🎃🌭 RosemaryThyme Annual Halloween Chili Dog Bar 🍂

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🎃🌭 RosemaryThyme Annual Halloween Chili Dog Bar 🍂

When my children were growing up, this was one of our favorite Halloween traditions! I would make my slow cooker chili early so we could have dinner before everyone headed out to trick-or-treat.

A warm meal before an evening of costumes and candy meant they weren’t coming home ravenous and wanting to make their entire supper out of Halloween candy. Well…that was the idea anyway! 😂🍬

I set out the hot dogs, buns, and little bowls of toppings so everyone could build a chili dog with everything they loved. It’s an easy, welcoming meal for a busy Halloween evening—and a tradition that still makes me smile. 💛

🌿 SLOW COOKER CHILI DOG BAR
Serves approximately 8, with extra chili

For the chili:

• 1 pound Walmart 93% lean ground beef
• 2 cans (15 ounces each) Great Value No Salt Added Pinto Beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15 ounces) Great Value No Salt Added Black Beans, drained and rinsed
• 6 medium Roma tomatoes, finely chopped, including their juices
• 1 tablespoon chili powder, plus more to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon Hershey’s Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• A splash of water, only if needed

For the hot dogs:

• 8 Hebrew National hot dogs
• 8 Marketside brioche hot dog buns

For the topping bar:

• Finely diced onions
• Finely chopped Roma tomatoes
• Pickle relish
• Kraft reduced-fat shredded Mexican four-cheese blend
• Sour cream
• Mustard
• Chopped cooked bacon
• Corn chips
• Shredded lettuce

👩‍🍳 DIRECTIONS

1. Brown the beef. Cook the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, breaking it into small crumbles. Drain any excess grease.
2. Fill the slow cooker. Add the cooked beef, drained beans, chopped Roma tomatoes and their juices, chili powder, cumin, oregano, turmeric, and cocoa. Stir well.
3. Let it simmer. Cover and cook on LOW for 4–6 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours, until the tomatoes soften and the flavors come together. Slow cookers vary, so check occasionally. Add just a splash of water if needed—you want thick chili that stays on the hot dogs! Taste and adjust the seasonings before serving.
4. Prepare the topping bar. Place each topping in its own small bowl. Keep the cheese, sour cream, bacon, and chopped vegetables refrigerated until serving time.
5. Cook the hot dogs. Shortly before dinner, cook the Hebrew National hot dogs in gently boiling water according to the package directions. Drain and place in the brioche buns.
6. Let everyone build their own! Spoon chili over each hot dog and invite everyone to add their favorite toppings. Keep the chili on the slow cooker’s WARM setting during serving.

🍅 A few RosemaryThyme tips

Roma tomatoes have a lovely, meaty texture for this chili. I also set out a separate bowl of finely chopped Romas for a fresh topping!

The little touch of cocoa adds depth to the chili without making it taste like chocolate.

For younger children—or anyone who prefers a milder chili—start with less chili powder and adjust to your family’s taste.

💛 A little RosemaryThyme thought

Sometimes the traditions our children remember most are the simple ones: a familiar supper, excitement around the table, and someone making sure their tummies were full before the adventure began. Those little moments become part of our family story.

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Helene 😊
Rosemary Thyme 🌿
Fall In Love With Home Again 💛🏡
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