Coney dogs are pure comfort food—juicy franks tucked into soft buns, smothered in a rich, spiced meat sauce, and finished with punchy yellow mustard and crisp chopped onions. This classic Coney Island hot dog sauce recipe brings all the right savory notes, with a hint of warmth from cinnamon and allspice, just like you’d find at an old-school lunch counter.
Make this hot dog sauce for a family meal or scale the recipe up for a tailgating event or neighborhood cookout. It’s great for game day gatherings, too. Make a DIY hot dog bar with Coney Island hot dog sauce and your favorite toppings.
How to Make Coney Island Hot Dog Sauce
Cook the Ground Beef
Brown the beef and onions in a skillet over medium-high heat.
Finish the Sauce
Add the seasonings, tomato paste, and water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1 to 2 hours or until thickened and tender. Use an immersion blender to pulse the beef until the texture is fine and almost paste-like. You could also use a masher or countertop blender.
Assemble the Hot Dogs
Put hot dogs in buns and top with a few tablespoons of the Coney Island sauce. Finish with some finely diced onions and a drizzle of mustard.
Recipe Variations
Mix it up with one of these simple variations:
- Spicy: Double the cayenne or top with sliced pickled jalapeño peppers.
- Detroit Style: Add 1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce and a splash of beef broth to deepen the flavor.
- Cheesy Coney: Stir shredded cheddar into the sauce for a gooey twist.
- Vegan: Use plant-based ground meat or chopped mushrooms instead of beef, and pile everything onto vegan hot dogs.
- Chili Cheese Dog: Add a spoonful of this sauce on the hot dog and then top with a generous amount of shredded cheese. Place the cheese-topped hot dogs under the broiler for a minute or so for a gooey, melty finish.
What to Serve With Coney Dogs
- Potato chips or French fries. Or sweet potato fries.
- Coleslaw or cabbage salad.
- Baked beans or easy BBQ beans.
- Macaroni salad.
- Classic potato salad.
How to Use Leftover Coney Dog Sauce
🥔 Loaded Baked Potatoes – Bake a potato and slice it to open it. Add a scoop of Coney Island sauce, some sour cream, and sliced green onions.
🥘 Nachos – Layer tortilla chips, Coney sauce, cheddar jack cheese, and jalapeño peppers. Bake or microwave until the cheese is melted. Finish with sour cream, guacamole, and salsa.
🍟 Chili Cheese Fries – Spoon the warmed sauce over crispy fries and top with cheddar cheese. Broil until the cheese is melted.
🍝 Mac and Coney – Stir into your favorite mac and cheese for a chili mac vibe.
🥚 Omelets – Fold some of the sauce into an omelet.
🫑 Stuffed Peppers – Mix the sauce with cooked rice and stuff it into halved bell peppers. Bake with cheese on top.
How to Store Coney Island Hot Dog Sauce
Refrigerate the sauce in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
To freeze, put it in airtight containers or zip-close freezer bags. Label with the name and date and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight.
Reheat Coney Island sauce on the stovetop or in the microwave.
PrintConey Island Hot Dog Sauce
Make your hot dogs unforgettable with this classic Coney Island sauce—rich, meaty, and loaded with bold spices. Perfect for game day, cookouts, or a weekend treat.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Hot Dogs, Ground Beef
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon celery seeds
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch ground allspice
- Pinch cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups water
For the Assembly
- 6 to 8 hot dogs, cooked
- 6 to 8 hot dog buns (toasted or steamed)
- Finely chopped onions (about 1 to 2 tablespoons for each hot dog)
- Prepared yellow mustard
Instructions
- Make the Chili Dog Sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook undisturbed for 3 minutes. Add the onions and continue cooking the ground beef, stirring and breaking it up, for 3 to 5 minutes or until no longer pink. Add chili powder, salt, pepper, garlic powder, celery seeds, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, cayenne pepper, tomato paste, and 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 to 2 hours or the meat is tender and almost paste-like. Use a potato masher, blender, or immersion blender to process the meat.
- Assemble the Coney Island Hot Dogs: Put the hot dogs in the prepared buns and top with about 2 to 3 tablespoons of sauce. Sprinkle a tablespoon or two of chopped onion over the ground beef mixture then drizzle mustard over the length of the hot dog.
Equipment
All-Clad Non Stick Fry Pan Set
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Notes
Standard hot dog buns are typically used for Coney dogs. However, you can use New England hot dog rolls or brioche buns if you prefer.
