Description
Hearty chili cheese dog casserole delivers comfort food magic with layers of savory hot dogs, zesty chili, and melted cheese. Families will devour this crowd-pleasing dish that brings classic American flavors together in one satisfying bake.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 8 hot dogs
- 1 lb ground beef
Dairy and Cheese:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Bread and Base:
- 8 hot dog buns
- 1/4 cup butter
Seasonings and Sauces:
- 1 packet chili seasoning
- 1 can (15 oz) chili
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Toppings:
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1/4 cup diced onions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and generously grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to ensure easy serving and prevent sticking.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it into crumbles and cooking until no pink remains, approximately 7-8 minutes.
- Drain excess fat from the beef, then stir in the chili seasoning, garlic powder, and black pepper, creating a well-seasoned meat mixture.
- Pour the canned chili into the skillet with the seasoned beef, stirring to combine and create a rich, hearty base for the casserole.
- Slice the hot dog buns in half lengthwise and brush each side generously with melted butter for a golden, crispy texture.
- Arrange the buttered bun halves in the prepared baking dish, creating a slightly overlapping layer that covers the bottom of the dish.
- Layer the whole hot dogs evenly across the buttered bun base, ensuring complete coverage.
- Spread the chili and beef mixture over the hot dogs, creating a thick, flavorful coating.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese generously over the chili layer, covering the entire surface.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and slightly bubbly with golden edges.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes to set and cool slightly.
- Dollop sour cream over the top and garnish with chopped green onions and diced onions for added freshness and crunch.
- Serve hot, directly from the baking dish, allowing everyone to scoop out their portion of this hearty, comfort-food casserole.
Notes
- Customize the heat level by adjusting chili seasoning or using mild, medium, or hot versions for different spice preferences.
- Replace traditional hot dogs with plant-based alternatives for a vegetarian-friendly adaptation that maintains the casserole’s core flavor profile.
- Enhance nutritional value by incorporating additional vegetables like diced bell peppers or jalapeños into the chili mixture for extra texture and nutrients.
- Prepare components ahead of time to streamline assembly, allowing the beef and chili mixture to cool slightly before layering to prevent soggy bun bottoms.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1050 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg