What exactly is Coney Sauce and have you ever made it?

[maslex]

Each Saturday I make up a "menu" for the upcoming week. When I asked my husband what he'd like to have he says:

"You know what would make a good dinner? How about 'good' hot dogs (he likes the individually wrapped Deutschmacher kind) with a Coney Sauce and 'good' fries" I'm like:

Number one, we've never had "Coney Dogs" before. I've seen photos of them and they do look good but really don't know what the topping is. Is it some sort of chili? I've looked on Pinterest and found a lot of different recipes but wondering if you have a tried & true one that you like.

And I asked him what 'good' fries are and he told me he didn't know but that they're good. Yeah, he's my difficult one.

 

[Kellydelly]

When we have coney dogs at home I just buy Hormel canned chili (the one with no bean) to top the hot dogs. Of course we add shredded cheese and onions . French fries are tricky. I would just buy some frozen ones and add some extra spice while they bake (I don't own a deep fryer).

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Each Saturday I make up a "menu" for the upcoming week. When I asked my husband what he'd like to have he says:

"You know what would make a good dinner? How about 'good' hot dogs (he likes the individually wrapped Deutschmacher kind) with a Coney Sauce and 'good' fries" I'm like:

Number one, we've never had "Coney Dogs" before. I've seen photos of them and they do look good but really don't know what the topping is. Is it some sort of chili? I've looked on Pinterest and found a lot of different recipes but wondering if you have a tried & true one that you like.

And I asked him what 'good' fries are and he told me he didn't know but that they're good. Yeah, he's my difficult one.

Generally chili without beans, onions, and mustard. However depending on what part of the country you are talking depends on the toppings. I am talking Michigan coney dogs. YUM. I buy the Steak and Shake chili as I hate Hormel. You can also buy "Chili Sauce" however I find it to be too sweet, yuck.

Good fries would probably be crinkle cut, fried in the deep fryer.

I will have to google those hot dogs.

 

[lynxstch]

Now you made me crave Deutschmacher hot dogs again, and we don't have them in MD..I am from MA and those were my favorite hotdogs ever! For 'Coney style" sauce, I use either Hormel Chili with no beans, or Castleberry's hot dog chili sauce (it's not as thick as Hormel)..I also make chili cheese fries with it..mmmm...guess I know what dinner is gonna be tonite, just without my 'favorite' hot dog

 

[cobright]

I am from Detroit, we invented the Coney Island hotdog. This is all you need to know. A coney dog is NOT the same as a chili dog.

Hotdog must be Dearborn Park or Koegel. Between the two, Koegel is the better choice. Purist say the wiener must be a natural casing hotdog, I tend to agree. Koegel's is called a 'Vienna'. If you don't want that snap while u eat feel free to get a skinless frank, I won't judge.

Coney sauce is beanless ground beef chili cooked thick. Just buy hormel beanless or hormel coney sauce in a can, either will work. Nathan's makes a good hotdog chili as well.

Okay, now you griddle the dogs. They should heat evenly and NOT get a charred edge on them. This is sacrilege, but I prefer to steam the dogs.

The bun should be warmed but not toasted. Bun the dog and then put a scoop of coney sauce on it.

Now put 2-3 lines of french's yellow mustard down the length of the dog on top of the chili. Do not use grey poop-on or spicy brown mustard. This is not the time to express your creativity. Choice of mustard is crucial here.

Next is about a tablespoon of fresh chopped white or yellow onion. Diced evenly about 3/16" (a little finer than 1/4"). You can add more onion but shouldn't add less. Onion should be on the sharp side, not like a vidalia.

There you are.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I never heard the word "coney" used for a hot dog before the first time I went to Sonic.

I've had hot dogs with what is apparently coney sauce before when I was growing up, but nobody ever called it a coney. It was a chilli dog.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

We used to be able to buy the "National Coney Island" brand sauce at our Meijer, but they stopped carrying it. Now they sell Koegel. The Koegel is good, but the National was better. Either is better than the canned stuff. It is usually in the refrigerated section by the hotdogs. You have to look for it. The Koegel comes in a tube shape container like raw sausage. It's not a healthy meal for sure. We only have them a couple times a year.

 

[aaarcher86]

Coney sauce is just chili, right? We are Skyline chili folk. I'll have to have my mom ship me some when we move South!

 

[MomofKatie]

Coney sauce is just chili, right? We are Skyline chili folk. I'll have to have my mom ship me some when we move South!

Pretty much- chili without beans. We are southerners who love Skyline Chili, too (DH is from Dayton, just up the road from Cincy). We use Cincinnatti chili for our coneys- we add lots of shredded cheese and diced onions, too, Skyline style!

 

[Topper]

We used to be able to buy the "National Coney Island" brand sauce at our Meijer, but they stopped carrying it. Now they sell Koegel. The Koegel is good, but the National was better. Either is better than the canned stuff. It is usually in the refrigerated section by the hotdogs. You have to look for it. The Koegel comes in a tube shape container like raw sausage. It's not a healthy meal for sure. We only have them a couple times a year.

The National brand is made with ground beef and the Koegel is made from ground beef hearts.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

The National brand is made with ground beef and the Koegel is made from ground beef hearts.

Yuck!

 

[worm761]

Coney sauce is just chili, right? We are Skyline chili folk. I'll have to have my mom ship me some when we move South!

Pretty much- chili without beans. We are southerners who love Skyline Chili, too (DH is from Dayton, just up the road from Cincy). We use Cincinnatti chili for our coneys- we add lots of shredded cheese and diced onions, too, Skyline style!

This is us too. I have a friend in South Carolina that sends me some Skyline packets.

As for good fries. They need to be homemade. We prefer Yukon Gold's but any potato will do really. The key to a really good homemade fry is to soak them in a little salt water before cooking.

And now I think we will go to the store later and make some chili cheese dogs and homemade fries for dinner tonight.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

The National brand is made with ground beef and the Koegel is made from ground beef hearts.

No, I just looked it up online. Koegel has 2 kinds. We buy the red package made from beef. The orange package is the beef hearts. We haven't tried that.

 

[Topper]

No, I just looked it up online. Koegel has 2 kinds. We buy the red package made from beef. The orange package is the beef hearts. We haven't tried that.

Ah, my bad, but the beef hearts preparation is the Flint style if you're feeling brave.

From Wikipedia: Flint style is characterized by a dry hot dog topping made with a base of ground beef heart, which is ground to a consistency of fine-ground beef.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Ah, my bad, but the beef hearts preparation is the Flint style if you're feeling brave. From Wikipedia: Flint style is characterized by a dry hot dog topping made with a base of ground beef heart, which is ground to a consistency of fine-ground beef.

Well my DS wants to try it. He's an adventurous eater. I don't remember that kind in the Grand Rapids Meijer though. Maybe when we visit our Detroit relatives we will check there.

 

[Colleen27]

Another Michigander weighing in... When we do it it is Koegel hot dogs and National Coney Island sauce. Our Meijers still has it, I hope it doesn't disappear!

Coney sauce isn't the same as chili at all. Chili is tomato-based; coney sauce is more of a spicy ground-beef gravy sort of thing. I make chili often, but because of the pure junk food status of coney sauce I only rarely do coney dogs or proper coney-style chili cheese fries.

 

[Minnesota!]

Chili and coney sauce are not even close to the same thing.

Coney sauce is a thick meat gravy. Kind of sweet, kind of spicy.

Gopher Bar is right down the road from my work - best Coney bar ever.

Not a family friendly site - http://gopherbar.com/gopherbar/

And homemade fries are so easy and SO good. Yukon gold, boiled, sliced, tossed in EVOO and seasoning salt. Bake and then you can pan fry, too...

 

[JakeJenna]

Tony Packo's is the best canned sauce I have ever had. Here in Toledo it is rarely called coney sauce though, it usually just referred to as hot dog sauce.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Chili and coney sauce are not even close to the same thing. Coney sauce is a thick meat gravy. Kind of sweet, kind of spicy. Gopher Bar is right down the road from my work - best Coney bar ever. Not a family friendly site - http://gopherbar.com/gopherbar/ And homemade fries are so easy and SO good. Yukon gold, boiled, sliced, tossed in EVOO and seasoning salt. Bake and then you can pan fry, too...

That is what I was thinking.

To me "Coney" or "meat sauce" is different than chili.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I am thinking that, depending on what you can find in your area, you might the closest to Coney Sauce by looking for the chub-pack stuff in the grocers cooler. Not a can. Yes, this often contains beef-hearts and beef-products.

My husband is from Michigan. Yep, I have heard SO much about 'coneys'!!!!

I sometimes make my own chili sauce, no tomato. I use some really good quality ground beef, maybe a bit of onion, chili powder, garlic powder, salt... saute with plenty of oil, low temp... don't rush it... you don't want it like browned and crispy!!!! Add a bit of water, and maybe even some fine cornmeal or any other starch to add filler and thicken... and break it down as smooth as possible in your skillet. Or simply zap for just a moment in the blender when done.

Man, we watch what we eat.. but now I DO want a big coney/chili dog!!!
I actually bought some hotdogs the other day. Cheaper ones too, not the more limited brands mentioned here on this thread. Maybe I can order some of this stuff online???