Low Carb Chili Dog Casserole

Chili Dogs are the Ultimate Summer food!

Hot dogs (and burgers, of course) really are the ultimate summer cook-out food.  My kids request them for dinner all the time.

We’ve been grilling outside a lot lately. With Labor Day around the corner, I figured it was time for me to come up with a way the entire family could enjoy chili dogs again.  (Hubby and I are eating low carb right now, so a traditional chili dog in a bun is off the table.)

In the past, I would buy canned chili for our chili dogs, but even the canned bean-less chili’s have quite a few carbs in them, so it’s better to make my own version of a low carb chili.

Low Carb Chili Dog Casserole

My Low Carb Hot Dog Chili recipe turned out sooo good, you would never know it was low carb! 

I combined the low-carb chili with hot dogs, cheese, and onions and made the most amazing chili dog casserole ever!

After baking the hot dogs with all the chili, cheese, and onions, I was definitely in chili dog heaven.  (and yes, there is such a thing!)

How good does Low Carb Chili Dog Casserole look?  You definitely won’t miss the bun.

Nutrition Information for Low carb/Keto Chili Dog Casserole:

Ok, so the big question I get is: How many carbs are in this low-carb chili dog casserole?

The Answer?

Well, unfortunately, I can’t give you hard numbers as it will vary a tiny bit based on the ingredients you choose to use.

But… If you make it exactly as the recipe below it comes to 498 calories, 8 net carbs, 37 grams of fat, 33 grams of protein, and 5 grams of sugar. (Per serving – 6 servings in the dish)

• Want to lower the fat count? Use less cheese.
• Want to lower the carbs? Look for the lowest carb hot dogs and use fewer onions.

Ingredients:

Want to give this chili dog casserole a try? Just copy and paste the ingredients listed below to your grocery list. (ingredients at a glance grab the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.)

• Beef Hot Dogs | Different brands have different carb amounts, just check the packaging.
• Cheddar cheese | save carbs by shredding your own. Monterey /Colby Jack blend also works great.
• Ground beef | Leaner the better
• Garlic cloves
• Bell pepper | Whatever color you prefer- green has the lowest amount of carbs
• large onion
• chili powder
• cumin
• Worcestershire sauce
• Sugar substitute | Many readers have opted to leave this out, but I think it adds an authentic flavor to the chilidog sauce.
• celery salt
• tomato sauce
• tomato paste

How to Make this Low Carb Chili Dog Casserole

The reason this recipe is so yummy and low carb too is partly because of the homemade chili dog sauce.

You could make this chili dog bake with commercially prepared chili dog sauce. It would taste great too, but that sauce from the can has quite a few more carbs than my recipe does. Making your own chili is slightly more work, but oh, so rewarding!  

(Scroll to the bottom for a printable recipe card.)

1. To make this Keto Chili Dog Casserole, start by browning the meat with the peppers, onions, and garlic.  Add the spices, tomato sauce, paste, and water. Simmer for about 30 minutes. 
2. Once the chili is done, an optional step, but something I recommend, is to use an immersion blender or food processor to chop the chili into small pieces, as authentic chili sauce would be.
3. Assemble the casserole by spreading prewarmed/room temp hot dogs flat on the bottom of a 7 x 9 casserole dish. (if your hot dogs come straight from the fridge, you may need to increase the baking time.)
4. Cover the dogs with chili.  (You should have enough chili to reserve a bit if you have anyone eating regular hot dogs and wants chili on top. Otherwise, use it all.)  Spread 1 cup of cheese over chili and top with remaining onion.
5. Bake at 400 F for about 15 to 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly!

Can you make this Low Carb Chili Dog Casserole in the Slow Cooker?

Yes! You can make the chili dog casserole in the crockpot, however, the instruction will be a bit different.

1. Start by browning the ground beef with the garlic, onion, and peppers in a skillet on the stovetop.
2. Once browned, add the ground beef to the slow cooker. Add the rest of the spices, plus tomato sauce, paste, and water. Use an immersion blender to chop the sauce into fine pieces.
3. Top with hot dogs and cheese and cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4.
4. Stir before serving and top with additional cheese and onions if desired.

How Long Will this Chili Dog Casserole Last in the Fridge?

Once cooked, this casserole will last 3 to 4 days in the fridge

Can I Freeze this Chili Dog Casserole

Yes, you can definitely freeze this keto Chili Dog Casserole.  There are 3 ways to freeze it.

1.  Let chili cool significantly, package it up in 1 to 2 servings into a freezer bag, taking care to remove all the air from the bag.  Then when ready to eat, just microwave it on medium power until defrosted. Transfer to a bowl and continue to heat until warmed through.
2. Create the casserole as directed.  Sto before baking.  Wrap tightly with foil and freeze.  When ready to eat, remove from the freezer and let thaw in the fridge for 24 hours.  Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes until everything is hot and bubbly.
3. The 3rd way, (recommended) is to prepare the recipe up to assembling the casserole. (So just cook the chili.) Let chili cool significantly, package it up into a freezer bag, taking care to remove all the air and freeze.
4. When ready to make the casserole, put the frozen bag in the fridge in the morning to defrost.  Then when ready to cook, place chili in the microwave to finish warming.  Assemble the casserole and bake as directed in the recipe

Chili Dog Casserole Variations

This is a great casserole for the family as everyone loves chili dogs and won’t miss the buns. However, you can serve it so many ways to satisfy everyone in the family.

• Hungry teenage boys, that eat you out of the house? Serve it over hot dog buns and add chili beans!
• If you’re gluten-free instead of low carb, this would be awesome with corn chips.  Just cut the hot dogs into smaller slices and scoop the chili, franks, and cheese up with the chips.
• Or spoon the chili dog bake right into a snack-size bag of chips! Like these walking frito pies.)

If you just want a low-carb chili recipe, be sure to check out this Keto Chili Recipe.