Welcome to my West Virginia Kitchen! If you've been following me for any length of time, you know I am proud West Virginia girl through and through. Like this Mountaineer bleeds blue and gold! That's why I am so happy to share with you one of our most beloved culinary treats, West Virginia Hot Dog Sauce.
Birthed out of our "pot luck" traditions in the 1920's, West Virginia Hot Dog Sauce demonstrates beautifully how we turn simple ingredients into something really special. West Virginia Hot Dogs are famous for their unique sauce, a perfect blend of spices and flavors that sets them apart from any other hot dog. If you're looking to bring the taste of West Virginia to your next cookout, look no further. This guide will walk you through the steps to make an authentic West Virginia hot dog sauce that's sure to impress. I can't wait to share it with you so...
West Virginia hot dog sauce is a meat-based chili-like (but not really) sauce that's traditionally served on a steamed bun with a hot dog, topped with mustard, onions, and coleslaw. The sauce itself is a savory, slightly sweet concoction that's not too spicy, making it a favorite for all ages.
INGREDIENTS YOU'LL NEED:
- 1 pound Ground Chuck
- 2-3 cups Water
- 1 tsp Chili Powder
- 1 tsp Paprika (I like to used smoked, but it's not necessary.)
- 1 tsp Cumin
- 2 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
- 1 Tbsp Dried Minced Onions
- 1 Tbsp Garlic Powder
- Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 c Ketchup
- 1/4 c Brown Sugar
- 1/4 c Worcestershire Sauce
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS:
Step 1: Prepare the Ground Beef
In a large sauce pan, add the ground beef and pour in the water. Use a spatula to break up the ground beef in the water. Add the spices to the sauce and and bring to a simmer. Let the meat simmer for about and hour and a half.
In a small bowl combine the ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix together until smooth.
Add the sauce to the meat mixture and stir until everything is combined. Simmer uncovered for another 30 minutes. Taste for any seasoning.
Step 4: Serve
Once the sauce has reached the desired thickness, remove it from the heat. Spoon the sauce generously over your favorite hot dogs, then top with mustard, onions, and a scoop of coleslaw for the classic West Virginia experience.
TIPS FOR PERFECTION YOUR HOT DOG SAUCE:
TIPS FOR PERFECTION YOUR HOT DOG SAUCE:
- Consistency is Key: The sauce should be thick enough to cling to the hot dog without being too runny.
- Adjust to Taste: Feel free to tweak the spices to match your personal preference. Add more chili powder for a spicier kick or extra brown sugar for added sweetness.
- Make Ahead: This sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week, making it a great option for prepping before a big event.
Can I use a different type of meat?
Yes, you can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken if you prefer. Around here we often times use ground venison (deer meat). Just keep in mind that the flavor and texture may vary slightly.
Is the sauce spicy?
West Virginia Hot Dog Sauce is typically mild, but you can adjust the heat level by adding more chili powder or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Can I freeze the sauce?
Absolutely! Let the sauce cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container and freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating on the stove.
Bring the Taste of West Virginia to Your Table
Making your own West Virginia hot dog sauce is a great way to bring a unique and regional falvor to your backyard cookouts. With its perfect blend of spices and easy preperation, this sauce is sure to become a favorite. Give it a try and watch your people come back for seconds!
And as always...
Happy Eatin' Y'all!
~The Kitchen Wife~
I thought this was way too sweet, a lot sweeter than the hot dog sauce i like. I was disappointed.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that. Like with any recipe, it is designed to the creators preference. You can always adjust to your liking. :)
DeleteI totally agree with UNKNOWN!!! I have what I consider to be the very best for years, "YANN'S"...It's hard to beat or even duplicate unless you get the recipe right from Russel but I doubt he would ever give it up!1 What a shame because if he ever did, it would be the "NATIONAL HOT DOG SAUCE OF AMERICA"!!!
DeleteI found this to be the case as well I have made it several times, eliminating more sugar each time and it's never enough I'm going to try again and leave it out all together
DeleteDefinitely not how WV hotdog sauce is made.
ReplyDeleteWell, to each their own. :) Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteThis is also how to prepare the meat for Cincinnati chili. You use 93/7 ground steak, refrigerate overnight, remove fat from top, then reheat. Frying the meat will not give you the consistency of hot dog sauce. This is the correct way to prepare meat for hot dog sauce. Would love to know the recipe for Stewart's 'onion' sauce. Brings back memories. Your recipe is delicious, thank you!
DeleteI love this sauce recipe! I live near WV and agree...We don't do chili or red sauce it is in between. Appreciate you sharing your family recipe!
ReplyDeleteAwww thanks Stephanie! I know we all make it a little different, but this is the recipe I grew up on and we sure like it a lot! This and pepperoni rolls we take very seriously. lol Thanks so much for stopping by!
DeleteA fellow WV girl.. just tried this recipe... super picky sauce People in this house. We loved it!! Thanks for sharing. Will be a keeper!!! Letssss Gooooo.
ReplyDeleteMOUNTAINEERS!!!! That's SO awesome!!! Blue and Gold FOREVER!!!!
DeleteYou boil the ground beef instead of browning it and draining off the grease? What happens to all the grease?
ReplyDeleteHey Diane! It just adds flavor to the sauce, but if you are concerned you can buy a lean ground beef.
DeleteThis sauce is great. When you taste it alone, it seems a little sweet but when you put it on your hot dog with slaw, all the flavors combined are wonderful. It's just like I remember slaw dogs in WV as a kid. Awesome!
ReplyDeleteAww yay! I'm so glad to hear that! We West Virginians take our sauce and slaw dogs VERY seriously!
DeleteThis sauce came out great. Very good recipe. Can you freeze some for later use?
ReplyDeleteFreeze what? No left ovwrs at my house. It was too good lol
DeleteKevin you can 100% freeze this recipe!
DeleteOmg best sauce ever!!! Thank you. Ill always make it this way and never buy canned again!
ReplyDeleteLOL Angela, same and thank you for such a lovely comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed the sauce.
DeleteI had the absolute joy and pleasure to live in West Virginia for 18 months about 13 years ago. Some of the best years of my life! Thank you for sharing this recipe! I won't eat hotdogs any other way now ❤ West Virginia stole my heart and now I am back in Canada and I crave me some West Virginia slaw dogs, pepperoni rolls and Tudors Biscuits and gravey 😋 thanks love for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAwww that is so amazing! There is no place like WV and I'm so glad you can carry a piece of it with you. Have you seen the recipe on here for the pepperoni rolls?
DeleteGreat sauce recipe. Thankyou!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, and thanks for taking time to comment.
DeleteThis WV boy remembers this sauce from Stewart’s and Frostop drive ins! Cooking a batch right now as a special request for my daughter’s 28th birthday!
ReplyDeleteI love that! I love how food can take us back to happy places and moments!
Deletehow do you make your slaw?
ReplyDeleteI use the pre-shredded bag of slaw mix and add a little mayo, sugar, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Always to taste.
DeleteI am not sure if I have commented on this West Virginia Hot Dog Sauce, but it bears repeating. This has become a family favorite for putting over our spicy hot dogs. The flavors compliment completely. I am so glad I found this recipe. At first I was put off by boiling and simmering raw ground chuck. I was used to browning it. I was so glad I tried it. The texture you get using this method is quite different from browning. I have placed this recipe in our family favorite cookbook. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGrew up in West Virginia and this is just like what my mom makes... I've asked her for the recipe but she just eyeballs it all and makes it from memory like her mom taught her. So glad I was able to find this! I live in Australia now and all our friends here are obsessed with this hot dog sauce. Its a nice step up form the plain ketchup and mustard they are used to having on their sausages here.
ReplyDeleteI made this today & it was a hit! (I did reduce the brown sugar & added a bit more red pepper flakes & a dash of cayenne pepper.) It's delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
ReplyDeleteI come from Weirton, WV and there used to be a place there called Frank's Restaurant. They served atomic red hots and french burgers. They both came with this amazing atomic hot dog sauce. Is your hot dog sauce hot and spicy?
ReplyDeleteThis hot dog sauce is the Bomb!! I love it, & I'm from Virginia..haha. I made this, & plan on making a double batch in a few weeks, just hubby & me, so, I freeze in portions for the two of us, & maybe it'll last a couple of months. Thanks so much!!
ReplyDeleteI love the look of this hotdog sauce!! I will be making it next week and I have a question... do you think I could can this in my pressure canner? I would love to make jam jar sizes as Christmas gifts. Thank you for your time.
ReplyDeletei have made hot dog sauce and pressure canned it before. it turns out okay.
DeleteI've canned it in a pressure cooker /canner, it cans well.
DeleteThis is a great recipe. I’ve made it several times and my WV wife feels as if it is the perfect WV recipe.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of this sauce prior to a couple days ago (I grew up in Ohio but we settled in Virginia). It sounded so good I bought the necessary ingredients & it’s simmering right now. I can’t wait!
ReplyDelete