The whole family will love this perfectly baked chili cheese dog casserole made with canned chili and crescent roll dough.

This hot dog bake is one of my family’s favorite comfort food casseroles. The combination of chili cheese hot dogs and golden brown, flakey crescent rolls is just incredible!

Like my Ritz Chicken Casserole, Tater Tot Casserole, and Cheeseburger Casserole, this hot dog casserole is quick and easy to prepare with simple ingredients.

It makes a kid-friendly dinner for busy weeknights or a tasty addition to your barbeque or game day spread.

Chili cheese dog casserole made with hot dogs wrapped in cheese and crescent rolls and surrounded by chili

For more fun and tasty ways to enjoy hot dogs try these homemade pretzel dogs, mini corn dogs, or this New-York style hot dog chili sauce.

The secret to the best chili cheese dog casserole

If you have tried a chili cheese hot dog bake with crescent rolls before you may have had trouble with the bottom of the crescents remaining doughy after baking. Yuck!

To avoid the doughy bottoms I bake the crescent dogs on their own for a bit, then add the chili and return to the oven to continue baking.

one chili cheese crescent hot dog on plate with casserole in background

I have found that the crescent dough bakes perfectly this way, so it is well worth the small amount of added effort.

Ingredients

You will need…

2 cans of Hormel Chili with beans, a can of Pillsbury crescent roll dough, package of 8 beef Ball Park hot dogs, 4 slices of American cheese, butter, chopped chives and garlic powder

Refrigerated crescent dough: grab the regular crescent dough for this recipe rather than the dough sheets
American cheese: 4 slices, so each hot dog gets half a slice
Hot dogs: we like Ball Park all-beef hot dogs but you can use your favorite brand
Chili: You can use between 1 and 2 cans, depending on how much you like. Or substitute with around 3 cups of homemade beef chili with beans
Butter, garlic powder, and optional chives: for smearing on the tops of the crescents before baking

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 375° F. Lightly coat the bottom of a 9 x 13 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.

Step 2: Roll out crescent dough and separate it into triangles. Place half a slice of cheese on each then roll around hot dogs and place in casserole dish.

Step 3: In a small bowl, stir to combine melted butter, garlic powder, and (optional) chives. Brush over hot dogs.

Unbaked crescent-wrapped hot dogs arranged in glass baking dish and topped with garlic and chive butter

Step 4: Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.

Step 5: Remove from oven, uncover, and spoon chili around the hot dogs.

Step 6: Return to oven and bake, uncovered, until the tops of crescents are golden brown (about 15 minutes).

Enjoy!

Want to level up the flavor? Try using leftover Dr. Pepper Chili in place of canned chili—it adds a homemade touch and a hint of sweetness that pairs perfectly with melty cheese and hot dogs.

Storage

Refrigerator: Cover casserole tightly with plastic wrap or transfer leftovers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freezer: Casserole can be frozen in a freezer-safe casserole dish for up to 3 months. To freeze, allow casserole to cool to room temperature, then wrap tightly with plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating in the oven.

More easy dinner bakes

Recipe

4.66 from 23 votes