I love, love, love, love a great chili dog. Apparently I’m not alone because it has its own National Day and today is it! When I had to start eating gluten free, for months I simply ate my chili dogs on a plate or on top of a bowl of rice (amazing, believe it or not). Then, lo and behold, different gluten free bread companies began coming out with gluten free hot dog buns. I’ll be 100 percent honest with you, I haven’t found a gluten free hot dog bun yet that’s as soft as traditional bread, but I have complete confidence that it’s just a matter of time before someone nails it. Until then, I just lightly toast my hot dog (and hamburger, for that matter) buns.
The funny thing is, when you have to eat gluten free, you re-discover a whole world of flavors when you give up the bread. Everything tastes so much better on its own. That’s why, even with options available, I have gotten to the point I actually prefer my sandwiches, including hot dogs and hamburgers, off any sort of bread. By simply eating them with a fork, their flavors really come through – AND I forgo extra, unnecessary calories.
Best of all, the star of the show gets to be just that – the star of the show!
In the wonderful Chili Dog recipes (topping ideas) below, the stars are most definitely the chili and the hot dog. Their co-stars aren’t too shabby either. Pick one out and celebrate National Chili Dog Day with a funky, exciting supper tonight.
Gluten Free Options: Simply grab a can of Hormel Chili marked “Gluten Free” and substitute gluten free bread for the traditional bread. The Southwestern Chili Dogs below are ideal for serving on corn tortillas or gluten free flour tortillas. You can find a comprehensive list of Hormel’s Gluten Free Products by clicking the link.
- Hormel® Chili
- Pulled pork
- Barbecue sauce
- Creamy coleslaw
- Pickled jalapeños
- Bacon
- Crumbled cornbread (use gluten free cornbread for a great gluten free option)
- Hormel® Chili
- Avocados
- Cucumber
- Shredded carrot
- Pickled jalapeños
- Bacon
- Crumbled cornbread (use gluten free cornbread for a great gluten free option)
- Hormel® Chili
- Spaghetti (use gluten free spaghetti for a great gluten free option)
- Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese
- Oyster Crackers (sub crumbled gluten free crackers for a gluten free option)
- Chopped Onion
- Hormel® Chili Corn
- Black beans
- Red onion
- Jalapeños
- Queso fresco
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Hormel® Chili
- Green bell peppers
- Onions
- Provolone
- Salami
- Pepperoni
- Crushed red pepper flakes
Recipe and Photo Credit: See Hormel Recipes for more delicious recipes and ideas. They’re my “go to” when it comes to buying chili, whether it’s the gluten free options for myself (and two daughters) or the Vegetarian chili for my vegetarian daughter – they’re simply the best.
