Chili Cheese Tater Tot Casserole is a twist on a family favorite recipe. Homemade chili, cheese, hot dogs, tater tots….need I say more?!?!
I grew up eating tater tot casserole, and it was a childhood favorite. My brother and I always cleaned our plates with this meal. My mom often put mixed vegetables in her tater tot casserole.
I guess it was a way to get us to eat more veggies.
Almost everyone has a recipe for the original tater tot casserole so I thought I would make a different version. Well, a completely different version! This tater tot hot dog casserole is a fun twist!
If you’ve been looking for more casseroles, be sure to try my Sausage Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole, Corn Casserole, Upside Down Pizza Casserole, and Chicken and Stuffing Casserole.
Why You’ll Love Chili Cheese Tater Tot Casserole
- Satisfying
- Fun and Delicious
- Kids and Adults Love It!
- Comfort Food
- 10 Ingredients
- Hot dog tater tot casserole is great for entertaining too!
How To Make Chili Tater Tot Casserole
Step 1: Prep the baking dish
Start by preheating the oven. Grease a baking dish and set aside.
Step 2: Prepare the chili
Brown the ground beef and drain. Then mix in the chili beans, tomato sauce, hot dog slices, and seasonings. Stir well.
Step 3: Assemble
Place chili in the baking dish. Sprinkle with onions and cheese. Add tater tots and bake for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with more cheese, then bake the tater tot hot dog casserole for an additional 3-5 minutes. Serve the chili dog casserole and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in a pinch you can use canned chili for this chili dog casserole. You are going to have the best results making homemade chili, but it’s completely up to you. Honestly, this hot dog tater tot casserole is pretty amazing either way!
After the casserole has cooled down completely, add it to a food container. Add a tight fitting lid and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.
You can reheat leftovers in the microwave or oven. For the microwave, place on a microwave safe plate and cover with a paper towel. Heat for 1-2 minutes, stir, and continue heating until hot.
For the oven, preheat to 350 degrees and warm the chili tater tot casserole for 10-15 minutes or until hot.
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Chili Dog Tater Tot Casserole is a twist on a family favorite recipe. Chili, cheese, hot dogs, tater tots….need I say more?!?!
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 (15oz) can chili beans
- 1 (15oz) can tomato sauce
- 4 hot dogs cut into small bites
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon each garlic powder and onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided
- 1 (32oz) package tater tots
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish, set aside.
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CHILI: Brown ground beef until no longer pink. Drain completely. Add in chili beans, tomato sauce, hot dogs and seasonings. Stir to combine.
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ASSEMBLY: Spoon chili into prepared dish. Sprinkle chopped onions on top then sprinkle 2 cups cheddar on top. Arrange tater tots on top of the cheddar (the whole package may not be used). Bake for 30 minutes. Remove and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Return to oven for 3-5 minutes just to melt the cheese.
I’m using homemade chili. How many cups would you suggest that I use? Sounds like it will definitely be good.
I am not 100% sure but I would start with 5 cups.
I was looking for a way to use up leftover chili (trying to stretch the grocery budget amidst rising food costs!), and came across your recipe. It was definitely a hit, my spouse went up for 2nds & 3rds- and took the last portion in his lunch today. This recipe is going into our “keepers” file for sure! Thanks for the recipe:)
Thanks for sharing and so glad you liked it! I am hoping to post more recipes to help stretch the grocery budget because the food prices are getting crazy!!
This was a fantastic recipe for leftover homemade chilli. Adding wieners, tator tots and cheese was ingenious and as stated a great way to extend the food budget. It is a great comfort food for cold days in 🇨🇦. Absolutely loved it! Kate
Thank you so much!! And hope you are staying warm up there!!
You are just too, too nice! 😁 We do forget though that there are cooks who follow a recipe EXACTLY and don’t understand they can adapt to their family preferences, and those that use them as a guideline and “tweak” it a little. I made your recipe this morning and cooked the onions with the hamburger, basically to hide them from eyes that would spy them and not be happy 😉.
We will be eating later today, but I have an eye for good recipes, and this is one! Thank you!
Thanks Doug!! Hope you enjoyed!
Do I leave the Tater Tots frozen or thaw them before I put them on ?
Leave them frozen. Hope you enjoy!
How stupid. I wanted a hot dog cass with tater tots. This is a HAMBURGER cass with just 4 hot dogs?????? Not what was advertised!!!!
You don’t have to be mean. Just add more hot dogs.
You are just too, too nice! 😁 We do forget though that there are cooks who follow a recipe EXACTLY and don’t understand they can adapt to their family preferences, and those that use them as a guideline and “tweak” it a little. I made your recipe this morning and cooked the onions with the hamburger, basically to hide them from eyes that would spy them and not be happy 😉.
We will be eating later today, but I have an eye for good recipes, and this is one! Thank you!
I am gonna make this as soon as I get to the store to buy some hotdogs cause I am all out. My husband and I both love chili dogs.
I hope you enjoy!! Thanks Karen!
If I used canned chili instead, do you know how many cans I would need for this recipe?
I can’t say for sure but I think 2 cans would be enough. Thanks for asking and sorry I couldn’t be of more help! Hope you enjoy!
I’m making it now and using 2 cans.
The carb count has to be wrong though. With the chili and tater tots, 7 carbs is way too low.
My cans of chili have 52 carbs each and then the tater tots are 22 carbs for 10. I used about half a bag. Then 3 carbs per hot dog. I’m guessing about 204 for the entire pan so if you get 6 servings, carbs are about 34 per serving.
I will look into this. The recipe has an autogenerate option and I have always wondered how accurate it is. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
This is so good, I tried and my son loved it.
YAY! I am so glad you enjoyed it!! 🙂
Making tonight. Pretty excited about this one.
Thanks, I hope you enjoy!! 🙂
If I were to freeze this meal, how long would it cook from frozen?
I haven’t made this from frozen so I can’t say for sure but I would guess at least an hour. Thanks and I hope you enjoy!! 🙂
I love the original tater tot casserole. I raised my kids on it. Now, it’s just the 2 of us and I can’t wait to try this. My husband is all over anything that taste like a chili dog. Thanks
Tater tot casserole is a staple any kid needs to grow up on! 🙂 I hope you enjoy this version!
We had this for supper tonight and it was delicious! My wife said it needed just a little more heat, so may use HOT chili beans rather than the mild ones we used. Maybe add a package of chili seasoning.
I am so glad you enjoyed!! My husband is on team more heat too!! Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
Did you thaw the tots?
Nope you can just use them frozen. Hope you enjoy!
What are “chili beans”? Do you just mean a can of beans like great northern beans or pinto beans?
Bush’s makes chili beans. They are either pinto or kidney beans in chili sauce. I hope that helps. Thanks!
My husband had seconds and took the left overs into work the next day for lunch. ??
Thank you!! I am so glad he enjoyed it!! 🙂
Tater tot casserole WAS my childhood, but adding the chili dog twist takes this to a whole other level! My kids are going to go bananas over this!
Thanks Karly!! Mine sure did!! 🙂
Must try that soon. I am sure my lunch bunch would go for it!
Thanks Grandma, let me know if they like it! 🙂
There’s nothing better than a Tater Tot Hotdish! Love this twist on it!
Thank you so much, Julie!
Um, yes! I will definitely be trying this one!
Thanks! I hope you enjoy it!