Pull Apart Mini Chili Cheese Dogs
These cheesy chili dogs are packed with delicious chili, topped with cheddar cheese and brushed with garlic butter - the perfect easy appetizer.
Servings: 12 chili dogs
Calories: 123kcal
Equipment
- 1 large baking sheet (or any square or rectangle oven-safe dish)
Ingredients
- 1 12-pack slider buns (see Note 1)
- 3 hot dog wieners, sliced into 4
- 1 cup chili (see Note 1)
- 1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ tsp dried parsley
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- Pinch salt, or more to taste
- Sour cream, for serving, optional
- Green onions or chives, thinly sliced, for serving, optional
Instructions
- Air fry, pan fry or bake the hot dogs at 350℉ for 10 minutes or until the exterior is blistered and crisped (see Note 1)
- Cut a hole in the top of each slider bun, leaving a small border, then press it down to create a little well in the center of the bread (don’t cut all the way through)
- Preheat oven to 350℉ and line a baking sheet or oven-safe dish with foil or parchment paper
- Place the slider buns on the prepared baking sheet
- Place the hot dogs inside the center of each bun
- Fill each hole with chili - make sure it’s all around the sides of the hot dog
- Cover with a generous layer of cheddar cheese
- In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, parsley, garlic powder and salt
- Brush the garlic butter all over the edges of the buns (see Note 1)
- Fold in the sides of the foil to cover the edges of the buns, but leave the top uncovered
- Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbling, then broil for 20-30 seconds until the cheese is lightly browned
- Serve topped with sour cream and green onions if desired, then pull apart and enjoy
Notes
1. I always use brioche buns for this recipe, but any slider buns work. My favorites are King's Hawaiian and the Costco brioche buns.
2. I use my beef chili recipe for these, but you can use your favorite homemade chili recipe, or even a store-bought canned chili to save time. These chili cheese dogs are the perfect way to use up leftover chili!
3. This step is optional (just make sure to use precooked hot dog wieners, not sausage), but I much prefer when the hot dogs have a crispy exterior before adding them to the buns.
4. The garlic butter is technically optional here as well, but I wouldn't skip it. It adds the best flavor to the toasted slider buns and helps ensure they don't get too crispy in the oven, plus it's super quick and easy to make.
Nutrition Facts are calculated automatically and may be inaccurate.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 slider | Calories: 123kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 292mg | Potassium: 111mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 255IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 1mg