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Best Chili Cheese Dog Bake Recipe

A Chili dog with cheese screams ballpark, game day, FUN! And these chili cheese dogs make the crowd grow wild, with a quick homemade chili con carne and gooey cheese all baked so everyone can enjoy them at the same time!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 580 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Chili con Carne
  • ½ pound Bacon diced into 1/4 inch pieces, I like using uncured nitrate and nitrite free bacon
  • 1 pound lean ground beef 90/10 but use your favorite
  • 1 medium onion Finely diced, about 1 cup; divided - reserve 1/4 -1/3 cup to serve with hot dogs
  • 2-4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 Tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika regular paprika may also be used.
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½-1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour or sub with GF AP flour, may be omitted if desired.
  • 8 ounces tomato sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • ½ cup water rinse out tomato sauce can, and pour into chili
Chili Dog Bake
  • 8 hot dog buns Use a quality hot dog bun here!
  • 8 beef hot dogs all beef frankfurters preferred
  • 1-1 ½ cups cheddar cheese shredded
  • ⅓ cup onions diced
  • 1-3 green onions chopped (optional)
  • 1 recipe Chili con carne sauce above

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Heat a Dutch oven or large pot, over medium-high heat until hot. Add diced bacon (½ pound) and cook until crisp, about 7-8 minutes; remove with spider or slotted spoon leaving bacon drippings behind.
  2. To the same pot, reduce heat to medium and add ground beef (1 pound) breaking into smaller pieces; add the diced onions (½ cup) and cook until beef is no longer pink and onions are soft. During last minute, stir in the minced garlic (2-4 cloves) and saute until fragrant. Drain any excess liquid.
  3. Stir in the chili powder (1 tablespoon), smoked paprika (1 ½ tsp), cumin (1 tsp), salt (½-1 tsp) and pepper, stirring for about 1-2 minutes until spices bloom (you can smell them!). Then stir in the flour (1 TBL), until the meat is coated, about 1 minute.
  4. Add tomato sauce (8 ounces), tomato paste (2 tablespoons), and brown sugar (2 tsp). Stir to combine, and simmer uncovered for 10-12 minutes, or until sauce thickens. Pour ½ cup of water into the tomato sauce can, swirl around and add to thin out the chili to desired consistency.
  5. Stir in cooked bacon and water, cover, and simmer on low for 15 minutes until chili is thick and rich. Remove from heat.
  6. Preheat oven to 350° F (175° C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a large casserole dish.
  7. Place hot dog buns on a large baking sheet or casserole dish if desired, line with parchment paper. Open up the buns, then place a hot dog on each hot dog bun.
  8. Top each hot dog with chili (about ¼ - ½ cup) and a few tablespoons of shredded cheese.
  9. Cover with foil, then bake chili cheese dogs in for 10 minutes, uncover and bake additional 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
  10. Garnish with reserved diced onions and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Chili con carne can be made up to 3-5 days in advance, cooled completely, and then stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Warm up before assembling chili cheese dogs.
  • May also be frozen up to 3 months, thaw overnight in fridge and warm before making chili cheese dogs. 
  • Gluten-Free Chili Cheese Dogs | Purchase gluten-free hot dog buns (or make in a casserole dish without any buns) and replace the flour with Gluten-free all-purpose flour or omit them altogether.
  • all-purpose flour
  • If preferred, swap the hot dog buns for crescent rolls or tortillas. Wrap the hot dog in the crescent dough or tortilla and set them in the baking dish, proceeding with the recipe as directed. 
  • Use red onions instead of yellow or white onions
  • Add pickled jalapenos on top.
  • Chicago style Chili Cheese Dog: Top with a little yellow mustard, a dill pickle spear, sweet pickle relish and sliced tomatoes.
  • Make double batch of chili and serve over french fries, baked potatoes.
  • Turn up the heat by adding pickled jalapenos on top.
  • Choose healthier alternatives, like turkey bacon, ground chicken, or ground turkey.
  • Classic chili cheese dogs don’t have beans in the chili sauce. However, you can add beans or use whatever type of chili you prefer.
  • Try brats or chorizo instead of hot dogs.
  • More delicious toppings are sliced banana peppers, pickled onions, crumbled bacon, a dollop of sour cream, or a drizzle of hot sauce.
  • Make it a hot chili by adding hot paprika, diced jalapenos, or red pepper flakes.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 580kcal (29%) Carbohydrates 30g (10%) Protein 31g (62%) Fat 37g (57%) Saturated Fat 15g (75%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g Monounsaturated Fat 15g Trans Fat 0.2g Cholesterol 100mg (33%) Sodium 1365mg (57%) Potassium 576mg (16%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 7g (14%) Vitamin A 907IU (18%) Vitamin C 5mg (6%) Calcium 243mg (24%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 580

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 580kcal 29%
Carbohydrates 30g 10%
Protein 31g 62%
Fat 37g 57%
Saturated Fat 15g 75%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g 24%
Monounsaturated Fat 15g 75%
Trans Fat 0.2g 10%
Cholesterol 100mg 33%
Sodium 1365mg 57%
Potassium 576mg 12%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 7g 14%
Vitamin A 907IU 18%
Vitamin C 5mg 6%
Calcium 243mg 24%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.