Chili Dogs

Sometimes you just want a chili dog and you want it now. This is a no-frills, microwave-only version that goes from fridge to plate in under 5 minutes. Frankfurters warm up first, then get loaded into split buns with chili beans and chopped fresh onion, and a quick zap melts everything together.

The microwave does the job fast, but it won’t give you a snappy casing on the hot dog the way a grill or pan would. What it will give you is hot chili dogs with almost zero cleanup on a weeknight when cooking feels like too much.

Fresh chopped onion on top is a must. The raw crunch and sharp bite cuts through the richness of the chili and the fatty snap of the frank.

Pro Tips

• Warm the frankfurters separately first so they’re hot all the way through. Adding them cold under the chili means an unevenly heated dog.
• Don’t over-microwave the assembled dogs. One to one and a half minutes is enough. Too long and the buns turn rubbery.
• Use leftover homemade chili if you have it for a big flavor upgrade over canned chili beans.