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Chili dogs for a crowd. How much meat?

Posted on 8/18/25 at 6:53 pm
Posted by tigersownall
Thibodaux
Member since Sep 2011
16617 posts
Posted on 8/18/25 at 6:53 pm
Say you were making chili dogs for about 500 people. How many pounds of ground meat would you buy?

Update: not that anyone cares but ten pounds of gr meat is enough to make hotdog chili for 160 dogs.
This post was edited on 8/23/25 at 1:16 pm
Posted by MobileJosh
On the go
Member since May 2018
1203 posts
Posted on 8/18/25 at 7:04 pm to
Probably 75lbs of ground meat for chili dogs . We do a big chili fundraiser every year for 600-800 people and use 150lb total. It's not chili dogs, just bowls of chili.
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
23301 posts
Posted on 8/18/25 at 7:16 pm to
Ya’ll always come on here making up numbers of people, it’s really about X amount of food per person. I’d suggest something like 1.25 hot dogs per person and I have no idea how much meat a scoop of chili is. But figure that out? Then multiple it by the amount of people. Doesn’t matter if you have 5, 50, or 500.
Posted by LemmyLives
Texas
Member since Mar 2019
13069 posts
Posted on 8/18/25 at 8:44 pm to
Are you going to tell us where to show up? I want in.
Posted by BigDropper
Member since Jul 2009
8367 posts
Posted on 8/18/25 at 10:03 pm to
How much chili you putting on each hot dog? If 1/2 cup then 4 oz by volume x 500 = 2,000 oz ~ 16 gallons

#2 ground beef per gallon = #36. I'd err on the side of too much vs not enough and make #50.
Posted by Professor Dawghair
Member since Oct 2021
1689 posts
Posted on 8/18/25 at 10:13 pm to
Another way of looking at it is if you used 3-4 tablespoons of chili sauce per hot dog, which I would think is plenty, then you would need 6-8 gallons of finished chili sauce.

Maybe you could look at your recipe and figure it out from there.

Maybe make 10 gallons to be safe.
Posted by BigDropper
Member since Jul 2009
8367 posts
Posted on 8/18/25 at 10:42 pm to
quote:

3-4 tablespoons of chili sauce per hot dog
Are you an Atheist? That's not enough chili. Does this look little 1.5-2 oz of chili?


That's about 1/2 - 2/3 cup of chili on that dog.
Posted by Professor Dawghair
Member since Oct 2021
1689 posts
Posted on 8/19/25 at 12:12 am to
quote:

Are you an Atheist?


lol. I guess you're right. You're the professional.
Posted by tigersownall
Thibodaux
Member since Sep 2011
16617 posts
Posted on 8/19/25 at 6:53 am to
So actually I’ve done this once before I just don’t remember how much I used. A heaping scoop out of a 1oz ladle is actually more than enough because I’m not trying to drown the shite out of them.
Posted by PerplenGold
TX
Member since Nov 2021
2213 posts
Posted on 8/19/25 at 7:58 am to


That's how I'd make them for eating with friends & family.

Depending on the event, I'd consider thinning it out a good bit and making more of a chili dog sauce. Again, depends on who you're cooking for and what they're paying for.

Posted by tonydtigr
Beautiful Downtown Glenn Springs,Tx
Member since Nov 2011
6352 posts
Posted on 8/19/25 at 8:11 am to
Damn! Now that makes me want a chili cheese growler. Good looking dog!
Posted by theliontamer
Baton Rouge
Member since Nov 2015
1817 posts
Posted on 8/19/25 at 8:13 am to
Do what ya want, but I'm just gonna throw this out there. Regular ketchup/mustard/relish/onion hot dogs are better than chili dogs, way less messy, and way easier to serve to 500 people. Add some pickle spears and tomato wedges for chicago dogs if ya wanna get crazy.
Posted by LSUballs
RayVegas LA
Member since Feb 2008
39820 posts
Posted on 8/19/25 at 9:22 am to
quote:

Regular ketchup/mustard/relish/onion hot dogs are better than chili dogs,





Posted by SixthAndBarone
Member since Jan 2019
10475 posts
Posted on 8/19/25 at 10:47 am to
BigDropper did the math and it is sound.

I would definitely roll with 50 pounds as well. For 500 dogs, that's 10 hot dogs per pound of meat. That definitely seems reasonable. 40 pounds (36#) would be 12 hot dogs per pound. I'd definitely feel more comfortable at 10 vs 12.
Posted by Sun God
Member since Jul 2009
49540 posts
Posted on 8/19/25 at 11:07 am to


Not a fan of chili dogs like this. Reminds me of the foot tall burger trend

I’m pretty stupid though
Posted by tenfoe
Member since Jun 2011
6942 posts
Posted on 8/19/25 at 11:31 am to
Just remember that 25-40% of people are communists and don’t eat chili on their hotdog.
Posted by tigersownall
Thibodaux
Member since Sep 2011
16617 posts
Posted on 8/19/25 at 1:35 pm to
This too and it’s more of a sauce. Not a tick chili
Posted by calcotron
Member since Nov 2007
10049 posts
Posted on 8/19/25 at 2:35 pm to
Not helping at all, just here to say I hid the bit of leftover chili we have in the back of the fridge to commandeer it for chili dogs tomorrow for lunch.
Posted by BHTiger
Charleston
Member since Dec 2017
8347 posts
Posted on 8/19/25 at 6:26 pm to
A lb hamburger will make enough chili sauce will do about 15 hot dogs unless you are overflowing the dog and making it a knife and fork meal.
Posted by duckblind56
South of Ellick
Member since Sep 2023
4321 posts
Posted on 8/19/25 at 7:43 pm to
quote:

How many pounds of ground meat would you buy?


Don't stop there

Shredded cheese
Chopped onions
Chopped green onions
Sliced jalapeños
Banana peppers
Pickle slices or diced pickles
Nacho sauce
Ketchup, mustard & hot sauce
Sour cream & ranch dressings
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