Best Chili Cheese Dog Sliders
Chili Cheese Dog Sliders are incredibly satisfying and perfect for football appetizers or a weeknight meal. Pull-apart slider rolls full of hot dogs, chili, and melted cheese—crazy easy, flavorful little sandwiches. A crowd-pleasing treat you can customize to suit your taste by adding toppings and condiments.
Hot dog Sliders aren’t just great for football games, tailgating, and appetizers; they also shine as a fantastic and fast dinner option when you want a tasty meal without spending hours in the kitchen. They are perfect for all ages, and the combination of Hawaiian rolls, thick chili, gooey cheese, and your favorite hot dogs makes a winning dish that appeals to many tastes. They are a mini version of the classic chili cheese hot dogs.
Why I Should Make Easy Chili Cheese Dog Sliders
Chili Cheese Dog Sliders are convenient, enjoyable, and a crowd-pleaser. They are great when you want to serve a delicious dish for a special occasion or a casual meal for your family and friends.
Delicious Flavors: Chili cheese dogs are pure comfort food. They were and still are a favorite at the Dairy Queen, but now I can get all the flavors in my home whenever I want to indulge.
Perfect for Gatherings: This is the ideal food to serve if you host a family gathering or game day event. They are easy to hold and bite-size, making them convenient for snacking and socializing.
Versatile: You can customize the toppings and condiments to suit your preferences. If you like spicy, add sliced jalapenos. Diced onions and mustard are also great toppings to consider.
Quick and Easy: Chili cheese sliders are fast and convenient and an easy recipe. Using canned chili will speed up the process. But feel free to use leftover homemade chili if so desired.
Kid Friendly: These are the perfect size for little hands. Children love hot dogs and cheese, and this dish will appeal to little ones.
Great for Leftovers: If you have leftover chili or hot dogs, this recipe is the best way to create a new dish while reducing waste.
Check out these Ham and Cheese Sliders for another game-day fast food.
Ingredients Needed for the Best Chili Cheese Dog Sliders
See the printable recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and amounts.
Only 4 ingredients are needed for these tasty treats. When selecting the ingredients, having extra on hand is a good idea if you want to make a double batch.
Hawaiian Rolls – Hawaiian rolls are soft, slightly sweet, and incredibly delicious. They compliment the flavors of the hot dogs, chili, and cheese. They are in your local grocery store’s bread or bakery section.
Hot dogs – Hot dogs are a classic choice and come in various types. Use your favorite brands, such as pork, beef, or chicken.
Canned Chili – Canned chili is a convenient choice for this recipe, and you can find different brands. Choose from mild, medium, or spicy and with or without beans. If you have leftover chili, use that for this recipe.
Shredded Cheese – Shredded Cheddar cheese is the most popular choice for chili dogs. You can use other cheeses such as Monterey Jack, Colby Jack cheese, or different blends to suit your preferences. Shred a block of cheese if desired. You are looking for a good melty cheese for the top of the chili.
How to Make Hot Dog Sliders
This chili cheese dog recipe is one of the easiest recipes you can make. It only takes minutes to prep and a few minutes in the oven, making this an easy weeknight dinner. See the printable recipe card below for a detailed list of how to make this recipe and the simple steps involved.
- Slice the tops of the rolls, creating a bun.
- Place hot dogs into the slices.
- Top hot dogs with canned chili.
- Cover the chili with cheese.
- Bake.
Best Toppings for Chili Dog Sliders
Anything you would top a chili cheese dog with would go great on these sliders. Feel free to mix and match these toppings to create your ideal combination. You can set up a toppings bar at your gathering and allow your guests to customize their sliders. Some suggestions might be:
Onions: Diced red onion, white onions, or Vidalia onions
Slice jalapenos: Add a kick of heat with a few slices.
Nacho Cheese: Melted cheese goes great on top of these slider dogs.
Pickles: Sweet or dill pickles.
Sauerkraut: Hot dogs and sauerkraut go together.
Fritos: Crushed corn chips add a nice salty crunch.
Hot Sauce: A little heat drizzled on chili adds more flavor.
Sour Cream: A creamy and tangy flavor that pairs well with chili.
Best Chili for Chili Dogs
A good hot dog chili makes this dish fabulous. You are looking for a hearty chili. Use your favorite homemade chili, or find an excellent canned chili. I like Hormel Chili with Beans. It’s thick and flavorful and works nicely for this chili dog sliders recipe. Use chili with or without beans. The choice is yours. Choosing the best chili can be pretty subjective. What one person considers the best chili, another may not. This is left up to personal preference. There are several good brands on the grocery store shelves.
Best Hot Dogs for Sliders
Choose your favorite brand for this recipe. There are several choices, so choose what you like best. A few suggestions:
Beef Hot Dogs
Pork Hot Dogs
Bun Length
Chicken or Turkey
Recipe Tips and Variations
Tips:
- I use Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, but any slider buns will work for this recipe.
- Slice the rolls across the top; you are making hot dog buns with the rolls.
- Fill the rolls with hot dogs from end to end. You want every roll and bite full of hot dogs, chili, and cheese.
- Use leftover chili if you have it. Delish!
- The hot dogs and chili will be cooked in the oven. There is no need to cook these beforehand.
- Use bun length hot dogs.
Variations:
- Spice it up a bit by using spicy chili or cheese.
- Replace the hot dogs with Sloppy Joe mix or cooked ground beef.
- Use Lil Smokies instead of hot dogs.
- If you can’t find slider rolls, use mini buns.
FAQs
Yes, you can gather the ingredients and make homemade chili if desired. Otherwise, this recipe comes together fast, so I recommend not to assemble or bake until you are ready to serve.
I use Hawaiian Rolls, but other slider-size buns or dinner rolls could work for this recipe.
If you are not serving these soon after making, have your guests assemble them. Set up a toppings bar at your gathering and allow your guests to customize their sliders. Place cooked chili and cheese in bowls and sliced cooked hot dogs in a dish. Slice the rolls beforehand and place them on a platter.
Recipe Notes:
These rolls are quite filling, so plan for 2-3 sliders per person as a general guideline.
If you are making a large batch of sliders for a gathering, you can keep them warm in a slow cooker set on the warm setting. You may also place them in an aluminum foil tray covered in the oven at a low temperature (200 degrees).
If you serve these sliders on a fix-your-own “toppings bar,” you could swap out the cheddar cheese for melted nacho cheese.
If you serve these sliders as a fix-your-own bar, cook the hot dogs by grilling, baking, or boiling them beforehand.
Best Side Dishes for Chili Dog Sliders
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Best Chili Cheese Dog Sliders
Ingredients
- 1 package Hawaiian Rolls
- 1 package Hot Dogs
- 1 (15oz.) can Chili I used Hormel Chili with Beans
- 1 cup Cheddar Cheese shredded
Instructions
- Line an 8" x 11" baking dish or baking sheet with foil. Spray with nonstick spray. Place rolls in baking dish.
- Slice the tops of the rolls, creating a bun. Only slice halfway through the bun to keep the hot dog and chili from running out the bottom.
- Place hot dogs into the slices. You will need 1 ½ – 2 hot dogs for each "bun" slice. Make sure you fill the buns from end to end with the hot dogs.
- Top hot dogs with canned chili.
- Cover the chili with cheese.
- Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until hot and the cheese is melted.
- Optional – In a small bowl, mix melted butter and garlic powder. Brush over the top of the buns not covered with chili and cheese.
