Don’t you just love biting into a big stuffed, sloppy, messy, overflowing Chili Cheese Dog???? It’s always the best when the bun’s a little toasted and the chili is nice, warm, tangy and the cheese is all bubbly and melted. 

Folks, these mouthwatering Chili Cheese Dogs are a classic crowd-pleasing meal. And they really are as simple to make as they sound….. And, boy oh boy,  are they yuuuuuuuumy.

Yeap, a Chili Cheese Hot Dog is a quick and easy dinner idea. It’s the perfect thing to make for Memorial Day, summer BBQs, and weekend pool parties with all the neighborhood kids and families. And of course, these Chili Dogs are a huge hit when served up on Game Days. They’re always a winner. Just like these Air Fryer Chili Nachos and Air Fryer Hotdogs and really easy Air Fryer Brats.

And I don’t know about your kids, but my kiddos looooove eating hot dogs. They never make a fuss anytime hot dogs are on the menu. Add on warm chili and bubbly, gooey cheese and they just beg for more. They’re perfect for cooking in the Air Fryer, Oven, and on camping trips too, just see the campfire instructions below. 

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS

• Quick- Super quick to make, only need 20 minutes

• Multiple Cooking Options-  Can make in air fryer or oven.

• Affordable – Made with just a handful of pantry staple ingredients.

• Time Saver –  Don’t have to preheat the grill.

• Family Favorite- Made right at home. These are a family favorite at the fair and ball games that you can now make at home in the air fryer, oven and over a campfire. 

INGREDIENT NOTES

• Hotdogs- you can use beef, pork, or turkey dogs.

• Buns– Use whatever buns you have on hand, or make your own. 

• Warm Chili- use homemade chili or canned chili, see all the chili variations below. 

• Cheese- Shredded Cheddar is a favorite, but use whatever you have on hand. 

• Sliced jalapeno pepper– put on the side so guests can choose whether they want to have them or not. 

Soooo, let’s gather up these ingredients for this comfort food recipe and I will show you…..

HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER CHILI CHEESE DOG

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions in recipe card below.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 375F / 190C.

2. Prick holes in the hot dogs with a fork.

3. Place hot dogs into the air fryer basket and cook for 5-7 minutes. 

4. Open the air fryer basket and remove the hot dogs. Place hot dogs into buns, and top with chili and cheese and sliced jalapenos and add the chili cheese dogs back in the basket.

5. Cook for a further 2-3 minutes till the buns start getting crunchy and the cheese melts.

6. Serve warm. 

It is important to note that air fryer temperatures can vary depending on the make and model. I recommend starting with less cooking time, check food for doneness then add more time as needed.

OVEN CHILI CHEESE DOG

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions in recipe card below.

1. Preheat oven to 350 F / 180C / gas 4 and line a baking sheet with foil.

2. Cook the hot dogs according to package instructions and set aside somewhere warm.

3. Open buns and put them in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Add hot dogs to the bun, followed by the chili, cheese and jalapeno slice. 

4. Cover with foil and bake for about 15-20 minutes or until the cheese has melted. If you want you can remove the foil and broil for 3-4 minutes before serving.

CAMPFIRE INSTRUCTIONS

1. Grill hot dogs over medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes.

2. Heat chili in a small pot over medium heat.

3. Toast buns for a minute over the grill.

4. Assemble buns with hot dog, chili, cheese and jalapeno slices, then serve.

RECIPE TIPS

• Air Fryer cooking time for the hot dog depends on the size of the hot dogs and the preferred doneness that you like your hot dogs to be cooked. 

• Make sure to prick the hot dogs before cooking them so they don’t explode in the air fryer.

• You can also slice them lengthwise if you prefer instead of poking them with a fork.

• Put all garnishes on the sides for guests to add on top themselves so they can decide if they want to use or not and how much of them, especially the jalapeno slices. 

• Try buttering the hot dog bun before broiling, grilling or air frying it for extra flavor. 

DELICIOUS VARIATIONS

• Add garnishes- Try bacon crumbles, chives, tomatoes, roasted corn, fried onions, or a scoop of sour cream. 

• Trade out chili recipe- try white chicken chili or venison chili.

• Trade out your cheeses- Try a variety of cheese mixtures.

• Add condiments- Add classic hotdog condiments like ketchup, mustard, relish, raw onions, etc.   

STORAGE, REHEATING AND FREEZING

• Store – Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I recommend storing hot dogs and chili in separate containers and bread in the cupboard by itself.

• Reheat- Reheat in the air fryer at 380F / 193C for about 5 minutes or until cheese and chili are melting and bubbly, and the hot dog is warm again. 

• Freezing – Let the chili cool down, then transfer into these very handy Ziploc freezer bags. Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags. Label the bags and then lay them flat in the freezer. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Freeze hot dogs separately in their own Ziplock freezer bags and follow the same instructions as above. You can do the same thing with hot dog buns, squeeze out the air and seal them, label and store them in the freezer. 

• To thaw – remove from the freezer the night before needed and let it thaw in the fridge.