Description
This Ultimate Crockpot Chili Dog Casserole is the perfect crowd-pleasing dish when you’re craving comfort food without the fuss. Packed with juicy hot dogs, hearty homemade chili, crispy tater tots, and plenty of melted cheddar cheese, it’s the ideal quick dinner, game day favorite, or potluck winner. With minimal prep and loads of flavor, this easy recipe brings together everything you love about chili dogs in a slow-cooked, crave-worthy casserole. Great for busy weeknights, tailgate parties, or just an indulgent twist on dinner ideas—this one’s going to be a repeat favorite.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
8 hot dogs or smoked sausages, sliced
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons chili seasoning
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 (32-ounce) bag frozen tater tots
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Cooking spray
Instructions
1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked; drain excess grease.
2. Add diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and sauté 30 seconds more.
3. Stir in chili seasoning, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes with chilies. Simmer for 5–7 minutes.
4. Spray the inside of the crockpot with nonstick spray.
5. Add half the chili mixture to the bottom of the crockpot.
6. Layer sliced hot dogs or sausage over the chili.
7. Sprinkle half the cheddar cheese over the hot dogs.
8. Spread a single, even layer of frozen tater tots on top, pressing down gently.
9. Cover and cook on LOW for 5–6 hours or HIGH for 2.5–3 hours.
10. About 15 minutes before serving, top with the remaining cheddar cheese and re-cover until melted.
11. Serve hot, garnished with green onions, sour cream, or jalapeños if desired.
Notes
For extra flavor, use smoked sausage or kielbasa instead of standard hot dogs.
Always drain the beef well to prevent an oily base in the casserole.
If desired, broil the casserole (in an oven-safe insert) for 2–3 minutes at the end to crisp up the tater tots further.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of casserole
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg