4% | Calcium: 11.1% | Iron: 31.9%

Tried this recipe?Tag @cadryskitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #cadryskitchen!

What to do with leftover chili?

If you have chili leftovers, not only does chili freeze well, it also can be re-purposed on:

Make chili dog pizza on a cornmeal crust, and let your guests add their favorite toppings.

Make chili cheese tater tots with a ladling of cashew queso.