Our cheesy Chili Dog Casserole is made with a simple homemade chili mixed with hot dogs and topped off with crispy tater tots. This is kid-friendly comfort food that is perfect for busy weeknights.
This time of year means one thing in my house: all the comfort food, all the time.
I mean, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but it’s cold out there.
I need warm, homey, soul-satisfying comfort food.
And could we top that comfort food with tater tots? Yasssss.
You’re going to love this cheesy chili dog casserole, but more importantly: your kids are going to go nuts for this one! So good! And did I mention it’s totally easy?
Table of Contents
Ingredient Notes:
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Ground Beef – We like lots of ground beef in our chili and in our casseroles so we’re adding a whole pound! Ground turkey or chicken would also work here, but we do prefer beef in this one.
Garlic & Onion – You’ll cook these up with the ground beef to add flavor.
Hot Dogs – These will be chopped into smaller 1″ pieces and mixed in with the chili, ground beef, and cheese!
Tomato Sauce – We’re using canned tomato sauce as the base of our chili.
Diced Tomatoes – Canned diced tomatoes keep things nice and simple.
Spices – You’ll mix in some chili powder, cumin, and salt! We’re also adding in one packet of chili seasoning.
Shredded Cheddar – I like cheesy casseroles best so I’m topping the chili with a generous layer of shredded cheddar!
Tater Tots – You’ll finish assembling the casserole by topping the chili and cheese with an even layer of frozen tots! No need to thaw them.
What We Love About This Recipe:
- This is the perfect way to get a filling dinner on the table that the whole family will enjoy without breaking the bank! It’s perfect for weeknight meals.
- The chili flavors with the tater tots, cheese, hot dog,s and ground beef are a kid favorite – they’ll want seconds!
- This chili dog casserole uses simple ingredients that you likely have on hand already.
My Favorite Skillet!
Cast iron skillets are my favorite! They heat so evenly, get piping hot for searing, and nothing is better than bacon fried in a cast iron skillet.
How to Make Chili Cheese Dog Casserole with Tater Tots:
Chili: First up, let’s whip up our super simple homemade chili.
Brown up some ground beef with onions and garlic. Drain the grease and return the meat to the pan when it has finished cooking. Add the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes to the skillet along with the spices. Stir in some chopped up hot dogs to complete the combo.
Cheese & Tots: Pour the chili mixture into a 9×13 baking dish and top it all off with a layer of shredded cheese. Arrange the tots in an even layer of the top of the cheese.
Bake: This bakes in just 25 minutes. You’ll end up with crispy tots, gooey cheese, and perfectly spiced chili underneath!
I’m ready to dig in. How about you?
What to Serve with Chili Dog Tater Tot Casserole:
This is a meal on it’s own, but we like to serve alongside a green salad with ranch dressing.
For dessert, be sure to give my homemade brownies, brookies, or perfect chocolate chip cookies a go!
Want more cozy foods?
Try my homemade tomato soup! It’s a favorite in our house on chilly days. Serve with a grilled cheese and it’s a total win.
A big plate full of pasta with homemade Alfredo sauce is always a go-to when we need comfort food, too!
FAQs:
You can keep any leftovers stored in the fridge for about 4 days if they are covered in an airtight container! Reheat in the oven for the best results.
We’ve only tested this recipe using frozen tater tots. Frozen tots are so easy and they bake up perfectly in the oven without being thawed. If they aren’t frozen you may need to adjust the cook time. Keep an eye on them to see when they are done!
MORE EASY CASSEROLE RECIPES!
Chili Dog Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 onion diced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 3 hot dogs chopped into 1-inch chunks
- 1 packet chili seasoning
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 14 ounces canned diced tomatoes
- 2 cups shredded cheddar
- 28 ounces frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Brown the beef, onions, and garlic in a large, deep skillet over medium heat, breaking it up as it cooks. When the meat is cooked through, drain and return to pan.
- Stir in the hot dogs, chili packet, chili powder, cumin, salt, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. While chili is cooking, preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Carefully pour chili into a 13×9 baking dish and top with the cheddar cheese.
- Place tater tots in an even layer over the chili.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until tots are crisp. Remove from oven and serve immediately.
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