Chili Cheese Pretzel Bites
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 45-50 bites
 
All of your favorite chili cheese dog flavors stuffed into a mini homemade soft pretzel -- perfect for football season!
Ingredients
Pretzel Dough
  • 1 package active dry yeast
  • 1 ½ cups warm water
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 12 cups water
  • Heaping ⅔ cup baking soda
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon water
Chili Filling
  • ½ pound ground sirloin
  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • 1 cup red beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced
  • 4 teaspoons chili powder
  • 4 tablespoons ketchup
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon water
Cheese Sauce
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ¼ cup beer of your choice
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
  1. In the bottom of a stand mixer, combine water, sugar and salt. Sprinkle yeast over. Let set for 5 minutes until foamy. Add in flour and melted butter. Using the dough hook, mix the dough until combined on a low speed, Increase the speed to medium and mix for 5-7 minutes until dough becomes smooth and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
  2. Rinse bowl off and then grease with canola oil. Place dough in 1 hour.
  3. While the dough rises make filling. In a medium non-stick skillet, cook ground sirloin, onion and garlic. Once beef has browned and onion is soft, add beans, chili powder, ketchup, cumin, salt and water. Cook another 1-2 minutes
  4. Once the dough has risen, cut dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll dough into a rope 1-inch thick. With a sharp knife, cut into 1-inch bites. Using your palm, flatten the bite and fill with one heaping teaspoon of the chili. Close dough around chili and re-form into the pretzel bite shape, if needed, roll to smooth edges. Repeat with remaining dough.
  5. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Bring a large stock pot to a rolling boil. Add baking soda. Working in batches as necessary, add bites to the boiling water. Cook for 1 minute, flipping halfway through.
  6. Transfer pretzels to a greased baking sheet. Whisk egg and water together in a small bowl. Brush pretzels with egg wash and then sprinkle with pretzel or kosher salt.
  7. Bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes.
  8. While the pretzel are baking, making the sauce. Melt butter in a small sauce pan over a medium heat. Whisk in flour. Cook for 1 minute. Add in hot milk and salt. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer until thickened, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cheese. Season to taste with salt.
  9. Serve pretzel bites with cheese sauce.
Recipe by Cooking for Keeps at https://www.cookingforkeeps.com/chili-cheese-pretzel-bites/