Creamy and delicious homemade mac and cheese with hot dogs is the quick and easy family dinner that everyone will love to have. Cook your pasta up with the franks and then create this ultra-rich and creamy cheese sauce for the perfect kid-pleasing meal.
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Cheddar cheese, hot dogs, pasta…what could be a better comfort food combination? Boxed mac and cheese is an easy go-to when you’re in a bind, but the homemade version is so much better.
Powdered and processed, the usual mac and cheese isn’t anything special, but my recipe…with hot dogs, no less, is a kid-friendly dish taken to new heights!
This easy family dinner is sure to please everyone, from little kids to long-time mac and cheese lovers. It only takes about a half-hour to make, so ditch the dried cheese packets and go for something closer to gourmet with this no-mistake mac and cheese.
Change what mac and cheese means to you by turning the beloved childhood staple into a sumptuous supper. The creaminess is unmatched, the taste is ten times better than boxed brands, and the whole family will be fighting for the last spoonful.
❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
- Easy. This recipe is a great basic pasta dish. All you need is one pot and lots of cheese.
- Yummy! All of your favorite flavors come together in an ooey, gooey dish. Since everyone loves macaroni and cheese, it's also sure to be a real crowd-pleaser.
- Versatile. Great for kids, perfect for weeknight suppers, and easy to reheat for leftovers.
🥘 Ingredients
The ingredients for my mac and cheese with hot dogs are straightforward. You may even have everything you need to make it at home already.
- Elbow Macaroni – Cooked and drained, the classic elbow shape is the cornerstone for this beloved dish. See FAQ's below for more great pasta shapes to cradle this tasty cheese sauce!
- Butter – Get the richness and creaminess you want in your mac and cheese, not to mention great flavor.
- All-Purpose Flour – Adds some thickness to make the cheese sauce rich and velvety.
- Seasoning - Garlic powder, ground pepper, salt, and onion powder. The flavors and aromas make the dish a knockout. Adjust seasonings to taste just before serving.
- Heavy Cream – Go all out for the most decadent dish. Don’t skimp with skim.
- Cheddar Cheese – The real deal makes for a mac and cheese worth writing home about. Use your fave cheddar (mild, medium, sharp, or extra sharp).
- Hot Dogs – Who needs basic hot dog buns when your franks can find a home nestled in tender mac and cheese? So much better!
Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!
📖 Variations
- Veggies - You can stir in some steamed veggies like broccoli to add more color and nutrients to the dish. Chopped spinach is also a favorite. Peas and carrots are a quick addition that is delicious too. Whatever you’ve got around - fresh, canned, or frozen, can be incorporated into the mac and cheese for veggie variety.
- Smoked Sausage - Try out different types of sausages instead of traditional hot dogs, like kielbasa. Since these are fully cooked, they are a quick stir-in at the end while the cheese is melting.
- White Cheddar Mac - Use my easy white cheddar mac and cheese as the base for your hot dogs if you want. Personally, I love this flavor of mac with some sliced smoked brats.
- Smoked Mac - Upgrade this easy recipe to a smoked version by assembling then transferring into an aluminum roasting pan. Follow the instructions for my smoked mac to add an irresistible smokiness.
🔪 How To Make Mac And Cheese With Hot Dogs
Preparation is a snap; you don’t need any fancy equipment or special kitchen tools. Just some household pots and pans and you’re ready to go. Let’s get cooking!
- Cook your pasta and hot dogs. Follow the package instructions until the macaroni (1 pound) is al dente (firm to the bite). Place 1 package hot dogs into the boiling water with the pasta the last few minutes before the pasta is done. Drain and rinse pasta and hot dogs in cool water.
- Slice. After the water is drained, remove the hot dogs and slice into bite-sized chunks, return to the drained pasta, then set both aside.
- Melt butter. Over medium heat, melt ½ cup butter in a medium saucepan.
- Make the roux. When the butter is melted, add 2 tablespoons flour, ½ teaspoon each ground pepper, salt, and onion powder, and 1 tablespoon garlic powder. Stir together to make a paste and cook the for 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously.
- Add heavy cream. Gradually whisk in 2 cups heavy cream until the mixture is lump-free and smooth.
- Melt cheese. Remove from heat and stir in 3 cups grated cheddar cheese until it is melted.
- Combine. Pour your cheese sauce over the cooked elbow macaroni with the sliced hot dogs and stir to combine.
Serve piping hot and garnish with additional grated cheese if desired. Some dried parsley sprinkled onto the plate for the finish looks lovely!
This recipe is great for an afternoon lunch or a simple supper. Serve with a fresh side salad with lots of tomatoes or some steamed broccoli. Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Use grated cheddar cheese for easiest melting. Slices, chunks, or hunks will take longer to incorporate.
- Pre-shredded packaged cheese is not recommended. It has additives to prevent it from clumping, and also makes your mac and cheese greasier.
- Stick with real butter and heavy cream for the most rewarding results. The creamier the mac and cheese, the better! Otherwise, the sauce will be thin and unappealing.
- Cut the hot dogs into small bites so there is plenty to go ‘round and each bite has a hunk of hot dog in it. For those who don’t want any hot dog chunks in their dish, spoon some mac and cheese into their bowl before adding the sliced franks to the pot.
- Use a one-pot method! Leave the drained and rinsed pasta with the cut hot dogs in your colander, then return your pasta pot to the stovetop to make the cheese sauce.
- You can also try pepperoni or salami for some spice. Crumbled sausage is a great addition too. Mix and match to make the dish your own. And remember you can change up the cheese. Monterey Jack, Gruyere, Gouda, Colby-Jack, and Muenster all melt well and can be mixed and matched with the cheddar.
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🥡 Storing & Reheating
This delicious dish will store nicely in the refrigerator for 3-5 days in an airtight container. Make sure that your mac n cheese with hot dogs is fully cooled before refrigerating.
You can freeze any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months. It’s nice to portion it out first so reheating is ready-to-go. When ready to use, simply place it in the fridge overnight to thaw.
Reheating
Reheating in the microwave is the simplest way to enjoy this dish once more. Heat your portions on high power for 1 minute, then in 30-second intervals until warmed to your satisfaction.
You can also pour the leftovers into a saucepan and heat them up over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add a drizzle of milk or heavy cream to get the best consistency.
❓ Recipe FAQs
Sure, use veggie dogs instead of regular ones. They slice up well and hold shape in the pasta just like meat-based hot dogs.
Any pasta will do, but with a thick sauce like this cheese sauce, it is best to use a style of pasta that will hold the sauce. Great pasta varieties include elbows, shells (conchiglie), bow-ties (farfalle), penne, ziti, fusilli, cavatappi, and orecchiette. You want every bite to be as luscious as possible.
😋 Other Great Recipes To Try
- Hamburgers Cooked In The Oven
- Panko Baked Cod
- Creamy Beef And Shells
- Cajun Seafood Boil
- Stove Top Meatloaf
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
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📖 Recipe Card
Mac And Cheese With Hot Dogs
Ingredients
- 1 lbs elbow macaroni (cooked, drained, rinsed)
- 1 package hot dogs
- ½ cup butter (1 stick or 8 tablespoons)
- 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 3 cups cheddar cheese (grated)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Cook your pasta according to the package instructions until al dente (firm to the bite) in texture. Add your hot dogs into the boiling water with the pasta for the last few minutes before the pasta is done. Drain and rinse both the pasta and hot dogs in cool water.
- After draining remove the hot dogs, slice, and set aside with the pasta.
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Once the butter is melted, add the flour and seasoning - garlic powder, salt, white pepper, and onion powder. Stir until a paste is formed.
- Add the heavy cream and stir or whisk until the mixture is smooth.
- Remove from heat and add the grated cheddar. Stir until melted.
- Pour the cheese sauce over the cooked macaroni noodles, add the sliced hotdogs, and stir to coat all of the pasta and hot dogs. Garnish with additional cheese, if desired. Serve immediately.
S Small says
Delicious flavor but I could not get the sauce to thicken up! What did I do wrong?
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
If you were using heavy cream and it didn't thicken, you can add just a bit more shredded cheese to bring the sauce together. Or cover and allow the pasta to soak up a bit of the sauce. If you opted for a lower fat dairy product, add more flour to the roux when starting. Hope that helps!
Anonymous says
Loved this! I didn't have butter or heavy cream so I used bacon grease and evaporated milk instead. The roux didn't thicken but once I added the cheese everything thickened right up! I also used old mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar. The whole family, 7 of us, loved it! This will be one to save for sure, thank you!
Sheila Coats says
I swapped the garlic and onion powder for Lawry's seasoning. Turned out great, reminded me of my childhood but so much better, thank you!
Sheila Coats says
Great recipe, I omitted the garlic and onion powder and used "Lawry's Total Seasoning" instead. Turned out great! Really good recipe loved it, thanks so much.
Anonymous says
Thank you I had forgotten how nice that could be I am from the south an man I got good things from my family thanks
Sandy says
This was soo good. I have a garden & right now way too many zucchini so I put this inside roasted zucchini boats, under the broiler, added some of my garden tomatoes diced & sirachi sauce. Kinda funky but family loved it. Thanks for this recipe, will definitely make this again & again.
Anonymous says
looks yummy