Mac and Cheese Hot Dogs

2 of your favorite kid foods in 1! These Mac and Cheese Hot Dogs have an easy, creamy, homemade mac and cheese that is served on top of hot dogs.

Hot dogs are meant to be topped! From these Sloppy Dogs to these Mac and Cheese Hot Dogs, you can’t lose when you are combining two favorites!

So – I’m being a little bit selfish having a whole week devoted to hot dogs. And I’m going to tell you something that you might not believe.

My kids don’t really like hot dogs.

I know. Whose kids are these?? I was somehow under the impression that every kid loved hot dogs. But it’s not true. It’s a myth. Abbi will occasionally take a couple of bites, but I don’t think she has ever even eaten a quarter of a hot dog.  And Easton will barely touch them.

So when I make hot dogs, I pretty much make them for myself.

And then I had a brilliant idea. Since I wasn’t going to give up the hot dogs, I thought I’d combine them with something that I know my kids love. Mac & Cheese. At least this way, I could give them the mac & cheese, minus the hot dog, if they didn’t want to eat the hot dog. Then I get my hot dog, and they get their mac & cheese!

I didn’t think this recipe would be totally out in left field – you see mac & cheese recipes that have cut up hot dogs in them all of the time. But I have a feeling people are going to totally love these, or think that they are way over the top.  Me? I thought they were amazing. The mac & cheese on it’s own is so creamy and delicious. And easy! Combine it with a hot dog, and you have 2 of my favorite “kid” foods combined into one. These babies are decadent and over the top – and one will probably be all that you need – but if you are like me, it will leave you with a big smile on your face!!

Ingredients

• Pasta: You can use any short pasta, but macaroni is the most traditional.
• Butter: This is used to make the sauce.
• Flour: The flour will thicken up the cheese sauce.
• Evaporated Milk: I like to use evaporated milk in my mac and cheese. It helps to keep the sauce thick and creamy and smooth.
• Chicken Stock: This will thin out the sauce just a bit. If you don’t want to use chicken stock, you can use vegetable stock. Or even some milk if you want to make it richer.
• Mustard Powder: This is a secret ingredient that brings in a background flavor that you can’t really put your finger on.
• Cheese: If you use a sharp cheddar, the flavor will come through the best, but if you want a smoother sauce, use mild or medium.
• Hot Dogs: I like to use all beef hot dogs. The Costco brand hot dogs are my favorite.
• Buns: Any good hot dog buns will work.

Tips and Tricks

I used to always boil my hot dogs, but my favorite way to make the hot dogs now is this Air Fryer Hot Dogs recipe.

You can make the mac and cheese ahead of time, but you may need to rewarm it gently with some extra milk if the pasta has soaked up too much sauce.

We just ate these as is, but feel free to top them up with bacon pieces and green onions to make a loaded hot dog.

More Hot Dog Recipes

Coney Island Hot Dogs
Hawaiian Hot Dogs
Reuben Hot Dogs

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Mac and Cheese Hot Dogs

5 from 2 votes

Author: Deborah Harroun

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 hot dogs

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

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2 of your favorite kid foods in 1! These Mac and Cheese Hot Dogs have an easy, creamy, homemade mac and cheese that is served on top of hot dogs.

1x2x3x

Ingredients

For the Mac & Cheese

• ▢ 1/2 lb macaroni pasta
• ▢ 2 tablespoons butter
• ▢ 3 tablespoons flour
• ▢ 12 oz can evaporated milk
• ▢ 1/2 cup chicken stock
• ▢ 1 teaspoon mustard powder
• ▢ 8 oz grated cheddar cheese

For the hot dogs

• ▢ 8 hot dogs
• ▢ 8 hot dog buns

Instructions

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente and drain.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in the evaporated milk and chicken stock and cook until thickened, stirring regularly. When thick, add in the mustard powder. Working in 3 batches, stir in the cheese until melted.
• Add the pasta into the cheese sauce and stir to combine.
• While the sauce is cooking, bring a small amount of water to a boil in a shallow pan. Add the hot dogs, cover, and cook until the hot dogs are warmed through.
• To serve, place a hot dog in a bun and top with the mac & cheese.

Keywords: hot dog recipe, mac and cheese, macaroni and cheese