This year, even though we’ve been stuck at home, we’ve been so incredibly busy. That being said, this chili dog tater tot casserole is the perfect meal for busy families who need an easy go-to. I think it’s especially great for picky eaters too. I don’t think I’ve ever met a kid that doesn’t like either tater tots or chili dogs. These were some of my favorite things growing up, so why not combine them? This chili dog tater tot casserole was everything I wanted it to be.
Kitchen Supplies You’ll Need:
With this recipe, I used my Ninja Foodi to get a nice, crispy tater topping for my chili dogs. The ninja foodi is by far my absolute favorite kitchen gadget. We have the 8 qt deluxe model here, but if you don’t care about the extra features, the 6.5 qt model here is also great. If you have an instant pot instead, if you have the air fryer lid found here or if you have this Duo Crisp model, you can also make this recipe! You could also bake it in the oven, but I haven’t tried this yet.
How to Make Chili Dog Tater Tot Casserole:
Personally, I used Nalley’s canned chili just because we were having a crazy night the night that I made this. However, if you have homemade chili and want to use that instead, go for it! It’s also important to note that we use the giant all beef hot dogs from Costco. They’re easily 2x the size of a regular hot dog, so if you don’t have a Costco membership, it’s totally fine to use regular hot dogs. Just remember to double how many you use if they aren’t the big ones. You could also substitute smoked sausage too! I also use rice in the mixture to thicken it up. You’re more than welcome to omit this if you’re using a thick chili, but I felt the rice made it easier to dish up.
Chili Dog Tater Tot Casserole in the Ninja Foodi
Equipment
- Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker/ Air Fryer Combo
- (or) Instant Pot Duo Crisp/ Air Fryer Lid
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 5 large costco bun length all beef hot dogs, sliced into rings Can also use 10 smaller hot dogs
- 4 14 oz cans of chili (we used Nalley’s) Approx. 8 cups homemade chili
- 1/2 cup long grain white rice optional if using a very thick homemade chili
- 2 1/2 cups shredded cheese, divided
- 1 32 oz bag of tater tots
Optional Toppings
- sliced green onion
- sour cream
Instructions
- Heat oil in the ninja foodi using the saute setting on medium-high.
- Add hot dogs and fry slightly until lightly browned, approx. 3 minutes.
- Add chili and rice, mixing well. Simmer, stirring frequently for 5 minutes or until the chili is heated through.
- Mix half of the cheese into the chili dog mixture until melted and well incorporated.
- Top with tater tots as evenly as possible. Close the air fryer lid and change the foodi to the air crisp setting at 375° for 18 minutes.
- Top tater tots with remaining cheese. Use the air crisp setting at 375° again for 3 minutes or until cheese is fully melted.
- Allow to rest 10 minutes to firm up and to allow the rice to continue cooking.
- Serve and top with green onion, sour cream, or other toppings of your choice.
There you go! A quick, easy dinner for your busy family to enjoy. I hope you like it! Let me know what you think in the comments below. If you like this recipe and want to see more, feel free to look at the recipes below or my recipes page here. You can also subscribe for updates every Foodie Friday. Thanks for your support!
Sheet Pan Italian Sausage Hoagies
Breakfast Crescent Braid with Bacon and Egg
