Chili hot dog sandwich, on white bread
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
A hearty, messy comfort food classic, this sandwich layers a savory, spiced chili con carne over a hot dog sausage, all nestled between two slices of soft, pillowy white bread. The texture is a satisfying contrast of tender bread, juicy sausage, and thick, meaty chili. Nutritionally, it's a calorie-dense powerhouse, delivering a solid protein punch from the meat and beans, but also a significant amount of fat and refined carbohydrates.
Calorie split: 18% protein · 29% carbs · 53% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People adore it for its ultimate comfort-food appeal—the combination of savory, spicy chili, salty hot dog, and soft bread is deeply satisfying and nostalgic. It's a versatile, no-fuss meal that's equally at home at a backyard barbecue, a late-night diner, or a quick weeknight dinner.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high fat, sodium, and refined carb content can cause blood-sugar spikes and isn't ideal for those monitoring heart health or blood sugar. To counteract this, pair it with a large side salad or steamed greens to add fiber and volume, use a whole-grain bread swap, and opt for a lean turkey dog or a bean-heavy chili to boost nutrients and reduce saturated fat.
Key benefits
- High in protein for muscle repair and satiety
- Good source of energy from carbohydrates
- Contains iron and B vitamins from the meat
- Provides fiber if the chili includes beans
- A quick, filling meal option
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The 'Coney Island' hot dog, a direct ancestor of the chili dog, was actually popularized not in New York, but by Greek and Macedonian immigrants in Michigan in the early 1900s.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 59.8 g |
| Energy | 215 kcal |
| Protein | 9.9 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 12.7 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 15.4 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.8 g |
| Total Sugars | 2.1 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 56.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.9 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 20.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 110 mg |
| Potassium, K | 263 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 553 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.6 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.10 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 10.7 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 2.6 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.14 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.14 mg |
| Niacin | 2.3 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.13 mg |
| Folate, total | 45.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 17.0 ug |
| Folate, food | 28.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 57.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 27.7 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.52 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 6.0 ug |
| Retinol | 1.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 46.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 5.0 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 7.0 ug |
| Lycopene | 863 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 16.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.42 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.30 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 2.7 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 5.0 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.36 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 2.8 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 1.6 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 5.3 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.46 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 5.1 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.05 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.02 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.84 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.75 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.11 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 29.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Peppers, hot chili, red, raw — USDA does not publish this profile for Chili hot dog sandwich.
| Tryptophan | 0.03 g |
| Threonine | 0.07 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.07 g |
| Leucine | 0.10 g |
| Lysine | 0.09 g |
| Methionine | 0.02 g |
| Cystine | 0.04 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.06 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.04 g |
| Valine | 0.08 g |
| Arginine | 0.10 g |
| Histidine | 0.04 g |
| Alanine | 0.08 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.29 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.26 g |
| Glycine | 0.07 g |
| Proline | 0.09 g |
| Serine | 0.08 g |
FAQ
What's the difference between a chili dog and a chili dog sandwich?
A chili dog is typically a hot dog in a bun topped with chili. A chili dog sandwich, as the name implies, often uses sliced white bread instead of a bun, making it a distinct, often messier, comfort food variation.
Is this a good post-workout meal?
It can be. The combination of protein from the meat and carbohydrates from the bread and chili can help with muscle recovery and glycogen replenishment. However, its high fat content might slow digestion, so it's not the leanest option.
How can I make a healthier version at home?
Use lean ground turkey or a plant-based crumble for the chili, load it with extra beans and vegetables, choose a low-sodium hot dog, and serve it on whole-grain bread or a lettuce wrap instead of white bread.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 2.15 kcal/g · 18% calories from protein · 1.8 g fiber · 2.1 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 2.10 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.