Firehouse Hot Dog Meat Sauce

Transform your backyard barbecue into a flavor-packed feast with Firehouse Hot Dog Meat Sauce—an irresistible, smoky, and slightly spicy topping that takes ordinary hot dogs to the next level. This hearty homemade sauce combines tender ground beef, finely chopped onions, and minced garlic with a bold blend of condiments and seasonings, including ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, smoked paprika, and just a hint of cayenne for fiery depth. Sweetened with brown sugar and balanced with mustard tang, this thick, savory sauce is simmered to perfection in just 30 minutes. Perfect for serving atop grilled or boiled hot dogs, it's a crowd-pleasing addition to any cookout, game day, or casual dinner. Pair with classic toppings like shredded cheese, diced onions, or pickled jalapeños for a customizable, mouthwatering creation everyone will love.

Nutriscore Rating: 65/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up into small crumbles as it browns. Continue cooking until fully browned, about 6-8 minutes. Drain any excess fat if needed.

Step 2

Push the cooked beef to one side of the skillet, and add the chopped onion to the empty side. Cook the onion for 3-4 minutes, until softened and translucent, then stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.

Step 3

Reduce the heat to low and stir the beef, onion, and garlic together. Add the water, ketchup, and tomato paste, stirring to combine thoroughly.

Step 4

Mix in the Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, chili powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, brown sugar, salt, and black pepper. If you prefer extra heat, stir in the hot sauce as well.

Step 5

Simmer the sauce on low heat, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 minutes. The flavors will meld, and the mixture will thicken to a spoonable consistency.

Step 6

Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings if necessary, adding more salt, pepper, or heat to suit your preference.

Step 7

Spoon the hot meat sauce over grilled or boiled hot dogs nestled in buns. Top with additional condiments like shredded cheese, diced onions, or pickled jalapeños, as desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1140.2 grams (1140.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1384

Total Fat 81.60g	105%
Saturated Fat 32.30g	161%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.00g
Cholesterol 321mg	107%
Sodium 4215mg	183%
Total Carbohydrate 95.20g	35%
Dietary Fiber 7.40g	26%
Total Sugars 61.90g
Protein 80.40g	161%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 147mg	11%
Iron 12mg	64%
Potassium 1884mg	40%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 51.1%

Protein: 22.4%

Carbs: 26.5%