Description
A quick, one-pan comfort food meal that combines the flavors of chili cheese dogs with creamy macaroni. Ready in about 30 minutes, this skillet dinner is perfect for busy weeknights and customizable to your taste.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 2 cups water or chicken broth
- 6–8 standard hot dogs (about 300g), sliced into rounds or half-moons
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 15 ounces canned beef chili with beans
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup milk (whole or 2%)
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: ¼ cup sliced jalapeños, ¼ cup bacon bits, 2 chopped green onions, ½ cup diced tomatoes
Instructions
- Slice hot dogs into small rounds or half-moons, dice the onion, mince the garlic, and shred the cheese.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook until al dente (8-10 minutes). Before draining, scoop out ½ cup of pasta water and set aside. Drain pasta and set aside.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and sliced hot dogs; cook for 2 minutes until hot dogs start to brown.
- Pour in canned chili and milk. Stir to combine and simmer for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Remove the skillet from heat. Gradually add shredded cheddar cheese, stirring constantly until melted and smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly. Stir in mustard. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately, topped with optional ingredients like jalapeños, bacon bits, green onions, or tomatoes.
Notes
Shred your own cheese to avoid anti-caking agents that make the sauce grainy. Always remove the pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent separation. Save pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. This dish does not freeze well due to the dairy content; store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 20
Keywords: cheesy chili cheese dog pasta skillet, one pan dinner, easy weeknight meals, comfort food, chili pasta, hot dog pasta, quick dinner, family friendly recipes