Hot Dogs, Baked Beans & Mac n Cheese
A quick, easy comfort-food meal made with hot dogs, baked beans, and creamy macaroni and cheese. It’s simple, filling, budget-friendly, and a family favorite!
Try this Baked Bean recipe next! Nothing like homemade 🙂
The Kind of Recipe You’ll Make Again
Not every recipe needs to be complicated to be good.
Sometimes the best meals are the ones you can throw together quickly with ingredients you already have. This hot dogs, baked beans, and macaroni and cheese recipe is warm, cheesy, filling, and comforting—and it takes hardly any effort.
So the next time you’re staring into the pantry wondering what on earth you’re going to make for dinner, remember this little combination.
Three ingredients. One pot for the noodles and hot dogs. A quick warm-up for the beans.
Dinner is done!
And honestly, that’s a pretty good kind of recipe to have in your back pocket.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
There is something wonderfully nostalgic about a bowl of creamy macaroni and cheese mixed with sliced hot dogs and sweet, savory baked beans.
Here are a few reasons this recipe is worth trying:
- Only 3 main ingredients
- Ready in about 20 minutes
- Budget-friendly
- Kid-friendly
- Perfect for busy weeknights
- Uses easy-to-find pantry and refrigerator staples
- Minimal cleanup
And let’s be honest, sometimes you just want dinner to be easy!
What You Need
You don’t need anything complicated for this recipe. Grab a package of your favorite hot dogs, a can of baked beans, and a box of macaroni and cheese.
Hot Dogs
Use whatever hot dogs your family likes. Beef, pork, turkey, or your favorite brand will all work. Since the hot dogs are boiled and then cut into bite-sized pieces, they’re incredibly easy to prepare.
Baked Beans
Any canned baked beans will work, but country-style baked beans are my favorite for this recipe. They add a sweet and savory flavor that goes perfectly with the macaroni and cheese and salty hot dogs.
Macaroni and Cheese
Use your favorite boxed macaroni and cheese. There’s no need to make homemade macaroni and cheese for this recipe unless you want to. The goal here is easy comfort food, and boxed mac and cheese gets the job done beautifully!
How to Make Hot Dogs, Baked Beans and Macaroni and Cheese
1. Cook the macaroni and hot dogs
Prepare the macaroni and cheese according to the directions on the box. While the noodles are cooking, boil the hot dogs in the same pot with the noodles.
It’s one less pot to wash, and we are always looking for ways to make dinner—and cleanup—a little easier!
2. Heat the baked beans
While the macaroni and hot dogs are cooking, warm the baked beans in a small saucepan over medium heat.
You don’t need to do anything fancy here. Just heat them until they’re nice and warm.
3. Drain and cut the hot dogs
Once the noodles and hot dogs are finished cooking, drain them well. Remove the hot dogs and cut them into bite-sized pieces.
This is where you can make the pieces as big or as small as you like. Personally, bite-sized pieces make it much easier to get a little bit of everything in every bite!
4. Finish the macaroni and cheese
Prepare the macaroni and cheese according to the package directions.
Give it a good stir until it’s creamy and cheesy.
5. Add the hot dogs and baked beans
Now comes the fun part!
Add the chopped hot dogs and warm baked beans to the macaroni and cheese. Give everything a good stir until the ingredients are evenly combined.
And that’s it!
Scoop it into bowls, grab a fork, and dig in.
What Kind of Baked Beans Should I Use?
I usually reach for country-style baked beans, but you can use whatever kind you have in the pantry.
Regular baked beans, barbecue-style baked beans, maple baked beans, or even a slightly spicy variety can all work.
Believe it or not, I mixed in apple pie flavored baked beans one time, and it was sooooo good!
This is one of those recipes where you really don’t have to follow the rules.
Can I Use Homemade Macaroni and Cheese?
Absolutely!
While boxed macaroni and cheese keeps this recipe quick and easy, homemade mac and cheese would be delicious, too. If you already have leftover homemade macaroni and cheese in the refrigerator, this is a great way to turn it into a completely different meal.
Easy Variations
Want to switch things up? Try one of these simple ideas:
Add extra cheese: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top while everything is still warm and let it melt.
Try different hot dogs: Use beef hot dogs, smoked sausage, kielbasa, or another favorite sausage instead.
Make it spicy: Add a little hot sauce, diced jalapeños, or spicy baked beans.
Use leftover mac and cheese: This recipe is a great way to give leftover macaroni and cheese a second life.
A Great Budget-Friendly Family Dinner
One of my favorite things about this recipe is how inexpensive it is.
You don’t need a refrigerator full of ingredients or a complicated grocery list. A package of hot dogs, a can of baked beans, and a box of macaroni and cheese can turn into a hearty meal that feeds the family without breaking the bank.
It’s also a great recipe to keep in mind for those nights when you look at the clock and realize it’s almost dinner time, and you haven’t even thought about what you’re making yet.
We’ve all been there!
What to Serve With It
Honestly, this meal is filling enough to serve all by itself. But if you want to add something on the side, try:
- Green salad
- Steamed broccoli
- Corn on the cob
- Coleslaw
- Pickles
- Fresh fruit
A simple vegetable or fresh side balances out the rich macaroni and cheese and makes the meal feel a little more complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can prepare the components ahead of time and combine them when you’re ready to eat. Keep leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container and reheat thoroughly before serving.
Absolutely. Use whatever hot dogs your family enjoys. Beef, turkey, pork, or other varieties will all work.
Country-style baked beans are my favorite because they have a sweet, savory flavor that works especially well with the macaroni and cheese and hot dogs. However, any canned baked beans can be used.
Yes! The familiar flavors and simple ingredients make this an especially kid-friendly meal. It’s also easy to adjust the ingredients based on what your family likes.
Definitely. Leftover mac and cheese works wonderfully in this recipe. Simply warm it up, add the chopped cooked hot dogs and heated baked beans, and stir everything together.
Hotdogs, Beans & Mac n Cheese
Ingredients
Method
- Cook the macaroni and cheese: Prepare the macaroni and cheese according to the instructions on the box.
- Cook the hot dogs: While the macaroni noodles are cooking, boil the hot dogs in the same pot with the noodles.
- Heat the beans: While everything cooks, heat the baked beans in a small saucepan over medium heat until warmed through.
- Drain and cut the hot dogs: Once the noodles and hot dogs are finished cooking, drain well. Cut the hot dogs into bite-sized pieces.
- Make the macaroni and cheese: Finish preparing the macaroni and cheese according to the package directions.
- Combine everything: Add the chopped hot dogs and warmed baked beans to the macaroni and cheese. Stir until everything is well combined.
- Serve: Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Country-style baked beans are our favorite for this recipe, but any variety of baked beans will work.
- You can use your favorite brand of hot dogs and macaroni and cheese.
- This is an especially easy meal when you need something quick with ingredients you already have on hand.
Some meals are fancy. Some meals require a long list of ingredients and an hour in the kitchen. And then there are the meals that just work.
This easy hot dogs, baked beans, and macaroni and cheese recipe is one of those meals. It’s simple, inexpensive, filling, and downright comforting. You only need three main ingredients, and the whole thing comes together in about 20 minutes!
If you’re looking for an easy family dinner, a quick weeknight meal, or just something that reminds you of the simple meals you grew up eating, this one deserves a spot on your menu.
