Description
Hearty chili hot dog casserole brings comfort food to new heights with layers of savory goodness. Melted cheese, crispy topping, and bold flavors promise a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 hot dogs
- 8 hot dog buns (split, optional)
- 2 cups (500 ml) chili (homemade or canned)
- 1 ½ cups (150 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup (30 g) diced onion
- ¼ cup (30 g) sliced jalapenos
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 375F (190C) and lightly grease a rectangular baking dish with cooking spray or butter, ensuring a non-stick surface for easy serving.
- Base Layer: Arrange hot dog slices across the bottom of the dish, creating an even, overlapping foundation that completely covers the surface, setting the stage for a hearty casserole.
- Cheese Foundation: Generously distribute shredded cheese over the hot dog layer, guaranteeing a rich, melty base that will provide depth and creaminess to the dish.
- Chili Infusion: Carefully pour chili across the cheese and hot dog layer, using a spatula to spread the sauce evenly and fill any potential gaps, ensuring a consistent flavor profile.
- Strategic Layering: Add a second tier of hot dog slices atop the chili, strategically positioning them to create complete coverage and maximize texture variety.
- Cheese Finale: Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top layer, allowing it to melt and transform into a golden, bubbling surface during the baking process.
- Baking and Finishing: Place the assembled casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, monitoring until the cheese melts completely and develops a slightly golden edge.
- Serving Preparation: Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes, enabling the layers to set and cool slightly, which helps maintain structural integrity when serving.
- Garnish and Enhance: Optionally top with chopped green onions, sour cream, or jalapeños to elevate the flavor profile and create a visually appealing presentation.
Notes
- Slice Strategically: Cut hot dogs diagonally for better visual appeal and even heat distribution, ensuring each bite has balanced flavor.
- Cheese Selection Matters: Use a blend of cheeses like cheddar and monterey jack for deeper, more complex melting characteristics and richer taste profile.
- Prevent Soggy Bottom: Pat hot dogs dry before layering to reduce excess moisture and maintain a crisp, appetizing texture throughout the casserole.
- Customize for Dietary Needs: Substitute turkey or plant-based hot dogs and use low-sodium chili for healthier alternatives without compromising taste intensity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg