Chili Cheese Dog Casserole

Craving a hearty, satisfying meal that combines all your favorite childhood flavors into one delicious dish? Look no further than our retro-inspired recipe for chili cheese dog casserole! Perfect for a cozy family dinner or a crowd-pleasing potluck, this recipe brings together the classic appeal of chili dogs with the ease of a casserole.

After it’s layered with a buttery cornbread crust, savory chili, juicy hot dogs and gooey cheese, it’s baked to golden perfection and ready to slice and serve with your go-to garnishes. A surefire hit with adults and kids alike, this chili cheese hot dog casserole recipe is the perfect blend of comfort and kitsch that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Ingredients for Chili Cheese Dog Casserole

• Cornbread mix: Boxed cornbread or muffin mix is the key to a superior, golden brown crust for this casserole.
• Green pepper: Although this casserole is decadent, we managed to sneak in some green peppers—for vitamins and crunch.
• Onions and celery: Sauteed onions and celery also give the casserole a caramelized base and a bit more complexity.
• Hot dogs: Hot dogs are the star of the show here! Any kind will do, including beef, pork or a blend, but keep in mind that they get the chili treatment later on, so you don’t need spicy or flavored dogs to begin with.
• Chili with beans: Canned chili with beans works fine here, but if you have a go-to chili recipe, feel free to use it for this casserole. It’s all about the sweet and smoky sauce and creamy beans either way.
• Seasonings: For an even bigger flavor boost, you’ll also need brown sugar, garlic powder and chili powder to season the hot dogs and chili-style beans.
• Cheddar cheese: This will create the crispy, cheesy casserole topping. A bag of shredded cheddar cheese will save you the hassle of grating your own.

Directions

Step 1: Make the cornbread

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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare the cornbread batter according to the package directions. Spread half the batter into a greased 8-inch square baking dish.

Step 2: Saute the veggies

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In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat and add the chopped green peppers, onions and celery. Cook, stirring, until the veggies are crisp-tender, five to seven minutes.

Step 3: Cook the hot dogs

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Next, stir in the cut-up hot dogs, continuing to cook and stir until they’re lightly browned, three to four minutes.

Step 4: Season the chili

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Add the chili, brown sugar, garlic powder and chili powder to the skillet and cook until heated through, then stir in 3/4 cup of the cheddar cheese.

Step 5: Bake the casserole

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Spoon the hot dog mixture over the cornbread batter, then top with the remaining batter. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese. Bake, uncovered, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 28 to 32 minutes. Let the casserole stand for five minutes before serving.

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Chili Cheese Dog Casserole Variations

• Make it meatier: This dish is, by all means of the term, comfort food, so why not go all out? Sauteing a little pancetta or bacon with the onions and celery will impart even more rich, smoky undertones.
• Spice it up: Top the chili dog casserole with thinly sliced jalapenos for a little color as well as heat.
• Switch up the cheese: You can swap the cheddar cheese for pepper jack, Monterey Jack or another cheese blend like Mexican.
• Forgo the crust: Instead of using cornbread, wrap whole hot dogs in tortillas or crescent roll dough. Then spread the cooked filling in the bottom of the casserole dish, and place the wrapped hot dogs on top, sprinkle with cheese and bake.

How to Store Chili Cheese Dog Casserole

Since this is a pretty heavy dish, you can assume there might be leftovers involved, unless you’re cooking for a massive crew. Cover the remaining casserole with tin foil or transfer it to sealed, airtight containers for easy heat-and-eat meals throughout the week.

How long does chili dog casserole last?

This casserole will be good for up to four days in the fridge in storage containers, or up to three months in the freezer. Be sure to label and date your leftovers to know when they’re set to expire.

Can you make chili cheese hot dog casserole ahead of time?

Yes, you can make chili dog casserole ahead of time. Prepare and bake the casserole, then let it cool completely before storing. Wrap it with plastic or foil and refrigerate for up to two days.

What’s the best way to reheat chili cheese dog casserole?

When you’re ready to serve it, sprinkle it with a little extra cheese, cover it lightly with foil and reheat it at 350° until heated through and bubbly.

Chili Cheese Dog Casserole Tips

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How can I doctor up canned chili?

Seasonings! In addition to the ones we used here, you could add a little cocoa powder, chili powder, cinnamon, cayenne or cumin. You can also give the chili a richer flavor by adding a bottle of beer to the skillet while it’s cooking.

How can I make hot dog chili casserole better?

Top it with fresh garnishes. There are a lot of canned, boxed and bagged ingredients in this recipe. Fresh herbs like chopped chives, cilantro or parsley will liven things up.

What can you serve with this chili cheese dog casserole recipe?

Serve it with a bowl of tortilla chips to scoop up the chili. Add some greens to your plate by pairing it with a Mexican fiesta salad. And if you like this recipe, try our hot dog recipes, our chili dog pizza or our chili dog baked potatoes next.