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
- In a small pot, heat chili over medium heat until bubbly.
- If making quick homemade: brown ground beef, drain, add tomato sauce, chili powder, and cumin. Simmer 5 minutes.
Step 2: Cook the Hot Dogs
- Grill, pan-fry, or boil hot dogs until heated through.
- Steam or toast buns lightly.
Step 3: Assemble
- Place hot dog in bun. Squeeze mustard if using.
- Ladle chili generously over the dog.
- Pile on cheddar cheese. Top with onion and jalapeños.
Step 4: Serve
- 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.
