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    Home » Sandwiches & wraps

    Vegan chili dog: When only a coney will do

    Published: Apr 24, 2018 · Modified: May 15, 2023 by Cadry Nelson
    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Hand holding vegan chili dog with non-dairy cheese and onions.

    This hearty vegan chili dog is loaded with three bean chili, non-dairy cheese, pickles, and mustard for good measure. A mouthwatering lunch or dinner!

    Hands holding vegan chili dog with three bean chili, vegan cheese, and onions.

    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.

    In this post:

    Jump to:
    • What kind of chili is best for a chili dog?
    • What kind of veggie dog should I use?
    • Finish with other tasty toppings
    • Pretzel buns take it up a notch
    • What to serve with it
    • What to do with leftover chili?
    • Chili freezes well
    • 📖 Recipe
    Overhead coneys on a pretzel bun with pickle and onions.

    What kind of chili is best for a chili dog?

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

    I don’t leave it in long enough that it becomes a 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 veggie dog without slipping off or instantly making a soggy bun.

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

    Coney on platter with pickles and non-dairy cheese.

    What kind of veggie dog should I use?

    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, and let them thaw. 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.)

    Overhead chili dogs on table with fries, pickles, onions, three bean chili, ketchup, and mustard.

    Finish with other tasty toppings

    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. Pickle salsa or pickled jalapeños would also be delicious on top!

    David holding vegan chili dog on a pretzel bun with non-dairy cheese and three bean chili.

    Pretzel buns take it up a notch

    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.

    What to serve with it

    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.

    It also pairs well with any of the following side dishes:

    • Coleslaw
    • Baked french fries
    • Fried pickles
    • Jalapeño poppers
    • Potato salad
    • Onion rings in air fryer

    What to do with leftover chili?

    If you have any left, here are other ways to use leftover chili:

    • Chili dog pizza
    • Chili cheese tater tots
    • Chili cheese dip

    Chili freezes well

    Remember, chili freezes well too!

    Just pop cold chili into a freezer-proof container. Then freeze until ready to use.

    Thaw in the refrigerator or using the defrost function on the microwave. Reheat in the microwave or in a pot on the stove.

    Hand holding coney with meatless frankfurter covered with three bean chili, non-dairy cheese, and pickles.

    📖 Recipe

    Hands holding vegan chili dog with three bean chili, vegan cheese, and onions.

    Vegan chili dog

    Author: Cadry Nelson
    5 from 4 votes
    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.
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Course: Sandwich
    Cuisine: American, Vegan
    Keyword: kid friendly, main course, party food
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • ½ 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
    • ¼ 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.
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    Nutrition

    Calories: 247kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1038mg | Potassium: 304mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 290IU | Vitamin C: 2.8mg | Calcium: 111mg | Iron: 5.7mg

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    About Cadry Nelson

    Cadry Nelson is the writer, photographer, and recipe creator behind Cadry’s Kitchen, a vegan food & lifestyle blog started in 2009. Through approachable recipes, vegan travel guides, and down-to-earth discussions on the social aspects of being vegan, Cadry shows that living a vegan lifestyle is deliciously uncomplicated. Cadry has been featured on NBC News, Mashable, Today, Reader's Digest, Yahoo, Delish, Shape, and Huffington Post.

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    1. Virginia Vilčinskas

      October 18, 2021 at 3:58 pm

      5 stars
      Terrific recipe. All vegan hotdogs are tasty. It’s what you put on them that makes or breaks the composition. And this chili is delicious.

      Reply
      • Cadry Nelson

        October 18, 2021 at 4:17 pm

        I’m so glad that you enjoyed the chili on your hot dog! Thank you for the great feedback, Virginia!

        Reply
    2. Nam

      May 27, 2021 at 7:02 pm

      5 stars
      I was craving a chili cheese dog and this was the answer! Thanks for the Field Roast recommendation. I tried their italian and spicy chipotle styles, and I definitely prefer the chipotle. Im not a pickle fan so used sauerkraut instead. Soo tasty,
      satisfying, and actually kinda healthy esp with a healthy veg and bean chili. I used the Whole foods premade and added
      tobasco… pretty darn tasty and refreshing to balance out the dense bread and sausage

      Reply
      • Cadry Nelson

        May 29, 2021 at 10:49 am

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for letting me know!

        Reply
    3. Alina

      April 29, 2018 at 11:24 am

      Goodness, these look absolutely sinful! And a pretzel roll – [insert a George Takei impression] oh my!

      Reply
      • Cadry

        May 01, 2018 at 9:18 am

        Pretzel rolls really take things up a notch, right?

        Reply
    4. Becky Striepe

      April 24, 2018 at 3:28 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my gosh, I need to eat these chili dogs, STAT! I love your 3-bean chili recipe!

      Reply
      • Cadry

        April 25, 2018 at 9:04 am

        Thanks, Becky! It’s definitely the time of year for coneys. So glad to hear you love the chili recipe!!

        Reply
    5. Dianne

      April 24, 2018 at 2:09 pm

      Would you believe that I’ve never had a chili dog? This looks so good though – I’m going to have to try it!

      Reply
      • Cadry

        April 24, 2018 at 2:22 pm

        Whaaaaat???? You have some serious time to make up for! If only we lived closer to each other, we could remedy this problem right this second.

        Reply

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