Chili Dog Casserole

This Chili Dog Casserole has all the flavors of the classic American chili dog but in an easy to serve baked form! It’s so simple to make using crescent rolls and a quick, but flavorful homemade beef chili. Topped with gooey cheese, it will be the hit of any summer barbecue or potluck.

If there’s anything that says summer, it’s a Chili Dog. My family makes them every July 4th and for good reason, they’re so delicious. I made this Chili Dog Casserole to bring to a picnic a few months back and it was the talk of the party. Simple to make with all those same nostalgic flavors!

This casserole feels like home. Borden® Cheese Melts are the Ulti-Melt Cheese slices! Made with real cream in every slice for a perfect melt every time. With just about 10 ingredients, I promise anyone can make this at home. The prep time is minimal, about 15 minutes, and it can easily be made in advance too. If you love a good casserole recipe, my Chicken and Biscuit Casserole or Hot Chicken Salad are two other fan favorites.

why you’ll love this recipe

• Easier to serve than regular chili dogs. Forget a hot dog station where everyone builds their own, this casserole has the same flavors with minimal mess.
• Perfect for bringing to a potluck. This casserole transports so easily and will be the hit of any summertime event.
• Customize with other toppings. If you like your chili dog with onions, scallions, more cheese, even jalapenos or bacon for topping, you can easily add that on top too!

ingredients

Scroll Down to the Bottom of this Post for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Printable Recipe Card 

For the Hot Dog:

• Jumbo hot dogs: The main protein of the casserole. Make sure their jumbo in size for the best bite.
• Borden American Cheese Melts or Borden Extra Sharp Cheddar Melts slices: The cheese that makes it ooey gooey good!
• Crescent rolls: These serve as a “bun” so to speak. They are buttery and so delicious.
• Salted butter: Adds more richness.

For the Chili:

• Ground beef, chicken, or turkey: Choose your favorite here, beef is classic.
• Yellow onion: A key aromatic to the base of the chili.
• Garlic clove: Adds delicious garlicky goodness.
• Tomato sauce: Nice tomato flavor and texture.
• Chili sauce: Gives a little kick and warmth to the chili.
• Chili powder: They key spice to any rich chili.
• Brown sugar: A touch of sweetness rounds out all of the flavors.

how to make chili dog casserole

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 13×9-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick cooking spray.
2. If using homemade chili, make first. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic, cooking until the onion is soft.

3. Stir in tomato sauce, chili sauce, chili powder, and brown sugar. Let the chili simmer for about 10 minutes.

4. Taste and adjust with salt, black pepper, and/or more brown sugar.
5. Unroll the package of crescent rolls on a cutting board, and press the seams together.

6. Lay Borden American Cheese Singles in an even layer, covering the crescent rolls. Score the crescent rolls with a knife between each slice of cheese.

7. Take a hot dog and wrap it with one square of the crescent roll and cheese.

8. Place the wrapped hot dogs in the prepared dish in one row in the center. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake 20 minutes.
9. Remove the pan from the oven and discard the foil. Brush the tops with melted butter. Pour the homemade chili around the wrapped hot dogs.

10. Return the casserole to the oven uncovered and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, until everything is heated through and the crescent rolls are golden brown on top.
11. Add your desired toppings and serve.

expert tips

• Layer the baking dish according to the recipe. You want to par-bake the hot dogs with crescent rolls first before adding chili and cheese. This ensures the crescent rolls fully bake through in the oven.
• Use a low fat ground beef and drain off any excess fat after browning. This will prevent a greasy chili and ultimately a grease casserole.
• Buy jumbo-sized hot dogs. These are the best size to make sure you get a delicious bite every time.
• If you want a shortcut, you can use store-bought canned chili here, but I highly recommend making it from scratch if you have the extra time – it only takes 15 minutes! See my recipe below!
• Test if the casserole has finished baking by inserting a paring knife into the center of the casserole to see if the crescent rolls are cooked through.

Hot Dog Sauce

Brown 1 pound ground beef in a pan, stirring until it crumbles. Drain excess grease. Add 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1 minced garlic clove, a 12 ounce jar chili sauce, a 15 ounce can tomato sauce, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve as desired.

storage

Store any leftover chili hot dog casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven until warmed through.

While you can freeze leftovers also, I can’t guarantee the texture will be the same once it thaws. It’s best to enjoy fresh out of the oven!

This is a great casserole to prep in advance. Make the chili and assemble the hot dogs, storing the casserole dish in the fridge. When it’s time to enjoy, follow the layering and baking instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Easy Casserole Recipes

• Chicken Fajita Casserole
• Chicken Cornbread Casserole
• Hamburger Potato Casserole
• Queso Mac and Cheese

This post was created in partnership with Borden Cheese. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.