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Baked Chili Cheese Dogs are perfect for backyard parties, game day, or a quick and easy weeknight dinner. You pile dogs, chili, and cheese into one pan, bake, and let everyone load up their own. They’re insanely easy and disappear fast.
More easy cookout options: Franks and Beans | Loaded Chili Cheese Fries | Easy Sloppy Joes
Before You Get Started
A few easy moves make the difference between a sturdy chili dog and a soggy one. Here’s what matters most.
- Toast the buns first. A quick brush of butter and a few minutes in the heating oven keeps them from going soggy under the chili.
- Use thick chili, not soupy. Thick chili stays put on the dog. If your canned chili is watery, simmer it down or drain a little before topping.
- Grate the cheese off the block. It melts smoother and more evenly than the pre-shredded kind.
recipe walk-through
How To Make Chili Cheese Dogs
See the recipe card below for full, detailed instructions
This comes together in four simple steps. The full ingredient amounts are in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Prep the pan and buns
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. If you want sturdier buns, split them open, brush the insides with a little butter, and toast them in the oven for a few minutes while it heats.
Arrange the buns snugly in a baking dish so they hold their shape, then nestle a hot dog into each one.
For dogs with a little crispy skin, grill, bake, or air fry them for a few minutes before tucking them into the buns. This step is optional but adds great flavor.
Step 2: Add chili and cheese
Spoon chili evenly over each hot dog, keeping it on the dog rather than flooding the bun. Top generously with the grated cheddar.
Step 3: Bake until melty
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and the dogs are heated through.
For a browned, bubbly top, flip on the broiler and leave the pan under it for a minute or two. Watch closely so the cheese doesn’t burn.
Step 4: Top and serve
Finish with chopped red onion and a little fresh minced parsley if you like, then set out the toppings so everyone can build their own.
Topping ideas: Keep the classics like ketchup, mustard, and relish on hand, then add diced tomatoes, sliced mushrooms, or green onions for more to choose from.
For heat, set out sliced jalapenos, banana peppers, minced onion, or a few dashes of hot sauce.
And for something extra indulgent, drizzle on buffalo sauce or a little of my Nacho Cheese Sauce.
What to Serve With Baked Chili Dogs
Baked chili dogs are rustic and simple, so they pair best with easy, classic cookout sides. These are the ones I reach for most:
- Southern Potato Salad
- Classic Macaroni Salad
- Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
- Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
- Simple Cabbage Salad
The potato and macaroni salads can both be made ahead, and a crisp cabbage salad is a nice fresh contrast to all that rich chili and cheese.
Need more for the spread? Find all my best cookout sides in one place — 82 Cookout Side Dishes for Summer
Storage Tips
Storage
Best fresh. Chili dogs are at their best right out of the oven. Once assembled, the buns soften and the dogs dry out, so make only what you’ll eat.
Storing leftovers. Save the hot dogs and chili separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Toast fresh buns when you reheat.
Feeding a crowd. If you’re serving for a party, hold the assembled pan in a low 200 degree F oven for up to 30 minutes to keep everything warm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of chili is best for chili dogs, and do they need beans?
Use whatever chili you love. Canned chili keeps it fast and easy, or make your own with my Slow Cooker Chili, Instant Pot Chili, or Turkey Chili.
Beans are totally up to you. A no-bean chili sits more neatly on the dog, while a bean chili adds heartiness. If your chili runs thin, simmer it down first so it doesn’t soak the bun.
Can you make chili cheese dogs in the air fryer?
Yes. Build them the same way in an air-fryer-safe dish or in foil boats, then air fry at 350 degrees F for about 5 to 7 minutes, until the cheese melts and the dogs are hot. Work in batches so they aren’t crowded.
How do you keep the buns from getting soggy?
Toast the buns before filling, keep the chili thick, and spoon it over the dog rather than flooding the bun. A little restraint with watery chili goes a long way toward a bun that holds up.
More Easy Crowd-Pleasing Dinners
Baked Chili Cheese Dogs
Ingredients
- 8 hot dogs
- 8 hot dog buns
- 1 1/2 cups prepared chili
- 2 cups fresh grated cheddar cheese
- Optional toppings: mustard, relish, ketchup, chopped onion, sliced jalapenos
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. For sturdier buns, split them open, brush with butter, and toast in the oven a few minutes while it heats. Arrange the buns snugly in a baking dish and place a hot dog in each.
- Spoon chili evenly over each hot dog, keeping it on the dog rather than flooding the bun. Top generously with grated cheddar.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the dogs are heated through. For a browned top, broil 1 to 2 minutes, watching closely.
- Top with chopped red onion and fresh minced parsley if desired, then set out toppings and serve.
Notes
- Toast the buns: A quick butter-and-toast keeps the buns from going soggy under the chili.
- Thick chili wins: A thicker chili stays on the dog. Simmer down or drain watery canned chili before topping.
- Grate your own cheese: Cheddar grated off the block melts smoother than pre-shredded.
- Crispier dogs: Grill, bake, or air fry the hot dogs for a few minutes first if you like a little crispy skin.
- Air fryer option: Build in an air-fryer-safe dish and cook at 350 degrees F for 5 to 7 minutes in batches.
- Storage: Best fresh. Store leftover dogs and chili separately up to 3 days and use fresh, toasted buns when reheating.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.
We tried this for the first time last night and it looked delicious and tasted delicious!
Nice! Thanks for stopping by Leigh.
These are delicious! I made them on a recent camping trip for my family and everybody loved them. I used a brioche bun and leftover chili I made. We don’t eat a lot of hot dogs, but these are definitely worth making again! So easy but so very good! Thank you for the recipe!
You are so welcome Lisa! Thanks for stopping by.