Under the expansive umbrella of chili dogs, several regional varieties strike a tender note of civic pride. In Cincinnati, chili-and-cheese coneys are a way of life and a staple of backyard cookouts, sporting events, and family memories going back generations. Making your own Cincinnati Cheese Coney gives you a taste of life in the Midwest and brings the flavor of The Queen City home.
What Is a Cincinnati Cheese Coney?
Cincinnati dogs are known for a few key ingredients:
- A pork frankfurter
- A generous helping of Cincinnati chili
- Plenty of shredded cheddar cheese
- A pile of diced onions
- Yellow mustard (optional)
As you’d expect, the key to a delicious Cincy dog is making your own chili. Here’s how to put all the ingredients together for an unforgettable meal!
The Ultimate Cincinnati Dog Recipe (from Scratch!)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cup chopped white onion (from 1 onion), plus more for serving
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (from 3 cloves)
- 1 pound 85 percent-lean ground beef, preferably grass-fed
- Kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 can (8 ounces) low-sodium tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple-cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 6 all-beef franks
- 6 long potato rolls, such as Martin’s, split
- Yellow mustard, for serving
- 4 ounces finely shredded sharp cheddar (2 cups), for serving
Cooking Instructions
Make your chili first; here’s how.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden in places, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook for 30 more seconds.
- Add ground beef and season with salt. Increase heat to medium-high and cook until meat is browned in places and cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Stir in cocoa, cinnamon, and allspice. Cook 1 minute.
- Stir in tomato sauce, 1 cup water, vinegar, Worcestershire, and chili powder.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thick and darkened slightly, 18 to 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat and cover to keep warm.
You can always cook your chili ahead and reheat it, but it may not pack the same punch!
Hot Dog Prep
- Technically, you can half Cincy dogs boiled or grilled (unlike Chicago dogs, which are always boiled), but we prefer grilled dogs in northern Michigan.
- Heat grill to medium-high.
- Place as many hot dogs on the grill as desired and cook until warmed through, rotating every 1-2 minutes. Most hot dogs will cook in 6-8 minutes.
- With 2-3 minutes left on your dogs, toast buns on the cooler side of the grill so that they’re warm just as your hot dogs are ready!
- Place warmed buns on a large tray and immediately top with condiments, starting with the chili, onions, a drizzle of mustard, and plenty of shredded cheddar cheese!
While not an ingredient, you’ll need one more thing to enjoy a Cincinnati dog – a bib!
The History of Cincinnati Dogs
The humble coney began on the shores of the Rhine River in Germany, with local sausage makers introducing longer, pork-filled franks to the local diet. Those same German immigrants brought hot dogs to the ballpark, with brands like E. Kahn’s Sons selling franks at Cincinnati Reds games at the turn of the 19th century.
Cincinnati chili was already a part of the regional identity by the early 1900s, with several brands competing for market share. Empress Chili started adding their product to cheese and onion-topped dogs and calling them “Cheese Coneys” in 1922; it became a national phenomenon that thrives to this day.
Bring Your Backyard Cookout to Life
Oryana offers a wide selection of sustainable, organic, and locally sourced foods to make family get-togethers feel good and taste even better. Source local grass-fed beef, buns baked locally, and more ways to delight guests and support regional farmers and makers at our two locations in Traverse City!
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