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    Home » Sandwiches & wraps

    Vegan chili dog: When only a coney will do

    Updated: Jun 1, 2025 · Published: Apr 24, 2018 by Cadry Nelson · This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 10 Comments

    Jump to 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
    • Serving suggestions
    • 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, pickled jalapeños, or quick pickled green garlic 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.

    Serving suggestions

    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.

    If you try this recipe and love it, let me know! Leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comment section below. It truly makes my day and is such a help!

    📖 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

    Ingredients

    • ½ teaspoon avocado oil or your preferred cooking oil
    • 4 vegan hot dogs
    • 4 hot dog buns
    • Slathering of 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 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, recipe creator, and photographer behind Cadry’s Kitchen, and the author of Living Vegan For Dummies, 2nd Edition. Since launching her blog in 2009, Cadry has been making plant-based cooking approachable, and reimagining classic comfort foods. Her work has been featured in NBC News, Buzzfeed, Yahoo, Parade, VegNews, and more. She regularly appears on local TV shows, demonstrating to a broad audience how easy vegan cooking can be.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 4 votes (1 rating without comment)

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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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