Hot Dog Chili Cheese Casserole
This fun, hearty casserole captures all the best parts of chili dogs—spicy chili, smoky hot dogs, golden cornbread, and gooey cheddar—into a single pan that everyone will love. It’s comforting, nostalgic, and so simple you’ll wonder why you ever made individual chili dogs before.
📝 Ingredients at a Glance
| Category | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Cornbread base | 1 box (8.5 oz) cornbread or muffin mix |
| Hot dog filling | 4–6 hot dogs, chopped 1 can chili with beans |
| Vegetables | ½ green bell pepper ½ onion 1 celery stalk |
| Seasonings | 1 tbsp brown sugar ½ tsp garlic powder 1 tsp chili powder |
| Cheese topping | 1 cup shredded cheddar (divided) |
| Cooking oil | 1 tbsp olive oil |
👨🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the base
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch baking dish and spread half of the cornbread batter evenly in the bottom.
2. Sauté the vegetables
Heat olive oil in a skillet. Add diced bell pepper, onion, and celery, cooking 5–7 minutes until tender-crisp.
3. Cook the hot dogs
Stir in the chopped hot dogs and cook 3–4 minutes until lightly browned.
4. Add the chili
Mix in the canned chili, brown sugar, garlic powder, and chili powder. Heat until warmed through, then stir in ¾ cup of cheddar.
5. Layer and top
Spread the hot dog and chili mixture over the cornbread base. Pour the remaining cornbread batter on top and sprinkle with the final ¼ cup of cheddar.
6. Bake and serve
Bake uncovered for 28–32 minutes, or until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let it rest 5 minutes before serving.
