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Beef-and-bean chili, cooked hot dogs and cheddar bake together in a shallow casserole. The hot dogs lie in the chili rather than standing upright in an unstable arrangement.
This is a casserole, not twelve assembled sandwiches. Buns are an optional serving accompaniment and are not baked into the dish. The ingredient title has been clarified so the expected result matches the method.
Ingredients and measurements
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce; 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 12 beef or turkey hot dogs; 3 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Preparation and baking
- Stage 1
Heat oven to 375°F and grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Use ready-to-eat beef or turkey hot dogs, following any label heating directions.
- Stage 2
Brown ground beef in a skillet, breaking it into crumbles, and check 160°F. Drain excess fat.
- Stage 3
Stir in drained beans, tomato sauce, tomato paste and seasonings. Simmer ten to fifteen minutes, stirring, until thick; add a small splash of water only if needed to prevent scorching.
- Stage 4
Spread chili evenly in the dish. Lay the hot dogs horizontally across it, cutting to fit if necessary, and scatter cheddar over them.
- Stage 5
Bake about twenty to twenty-five minutes, continuing until the center and hot dogs reach 165°F. Shield the top loosely if it browns too quickly.
- Stage 6
Rest five minutes before spooning portions onto plates. Serve with bread or other sides separately if desired.
Choose ready-to-eat packaged hot dogs and read their heating directions. Raw sausages are a different product and need their own cooking step. Lay the hot dogs down so they heat in contact with the chili instead of leaving long ends exposed above the cheese. The mixture should spread with a spoon without a large pool of liquid. Stir while simmering so tomato paste does not stick to the skillet. A small splash of water can prevent scorching, but avoid turning the base into soup. Drain beans and cooked beef before combining.
Are buns missing from the ingredients?
Use a clean spoon to move leftovers into shallow containers rather than leaving the full hot baking dish on the counter. Keep portions covered once chilled. Reheat thoroughly and add fresh serving sides separately.
Which hot dogs fit?
Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and use within three days. Keep covered and follow any shorter ingredient-label limit.
How thick should the chili be?
For more recipes to serve alongside, see cheeseburger french fry casserole or cheddar bay hamburger casserole. Use that recipe’s own quantities rather than mixing formulas. This is an editorial revision of the archived recipe, with clearer ingredient allocation and preparation checks. The linked food-safety reference supports temperature guidance, not the recipe proportions. A Pinch Of Lemon has not kitchen-tested this version. Existing photographs are illustrative. FoodSafety.gov cooking temperature chart.
Common Questions About This Recipe
- Are buns missing from the ingredients?
This is a casserole, not twelve assembled sandwiches. Buns are an optional serving accompaniment and are not baked into the dish. The ingredient title has been clarified so the expected result matches the method.
- Which hot dogs fit?
Choose ready-to-eat packaged hot dogs and read their heating directions. Raw sausages are a different product and need their own cooking step. Lay the hot dogs down so they heat in contact with the chili instead of leaving long ends exposed above the cheese.
- How thick should the chili be?
The mixture should spread with a spoon without a large pool of liquid. Stir while simmering so tomato paste does not stick to the skillet. A small splash of water can prevent scorching, but avoid turning the base into soup. Drain beans and cooked beef before combining.
- How should leftovers be portioned?
Use a clean spoon to move leftovers into shallow containers rather than leaving the full hot baking dish on the counter. Keep portions covered once chilled. Reheat thoroughly and add fresh serving sides separately.