Loaded Chili Macaroni and Cheese Hot Dogs
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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hormel Foods, LLC.. All opinions are 100% mine.
These Loaded Chili Macaroni and Cheese Hot Dogs are so ridiculously fun and delicious. They’ll make you feel like a kid again!
When you mention a picnic, some folks think about their perfectly packed seasonal Autumn salads, daintily nibbling Cucumber Tea Sandwiches, and sipping Cranberry Mimosas on a sunbathed checkered blanket.
Not me. Give me some Sloppy Joes, Walking Tacos, a cold pop, and some Strawberry Pretzel Jello Salad for dessert.
…and what’s the first thing that pops into your head when you think of Hormel Chili? I’m guessing for about 90% of you it’s the famous 2 minute dip that combines a can of chili and a block of cream cheese. And maybe some shredded cheese if you’re feeling extra fancy.
The dip can often be spotted at tailgates and cookouts being gobbled up by the masses. It’s solid, no-brainer party food. (For more great game day favorites, check out our favorite skillet shredded beef nachos, these air fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings, this Layered Taco Dip with Meat, or our recipe for Meat Candy.)
When I mentioned this famous dip to the Mr., he immediately said, “Hey, that’s my mom’s recipe!” I chuckled a bit and replied, “Honey, I think that’s every mom’s recipe.”
Cream Cheese Chili Dip may hold the majority of the market when it comes to chili, but there are a ton of other ways to use up that can of Hormel in your cupboard. Like making chili dogs!
Now, around here we LOVE a good chili, we’re crazy about these Air Fryer Hot Dogs, and if you think we’ve outgrown simple Creamy Mac and Cheese, look no further than our Seafood Macaroni and Cheese. If it isn’t our Italian Sausage Chili, our No Bean Chili, or Slow Cooker Steak Chili, then we’re trying some exotic recipe like our Sweet Potato Turkey Chili, or our Crock Pot White Chicken Chili.
But how to combine our favorite foods? (Sure we could just make this Instant pot Chili Mac…) OR
If you have 15 minutes and a few pantry staples on hand, you have everything you need to whip up this creamy, slightly spicy, cheesy mac. It’s ridiculously simple, comes together in a single pot on your stove top, and leaves you with a satisfying, budget friendly meal that everyone in the family will love.
But why stop with chili mac? I’ve been wanting to put macaroni and cheese on a hot dog for a long while. After all, what kid didn’t love eating boxed macaroni with cut up hot dogs? With these Loaded Chili Macaroni and Cheese Hot Dogs, you get two toppings in one. Classic, spicy, meaty chili + creamy, cheesy macaroni. It’s as over the top delicious as it sounds, and it doesn’t end there. I topped mine with a dollop of sour cream, more cheese (obviously), onions, and, for those who like a little extra heat, a few sliced jalapenos.
Guys, I cannot quit with the hot dogs. The warm weather, the smell of the grill being fired up, heck, even the mosquitos are telling me it’s hot dog season. Let’s embrace it, friends. Grab a plate, more napkins than you think you’ll need, and head outdoors for some Loaded Chili Mac Hot Dogs!
Hormel Foods offers a range of products for easy outdoor entertaining. If you’re looking for more ways to use Hormel Chili, check out these Easy Recipe Ideas or sign up for the Hormel Newsletter! You can also share your own fabulous recipe ideas on Hormel’s Facebook page!
Loaded Chili Mac and Cheese Hot Dogs
Ingredients
- 8 good quality all beef hot dogs
- 8 hot dog buns
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 small onion (chopped)
- 1 jalapeno (seeded and diced)
- 1 can Hormel no bean chili
- 1 can petite diced tomatoes (undrained)
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups macaroni noodles
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese (divided)
- Sour cream, green onions, and/or diced onions and jalapeno for topping
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add onion and jalapeno and saute until softened. Stir in the Hormel chili, tomatoes, chili powder, and paprika and heat through. Add the water and bring to a boil.
- Stir in the macaroni noodles, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until noodles are softened and most of the liquid is absorbed. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of the cheese until smooth.
- Grill the hot dogs and buns to your liking. Top each dog with a scoop of chili mac and the remaining shredded cheese. Garnish with sour cream, green onions, diced onions, or jalapeno as desired.
Notes
- Yes, if this will be too messy for you, feel free to ditch the bun and eat it in a bowl!
Great and tasty. I made one ingredient different. I cut the hot dogs into bite size and cooked them with the onion and jalapeño.
Turned out Great.
How fun are these?! Gorgeous pictures, and I love the styling! i just want to take a big bite of this deliciousness!
Thanks Cate! They were really fun to make and style!
Oh my goodness! You combined the best of both worlds!
This is such a brilliant way to use chili! Though I love that classic dip recipe, I could definitely see this becoming my new favorite!
It’s definitely a new favorite of ours!
These look absolutely amazing! Love all the flavors coming together!
For some reason eating hot dogs makes me feel like a kid again…although we never ate such delicious hot dogs as this growing up! This looks amazingly delicious!
Me too! It’s fun to dress up your hot dogs a little bit more as an adult. 🙂
This looks soooo good! I could make myself a vegetarian version, but my dad and husband would eat yours no problem!
My husband would absolutely die if I made these. They look so summery and perfect!
Sues