Anyone who thinks that a plainly dressed hot dog doesn’t do the trick for them, and they end up dressing up any hot dog they eat with chili, will want to take note of a holiday that falls on the last Thursday in July. This holiday is known as National Chili Dog Day, and it’s designed to be a day on which people can celebrate and enjoy comfort food that’s made differently depending on the region it’s enjoyed in. Let’s take a look at this holiday and see if it’s a day that brings chili lovers and hot dog lovers together.

The History Of The Chili Dog

No one knows when National Chili Dog Day was launched, so we want to spend some time talking about who invented chili dogs. Unfortunately, the history of the chili dog is probably one of the most convoluted food item histories out there. Some people claim that the chili dog was invented on Brooklyn’s Coney Island, and some people say it was invented in Los Angeles. There’s even a theory that says the chili dog was invented in Chicago. So, as it would seem, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly when the chili dog was invented or who invented it.

Most historians credit the invention of the hot dog, however, to Charles Feltman—a street vendor who sold dachshund sausages in milk rolls from his wagon as early as the 1860s. He would go on to open a hot dog stand on Coney Island in 1871, and it was reported that he sold over 3,600 of his hot dogs that year.

The hot dog continued to be a popular food throughout the rest of the 19th century and into the early 20th century. But then it began to experience a dip in popularity due to the meats that were used to make the hot dogs. There were grave concerns about meat-packing standards around the turn of the 20th century, and many of these hot dogs were made with unappetizing ingredients such as beef hearts. Supposedly, it was these low-quality hot dogs that prompted people to begin slathering them in chili to hide their somewhat unpleasant taste. We know chili dogs were invented around this time; we just don’t know who invented them.

Celebrating National Chili Dog Day

Grab yourself a great hot dog, cover it with chili, and serve it with your choice of onions, pickles, mustard, ketchup, or any other toppings you desire. That’s the best way to celebrate National Chili Dog Day. Although the history of this food is a little bit obscured by time, there’s one thing that we know for sure, and that is hot dogs are a lot more appetizing than they were 120+ years ago. So, why not serve one up with some chili and enjoy this holiday in style? Oh, and while you’re at it, don’t forget to use the hashtag #NationalChiliDogDay on your social media accounts.