Chili Cheese Dogs: Messy. Cheesy. Perfect.

Some foods are meant to be messy. Chili cheese dogs are the king of messy.

Grilled hot dog. Smoky, beefy chili. A mountain of shredded cheddar. Diced onion. That’s it. 20 minutes. Eat with your hands. Lick your fingers. Zero regrets.

Ingredients

Serves 4.

• 4 hot dogs (beef recommended)
• 4 hot dog buns
• 1 (15 oz) can chili (no beans or with beans—your call)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ¼ cup diced white onion (optional)
• Yellow mustard (optional)
• Pickled jalapeños (optional)

Quick Homemade Chili (Optional):

• ½ lb ground beef
• 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• ½ tsp cumin

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Heat the Chili

1. In a small pot, heat chili over medium heat until bubbly.
2. If making quick homemade: brown ground beef, drain, add tomato sauce, chili powder, and cumin. Simmer 5 minutes.

Step 2: Cook the Hot Dogs

1. Grill, pan-fry, or boil hot dogs until heated through.
2. Steam or toast buns lightly.

Step 3: Assemble

1. Place hot dog in bun. Squeeze mustard if using.
2. Ladle chili generously over the dog.
3. Pile on cheddar cheese. Top with onion and jalapeños.

Step 4: Serve

1. Serve immediately with a fork (and napkins. so many napkins).

Summary

Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 10-15 minutes | Total Time: 15-20 minutes

Yield: 4 chili cheese dogs

Difficulty: Easy

Storage Notes

Best Fresh:

Assemble and eat immediately. Nobody wants a soggy chili cheese dog.

Leftover Chili:

Store chili in fridge for 4 days or freeze for 3 months. Reheat and make fresh dogs.

Pro Tip:

Toast the buns. A little crunch prevents soggy bottom syndrome.