Several of the brands of canned chili at the grocery store also offer something adjacent on the aisle called “hot dog chili sauce.”
My question is, what’s the difference?
IME, canned hot dog sauce is usually all meat, with maybe a bean or two depending on the brand. With Chili, you get the opposite–all beans, with a little bit of meat.
According to Homer Simpson
So is the “hot dog sauce” thicker? I have some tortillas, some fritos, some onions and some ketchup. I was thinking about making some frito-chili-pie wraps tonight, but last time I tried it the canned chili I used was far too runny. Would this “hot dog sauce” substance be a better bet for sticking in the wrap, you think?
If I were going to try this experiment, I’d open the can of hot dog sauce and “drain” as much of the liquid as possible by pressing the can lid down against the contents and “turning it out” over the sink; you know, like you do with canned tuna.
This would produce a thicker product, I’m betting.
If you try it, post about how it worked. I’m the only one in the family that likes stuff like tortillas stuffed with meat, refried beans, shredded cheese, etc. Seems like this would be a good way to keep stuff on hand for me to make them one or two at a time for lunch or something.
Pretty much this. The presence or absence of beans is the most obvious difference.
The chili is meant to be eaten straight, like a soup or stew. It can have chunks of meat, vegetables (peppers, tomatoes), and beans in it. The “hot dog sauce” or “chili sauce” or “coney sauce” is a sauce, meant to be put on other things—mainly hot dogs. It has a more even consistency, without big chunks of anything, and maybe a bit different flavor.