Budget Meals Using Hot Dogs During Hard Times

Budget meals can be easily made using our old favorite, hot dogs. Almost everyone loves a traditional hot dog with chili and onions, and you can purchase them in any variety or price point. Kosher hot dogs are even available. Turkey hot dogs provide a healthy alternative. But during hard times, good old hot dogs can be a starting point for many family-pleasing meals.

To start with, you can serve traditional hot dogs using a good canned chili. My family actually prefers Kroger canned chili to the expensive roll variety I had purchased when my grocery budget was more flexible. You can also do a twist on this and serve more people by fixing a Hot Dog Pan.....Place dogs in buns in an oven-proof pan. Cover in chili. Canned actually works best for this. Cover with sharp shredded cheese; if you only have sandwich cheese, you could use it. Then crumble corn chips over the top and bake for a few minute, time depends on your oven. Just watch it carefully for burning. You want it hot and the cheese melted. There is no need to cook it for a long time. You slice it and serve it, and you can stretch your hot dogs this way. If you don't have enough for everyone to individually be served. I serve this with Cole slaw.

You can do a great casserole. One I like is made with macaroni and cheese in the box. You can use the cheapest. Prepare your macaroni, and cut up hot dogs in it. Add some onion powder, mustard and Worchester Sauce. Cover with cheese, sprinkle with seasoning salt and bake. You can do this on the stove to save turning on your oven, if you desire, or in your rice cooker.

You can do pig in blankets using canned biscuits or homemade ones. Cut the hotdogs in half, wrap in a biscuit and bake. Serve with gourmet mustard. I make my own with regular cheap mustard and white vinegar. I just add a tiny bit of vinegar and stir.

Another rather traditional budget meal is hot dogs and sauerkraut. You just heat it all up on the stovetop. If you want, you can cut the dogs and fry them a little in butter before adding to kraut.

I personally love a hot dog wrapped with a slice of sandwich cheese in a tortilla shell. Microwave in a damp napkin.

Another good dish is using hot dogs in cocktail wiener recipes. I bring these sometimes to parties. You can use bottled barbecue sauce if you want that sort of flavor. I mix a sweeter sauce with ketchup and grape jelly, and chili powder. Start by adding hot dogs cut in thirds to a crock-pot. Cover with Ketchup, adding grape jelly to taste. You will probably use a one part jelly to four parts ketchup. Or just add your favorite barbecue sauce. Allow to heat.

Canned beans and wieners are a favorite budget meal item. But, you can make better ones at home . Add two tablespoons ketchup and one tablespoon of mustard to a cheap can of pork and beans. Also add sugar, brown or white, onion powder, salt and pepper. Add hot dogs and top with bacon if desired. Bake at around 400 or 425.

You can make budget meals during hard times using hot dogs.