Corndog Casserole

Corndog Casserole turns the sweet-savory comfort of a corn dog into an easy 9-by-13 dinner. Corn muffin mix, browned hot dogs, cheddar, and a few choose-your-own add-ins bake into a golden, cheesy casserole that’s especially handy when school nights get busy and everybody needs something filling.

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Your Barefoot Neighbor holds a plate of his easy Corndog Casserole

Corndog Casserole

Same Shenanigans, Easier Dinner
A new school year may bring different schedules, different teachers, and a whole new pile of things somebody forgot to sign. The dinner-time shenanigans, though? Those stay pretty familiar. Everybody’s hungry, the clock is moving too fast, and nobody wants a sink full of dishes. That’s exactly the kind of night this Corndog Casserole was made for.
This is comfort food with a sense of humor. It takes everything good about a corn dog, that slightly sweet cornbread, the salty hotdog, and the mustardy little kick, then turns it into one big cheesy bake. Add chili on top and it starts tasting like a chili cheese corn dog you can scoop onto a plate. It’s cozy, filling, and just weird enough to be fun.
Why This Corndog Casserole Works
The base starts with boxed corn muffin mix because we are feeding hungry people, not auditioning for a pioneer reenactment. Whole milk and eggs give it the structure it needs, while yellow mustard and hot sauce push the batter toward that classic corn dog flavor. You can keep the heat mild or shake in a little more. I’m not your mama. Do whatever you like.
Browning the sliced hot dogs before they go into the batter is worth the few extra minutes. They get those tasty little caramelized edges, and that keeps the casserole from tasting flat. Sharp cheddar brings saltiness and melts through the middle, then the rest goes on top for a golden finish.
The texture lands somewhere between cornbread and a hearty spoonable casserole. It’s tender, cheesy, and sturdy enough to serve in squares after it rests for a few minutes. The chili swirled across the top gives you pockets of saucy beef without taking over the whole pan.
The Optional Stuff is Actually Optionable
I added diced green chiles because they sounded good, and I tossed in some frozen corn because that’s what I had. I originally had canned corn in mind, so either one works. The green chiles add a gentle savory bite, and the corn adds little pops of sweetness and texture.
You can leave either one out. You can leave the chili off too. The casserole still has the cornbread, hot dogs, mustard, hot sauce, and cheese doing the heavy lifting. That makes this a useful recipe for families where everybody has an opinion and at least one person has decided they no longer eat something they loved last Tuesday.
Cheddar is my pick, but another good melting cheese will work. Monterey Jack would make it a little milder. Pepper Jack would add more heat. A blend is fine too. Use what you already have before buying another bag just because a recipe told you to.
A Busy Night-Kind of Meal
This is the sort of dinner I’d serve with something simple and call it handled. A bagged salad, steamed green beans, sliced fruit, or raw vegetables with ranch will balance out the rich casserole without creating another project. For a game-day spread or casual get-together, cut smaller portions and set out extra mustard, hot sauce, and chili for spooning over the top.
The brief broil at the end gives the cheese those browned spots that make everybody suddenly wander into the kitchen. Keep an eye on it because a broiler can go from “that looks good” to “well, damn” in a hurry.
Corndog Casserole is easy, flexible, and built for nights when getting everybody fed matters more than making every piece from scratch. That’s my kind of cooking.
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Serves 8 people

Ingredients

  • 1½ cups whole milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • About 1 teaspoon hot sauce or to taste
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 2 8.5-ounce boxes corn muffin mix, such as Jiffy
  • 1 small can diced green chiles optional
  • 1 15 oz. can of corn drained optional
  • Black pepper to taste
  • Garlic powder to taste
  • 1 standard package hot dogs sliced into rounds and browned
  • 8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided
  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 1 can chili without beans optional
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Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Large skillet
  • 9-by-13-inch baking dish
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Matthew Bounds, creator of Your Barefoot Neighbor, slices hot dogs to add to his easy Corndog Casserole
Matthew Bounds, creator of Your Barefoot Neighbor, browns the sliced hot dogs for his easy Corndog Casserole
Matthew Bounds, creator of Your Barefoot Neighbor, layers in the cornbread mix to the sliced hot dogs for his easy Corndog Casserole
Your Barefoot Neighbor Matthew Bounds adds chili to his easy Corndog Casserole
Your Barefoot Neighbor Matthew Bounds adds cheese as the final step to his easy Corndog Casserole

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  • If you have not already done so, slice the hot dogs into rounds and brown them in a large skillet. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the whole milk, eggs, hot sauce, and yellow mustard.
  • Add both boxes of corn muffin mix and stir until combined.
  • Stir in the diced green chiles and corn, if using. Season the batter with black pepper and garlic powder to taste.
  • Fold in the browned hot dogs and about half of the shredded cheddar cheese.
  • Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer.
  • If using chili, spoon it over the top in dollops. Use the back of the spoon to lightly swirl it across the surface without fully mixing it into the batter.
  • Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
  • Bake uncovered for about 30 minutes, until the center is set and the casserole is golden around the edges.
  • Turn on the broiler and broil just until the cheese is browned in spots. Watch it constantly so the top does not burn.
  • Let the casserole rest for a few minutes, then scoop or cut into portions and serve.

Notes

  • The green chiles, corn, and chili are all optional. The casserole still works without any of them.
  • Sharp cheddar is used in the video, but another good melting cheese can be substituted.
  • Hot dog packages and chili cans vary by brand. A standard package of hot dogs and one standard can of chili fit the proportions shown in the video.
  • Broilers work quickly. Stay nearby and remove the casserole as soon as the top is browned to your liking.
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Your Barefoot Neighbor's easy Corndog Casserole sits on a plan on the counter next to the baking dish full of the hearty meal

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