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Budget Friendly Meals: Macaroni and Cheese Topped Hot Dogs

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone, as is this creative and budget-friendly summer grilling recipe for Macaroni and Cheese Topped Hot Dogs!

Macaroni and Cheese Topped Hot Dogs

Ah, summer meals.  It’s a time to kick back, relax, and get a little bit crazy.  For Asheley, that means hot dogs and roasted marshmallows for days.  She would literally be content to feast on simple dinners consistenting solely of hot dogs schmeared generously with mustard every single day if she could.

It has to be with mustard.  A lot of mustard.  Not dijon.  Not spicy brown.  Just regular yellow mustard.  No exceptions.

Now I love me a good hot dog as well, but I prefer to get a little more wacky and creative in my approach.  I’ve been loving these Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Popper Hot Dogs lately (and I’ve even gotten my mom on board with those hot dogs, a self-professed hot dog hater), but now it’s time to step it up a notch.

Whenever my 3-year-old niece comes over for dinner, she always feasts on one of those Kraft macaroni and cheese single-serving dinner cups.  She never eats the whole thing, so her father (and my older brother) waits patiently until she’s done so he can devour the rest.  Not gonna lie, I’m always a bit jealous.  Because really, who doesn’t love mac n’ cheese?!

And that got me thinking… why should kids have all the fun?  It’s good enough for the whole family… small kids and big kids (like myself) alike.  Your family is totally going to love these Macaroni and Cheese Topped Hot Dogs, because hello… they are macaroni and cheese topped hot dogs.  Duh.

Macaroni and Cheese Topped Hot Dogs

One of the great things about being a teacher… summer vacation.  I don’t want to keep rubbing it in and all, but these 2 months off are pure bliss.  I literally don’t even know what day it is today.  Monday?  Thursday?  Who cares… I’m off 🙂

Here’s the dangerous part of being on summer vacation for 2 months.  You get a little loosey-goosey with spending.  A little treat there. A splurge here.  Going out with friends a whole heck of a lot.  And then you look at your bank account and wonder…  did someone steal my identity and get access to my bank account?!  No, no they didn’t Chris.  You just love spending a little bit too much money in the summer.

And maybe you have similiar financial constraints come the 1st and 15th of the month, when your budget gets mighty tight. Luckily budget friendly meals like these macaroni and cheese topped hot dogs totally come in handy when summer finances get a little tight 🙂

Macaroni and Cheese Topped Hot Dogs

Macaroni and Cheese Topped Hot Dogs

Oh heck yes…

macaroni-and-cheese-topped-hot-dog

 

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Macaroni and Cheese Topped Hot Dogs

Budget Friendly Meals: Macaroni and Cheese Topped Hot Dogs

★★★★★

5 from 3 reviews
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
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Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 hot dogs
  • 4 hot dog buns
  • 2 (2.05 ounce) containers Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner Cups (or about 2 cups prepared macaroni & cheese)
  • 1/2 cup Kraft ranch dressing
  • 3 tablespoons Kraft barbecue sauce

Instructions

  1. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Grill hot dogs over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until hot dog is cooked through and charred in spots.
  2. Meanwhile, prepare macaroni & cheese according to package directions.
  3. In a separate small bowl, combine ranch dressing with barbecue sauce.
  4. Assemble by placing hot dogs in buns, topping each with about 1/2 cup prepared macaroni & cheese, and drizzle with barbecue ranch sauce. Devour immediately.

Walmart - Kraft products

An easy way to save a few bucks?  Look for Kraft items on rollback at your local Walmart.  #RollIntoSavings #CollectiveBias

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Comments

  1. Helen

    I am learning all sorts about American food reading your blog, Chris! Mmm … I could definitely eat one of these as a little (almost) midnight snack! Glad to hear you’re enjoying your vacation. I love that feeling when you lose track of the days! 🙂

  2. Melanie

    Sounds like you’re enjoying yourself a little too much there buddy. 😉 JK. Enjoy every moment. You deserve it.
    My kids would devour these dogs in a jiffy.
    Have a marvelous week!

  3. Liz

    Now this is definitely kid friendly food! I’ve never thought of piling the mac and cheese on a hot dog, but I bet it’s darned tasty!

  4. Kathy

    I am seriously jealous of your time off. 🙂 Enjoy every moment. Lucky! My husband would totally destroy these hot dogs.

    ★★★★★

    • Chris

      Thanks so much Kathy! You should totally surprise your husband with these one night… he’d love you forever 😉

  5. Taylor

    WHAT?! Mac and cheese on a hot dog. This is incr-EDIBLE (had to!) I have a serious secret love for KD, so I am gonna face plant into this right now! 😀 pinned!

  6. Mike

    Looks good my man, I might run a full triathlon on one of these Mac&Cheese Hot Dogs!
    And btw I’m such jealous of your 2 months vacation. I honestly don’t think it’s fair…but who am I to judge?

    • Chris

      Hahaha I probably should run a full triathlon after all the hot dogs I’ve eaten in the past week. You’ll just have to do them for me 😉

  8. Ashley

    Oh man this is my sister’s dream meal right here! Combining two of her favorite foods – mac and cheese and hot dogs! I love it!

  11. Cindy

    We too have been having lots of fun and spending way too much money. It’s summer, live it up!
    Hotdogs are a favorite here and I like them just like your wife. Plain with regular yellow mustard and a side of mustard.
    Very creative dish. Gonna give this a try. I’m thinking the kids will love it

  12. Kelly

    Haha enjoy your time off Chris – totally well deserved 🙂 Mac and cheese on a hot dog? Sounds awesome and such a great idea!

  13. Chelsea

    This is seriously the BEST idea ever! I love mac and cheese and I love hot dogs and all in one?! Plus budget friendly? All over this one!!

    ★★★★★

  14. Jess

    I’ve honestly never seen mac ‘n’ cheese served on top of a hot dog! But this looks so good- the ultimate comfort food, for sure! I wish they cooked this kind of food over here! 🙂

  16. Kelly - LEFT SIDE OF THE TABLE

    Chris this is just awesome! I mean, who has never had hot dogs in Mac N Cheese before??! I used to do it all the time (and peas too!) Why not add the Mac N Cheese to the hot dog! Totally craving this now!! Might have to whip this up for dinner one night real soon! Thanks, Chris! Another fabulous recipe!

  20. GiGi Eats

    UGH! If only I came across this post 15 years ago when I COULD EAT THESE FOODS!!!!!!!! My taste buds are super envious!!!

    ★★★★★

  22. Shashi

    Chris – I think you are not just rubbing it in that you have two months off – I think you are really missing work 😉 Well, I have a solution – I will take the rest of this time off and YOU can go to work for me – I know I have suggested this before but this time maybe you will fall for it – er I meant – make a wise decision!
    This is one heck of a budget friendly dish for sure!

    • Chris

      Hahahah I’m totally rubbing it in 😉 Hahaha thanks for that very generous offer but I’ll have to decline. I quite enjoy my time off 🙂

  23. Michelle

    These look absolutely amazing. Sadly, neither of my children will eat mac and cheese, but I could so see doing this for a fun adult barbecue, too. And using the KRAFT items on rollback at Walmart to make it all more affordable? Even better #client

    • Chris

      Thanks Michelle! Your kids don’t eat mac and cheese?! How can that be?! Oh well, all the more for the adults 🙂

  24. Tina

    Um, what??? Mac n’ cheese on a hot dog??? This makes me think you are some kind of diabolical culinary genius ;p