Chili Cheese "TOT" Dog Casserole

HELP!  My husband has gone tater tot and casserole crazy.  WHAT have I started?!?!  Anyway get out your tums, Rolaids and Prilosec people.  This is the bomb, likely in more ways than one??

Seriously, my husband is all over this whole casserole thing now.  I have created a MONSTER.  The night I posted "Funeral Casserole", he emailed me with this casserole he thought up.  I mean, it sounded good, sounded like "man" food.  Maybe it even sounded like "kid" food.  Regardless, I know how this song and dance goes and if I don't listen to him, and attempt this, I will be sorry.  After all, HIS recipe is my most popular/most viewed recipe on the blog.  He loves it.  (insert Jr. high style eye roll).  Really, though I tease, I am grateful for his support, I have learned many women do not have their spouses support with their blogging and cooking and I find it just heart wrenching.  How does the person who loves you more than anything not want to see you happy?!  I am a blessed woman to not only have a husband who supports anything I do, but is my bestie.  He is always firing ideas my way to challenge and help me.  I love that!

This is definitely a C word that probably is going to just be for fun occasions at our house.  This recipe is being deemed, "awesome for game days", some cold beer and a bowl of this would be perfect game day food and drink!

You can use homemade chili for this or you can buy it in a can.  If you use homemade, I suggest draining a little liquid off if your chili is pretty thin.  This is a perfect recipe for that chili you had leftover that you threw in the freezer!  Beans or no beans, that is your call, we roll with NO beans for sure. Hot dogs are another option.  I use all beef, it is all I ever use.  You can use lips and ....oh never mind, you can use any hot dogs you want.  Organic, plain, kosher, I mean, obviously your options are limitless.  I made this in my moms OLD 9x13 from my childhood, which I swear makes it taste even better!

This is so easy, I think it would freeze pretty well, and definitely can be made ahead!  Here is what you will need:

2- 15oz cans of chili (with or without beans) or 4 cups homemade chili
3-4 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
1 standard pkg of hot dogs
1 cup finely minced onions (optional)  I did NOT use them
1 bag of frozen tater tots
2 tsp chili powder

You will bake this according to the baking directions on your tater tots.  I set my oven to 450 degrees.  Spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray.  Spread/pour chili in first.  Next, cut your hot dogs into bite size pieces and evenly distribute them in the chili.  If you are adding onions, add them at this point too.

Now using 1 1/2 cups of your cheese, sprinkle evenly over the top of the hot dog and chili layers!

Now top with your tater tots.  Just line them up, you know, perfect order people!  Covering the entire top of the casserole.

Now using the rest of the cheese, cover the top liberally with it!!  Then sprinkle your chili powder over the top.

My tot package said to bake for 25 minutes.  Use whatever time yours has on it!!  When you remove it, let it sit 5 minutes before serving, it will be incredibly hot.  The chili will be bubbling up the sides.  Glorious, indulgent, delicious eats!!

Your "no beans, no onions" chefwannabe

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