Hot Dog Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese with hot dogs is an untouchable combination of meat and pasta, but store-bought instant mac and cheese often means a long list of additives and colorings. This recipe for hot dogs in mac and cheese lets you start from scratch and stay in control of the ingredients.

It’s a great dish that is formidably filling. Separately cooking the mac and cheese in the oven and frying the dogs gets you just the right texture. You can tweak the recipe to get in some more veg, or turn up the spiciness if you dare.

Ingredients for Hot Dog Mac and Cheese

• Elbow macaroni: This tubular pasta shape keeps its shape, gets nicely soft and holds a sauce well.
• Butter: This fat is necessary for frying off the hot dogs and starting the cheese sauce.
• Hot dogs: Slice some beef wieners (or smoked kielbasa if you prefer) into even-sized pieces.
• All-purpose flour: This flour will give you the base for the thick, creamy cheese sauce.
• Milk: Choose whole milk for the sauce. You want it to have sufficient fat content.
• Mild cheddar cheese: Some mild shredded cheese provides a thick texture.
• Sharp cheddar cheese: A little sharp cheddar cheese adds a little tang to the cheese sauce.
• Cream cheese: You’ll get a smooth, velvety sauce with cream cheese to emulsify the shredded cheeses.
• Salt: Don’t add too much salt—the hot dogs and cheese provide plenty of saltiness.
• Pepper: Some fresh ground black pepper gives a little heat.
• Ground mustard: Just a little mustard powder adds a layer of spicy flavor over all that gooey cheese.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the macaroni

Christine Ma For Taste Recipes

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Cook the macaroni according to the package directions; then drain and set aside.

Step 2: Lightly fry the hot dogs

Christine Ma For Taste Recipes

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the hot dogs and fry lightly for one to two minutes per side until the surface is slightly crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Step 3: Make the cheese sauce

Christine Ma For Taste Recipes

In the same pan, add the flour to the remaining melted butter and stir until smooth. Gradually add the milk and bring to a simmer. Cook for three to four minutes until thickened, whisking steadily. Stir in the shredded mild and sharp cheddar cheeses, cream cheese, salt, pepper and mustard until well combined. Stir in the cooked macaroni and sliced hot dogs.

Editor’s Tip: Don’t worry if the sauce initially seems thin. It will thicken eventually, so keep stirring to prevent the bottom from burning.

Step 4: Bake until bubbly and brown

Christine Ma For Taste Recipes

Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish and bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the edges are golden brown.

Christine Ma For Taste Recipes

Hot Dog Mac and Cheese Variations

• Spice it up: Infuse the sauce with flavor (and color) by adding chili powder, paprika and cayenne pepper when you combine all the ingredients
• Include onions: Hot dogs and onions work fantastically together, so fry off some chopped onions (sweet peppers too if you like) with the hot dogs and sprinkle some chopped scallions into the mix before baking.
• Top with breadcrumbs: For a classic mac and cheese crust, combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and some butter and sprinkle on top before baking.

How to Store Hot Dog Mac and Cheese

You can store any leftovers, once cool, in a covered container for up to three days in the refrigerator. The sauce will go hard, but it’s strangely appetizing cold. If that doesn’t appeal to you, simply reheat in the microwave.

How do you reheat hot dog mac and cheese?

To get that velvety consistency back, and fully warm through the hot dogs, reheat leftovers in the oven for 20 minutes on a medium heat. Cover the dish with aluminum foil. If the pasta looks dry, you may have to add a little milk to loosen the sauce.

Hot Dog Mac and Cheese Tips

Christine Ma For Taste Recipes

Do I have to cook hot dog mac and cheese in the oven?

For a quicker dish without the crunchy top, you can cook everything on the stovetop instead, in a single pot. It’s the same process as making instant mac and cheese, but with a homemade cheese sauce instead of fluorescent cheese powder.

How can I make this recipe healthier?

This mac and cheese with hot dogs isn’t necessarily unhealthy, but it’s still quite high in saturated fat and sodium. You can bulk it up with healthy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli florets and peas. These also give the color some variety.

What can I serve with hot dog mac and cheese?

This recipe makes a wonderful side dish to serve with smoked sausages or burgers off the grill. If you’re enjoying it as the main dish, however, serve it with a light garden salad to offset all those heavy carbs, or a plate of steamed vegetables.