Homemade Hot Dog Sauce

Perfectly timed for the 4th of July, this delightful homemade sauce will elevate your hotdogs. I discovered this recipe several years ago on the YouTube channel "Come Sit at my Table." It's a classic West Virginia favorite. I know two things about West Virginia: it's where my mom, Patsy, was born, and it's renowned for its incredible hotdogs.

Ingredients:

5 pounds of hamburger

1 - 64 ounce bottle of tomato juice

5 teaspoons salt

3 large onions, diced

salt for the onions

1/2 cup chili powder

1 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup sugar

1 can of tomato paste

Directions

Place the ground beef, 44 ounces of tomato juice, and salt in a large pot. Mix with your hands as you would for meatloaf, ensuring the meat is mushy. Cook over medium heat until it gently bubbles, and simmer until the meat is no longer pink. Stir frequently to prevent sticking.

While the beef is cooking, put the onions, salt, and 1/2 cup of water in a saucepan and cook until nearly tender, being careful not to overcook to avoid mushy onions. Set aside without draining the liquid.

Once the beef is cooked, drain the grease from the meat.

Return the ground beef to the pot. Add the chili powder, black pepper, and sugar, mixing them in thoroughly. Add the onions with their water, the remaining 20 ounces of tomato juice, and the tomato paste. Stir until everything is well combined.

Cook gently until the mixture thickens to your desired consistency for hot dog sauce. It will thicken slightly more as it cools.

You can freeze it for storage and reheat when needed.