Earl Cooks Chili Cheese Dogs in a Slow Cooker

Hamilton Beach Sous Vide/Slow Cooker

I really started this as a test of my newest gadget/appliance. Several months ago, I discovered Sous Vide (/suːˈviːd/; French for "under vacuum") cooking, especially for Steaks. I couldn't justify an immersion circulator, running a couple of hundred dollars, so after researching on You Tube and other sites, I was ready to try it with my Crock Pot, a thermometer and the steaks. It turns out that my wife much preferred this method which left the meat thoroughly cooked but not leather-like as she nomally would get it.  Move ahead 3 months or so and and I notice a Sous Vide appliance from Hamilton Beach that is under $60, that can be used as a Slow Cooker too! Well my birthday was coming soon, and my wife hates to shop for me so I told her I would get my own gift this year and she was ecstatic.

Well, moving on... I had used it to Sous Vide Steaks and Chicken and it worked very well, so the time had come to test it as a slow cooker. It doesn't have a "crock", rather a non stick metal liner. but it is rectangular rather than oval, which will be great for large roasts, brisket or corned beef and perfect for this recipe"

Slow Cooker Chili Cheese Dogs

Slow Cooker Chili Cheese Dogs

Ingredients

Jumbo Hot Dogs
Nalley's Hot Dog Chili Sauce (no bean chili will work too)
Mild Cheddar Cheese-shredded
Hot Dog Buns
1 Onion-chopped

Instructions

Set slow cooker to LOW
Spray with Pan Spray
Place Buns in bottom of cooker
Place Hot Dogs on top of buns
Allow to cook for 1 hour with lid on
Add Chili and onion
Allow to cook for 1 to 2 hours more
Top with cheese and allow to melt
Serve them up!

Results

I now know that as a Slow Cooker, this is not as gook as my Crock Pot, because of the lack of a crock. It is not intended to to absorb heat and release it later, so i would probably not use it again for this recipe. The Chili Dogs were very tasty and I would use a slow cooker to do it again