Chili Dog Hot Dish
Chili Dogs are like the best thing ever, amiright? What would make it even better is to have crispy tater tots on top… DROOL! In the Midwest, there is a beautiful meal that everyone knows, loves, and makes, the Tater Tot Hot Dish. It usually has a cream of something mixed with meat and tots are on top. I have made a few in my day but I always thought it needed a flavor punch. Mash the chili dog and tots for an easy dinner that your kids will actually lick the plate when it is gone.
What makes this even better is that it is one pot, minimal chopping, and doesn’t take too long to get into the oven. Perfect for busy nights, you can prep the sauce and top with tots when you are ready. Reheat in the oven to keep those tots crispy. I actually made this on a volleyball practice night and my girls were so excited for dinner after. And you know me, I will have adaptions to make this perfect for you and your family!
low carb - swap the tater tots for some frozen cauliflower tots from the store.
vegan - use cooked lentils for the “meat” or use plant-based crumbles and vegan hot dogs, sprinkle with dairy free cheese.
dairy free - swap the cheese for plant-based
gluten free - just the way it is, just check for any gluten in the tots.
Chili Dog Hot Dish
1 small onion, diced
1 Tablespoon oil
1 pound ground beef
1 package of hot dogs, chopped
2 Tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon taco seasoning
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 pinch all spice
1 can diced green chiles, 4oz
1 can tomato sauce, 15 oz
salt and pepper
1 package extra crispy tater tots
2 cups shredded cheese
top with chives - optional
- Preheat the oven to 450
- In a large oven-safe skillet, heat it to medium-high heat, add in the onions and oil, season with salt and pepper. Once the onions are translucent, add in the meat and break up with a wooden spoon until it gets browned. Then sprinkle some salt and pepper in there.
- Throw in the hot dog chunks and the tomato paste, this will brown the dogs little bit and make the paste integrate into the whole dish.
- Sprinkle on the spices and stir so it is all combined and they are alive with flavor. Once all combined, pour in the chiles and tomato sauce. Stir and lower heat to medium and let simmer for a couple minutes. Remove from heat once you taste and adjust for any seasonings.
- Spread out the chili in an even layer and sprinkle on most of the cheese. Then take your completely frozen tater tots and arrange in an even layer over the top. Sprinkle the remaining cheese. Then pop into the oven.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the tots are crispy and browned. Let cool a few minutes before serving and sprinkle over some chives!
I made the sauce all in the same pan I will bake, if you don’t have an oven-safe pan, just transfer to a baking dish.
This sauce is what dreams are made of…
Sprinkling the cheese over the sauce and layering it before the tots allows the tots to be “protected” from the sauce and helps them crisp rather than get soggy.
Make sure you cover all the sauce.
Get those tots on top, I obviously wanted to make it extra cute for pics but arrange them however, just in one layer.
So pretty!
Just a little bit more cheese and it is ready for the oven!
