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The Best easy vegan carrot hot dog recipe ever

The best vegan carrot hot dogs recipe ever – smoky, golden on the outside, tender, and juicy on the inside. These vegan carrot hot dog recipe makes the best, loaded and incredibly tasty vegan carrot dogs. 

I know, I know…vegan carrot dogs that actually taste like regular hot dogs sound too good to be true. But somehow it’s true. Through the magic of a few ingredients and a marinade that’s just the right amount of smoky and sweet, these carrot hot dogs are tasty, mouthwatering and so similar to regular hot dogs that it’s almost impossible to understand. But the truth is, we don’t really need to understand it. We just need to enjoy the serendipity of this gloriously smoky, tender, and irresistible carrot hot dog that’s totally vegan and still tastes like a regular hot dog without the carrot taste. Mind blown. In the best way possible.

We are talking big flavors, perfect for summer cookouts, as a game day recipe and a delicious easy vegan dinner that the whole family and all their friends will enjoy. These tasty gluten-free plant based hot dogs will satisfy your taste buds and make it onto your favorite delicious recipes summer list. 

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Smoky vegan carrot hot dogs without liquid smoke

I’ve been making the AMAZING carrot hot dogs for years, but I haven’t shared them before because I feel like there are already so many carrot dawg recipes out there that the world probably didn’t need mine. But due to numerous requests (and lots of begging from friends and family to share this recipe because “these are the best carrots hot dogs I’ve ever had”), I finally decided to share my vegan carrot hot dogs with you. 

In this blog 

Ingredients to make carrot hot dogs

How to make carrot dawgs in an air fryer 

Easy way to make carrot hot dogs with a microwave 

How to make carrot hot dogs on the grill

A simple way to make carrot dogs in an instant pot 

The best hot dog toppings 

FAQS – all you carrot dawgs questions answered 

Key Ingredients to make easy smoky vegan carrot hot dogs (without liquid smoke)

Carrots – it sounds impossible that a humble carrot can be transformed into a juicy tender hot dog sausage through the magic of cooking and the right marinade ingredients…it shouldn’t be able to happen, but somehow it does. It helps to use uniform carrots that are similar size to get evenly cooked carrot dawgs. Otherwise, you will have to keep an eye on your carrots to make sure some aren’t overcooked while the rest are too chewy. Getting the right tender bite to your carrot hot dogs is the key to a vegan hot dawg that’s so good everyone will be wanting more…and these tasty vegan hot dogs made with simple ingredients are just as good as classic hot dogs.

A good fluffy bun – in my opinion, a lot of what makes a hot dog good is using a soft and fluffy hot dog bun. I recommend either baking your buns or using good quality hot dog bread because you will be able to tell the difference.

Seasoning – we’re working with smoked paprika to create a smoky bun that has the same hint of flavor as regular dawgs. 

Marinade – getting a vegan carrot dog that’s irresistibly good and can rival all traditional hot dogs is all down to this simple dressing or marinade. By combining soy sauce, maple syrup, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and olive oil you get a marinade that’s smoky, and sweet and will make your humble carrots gloriously golden, with a hint of smoky goodness and a note of sweetness that’s irresistibly good. You can also marinade in BBQ sauce and sesame oil for a gloriously smoky vegetarian hot dog that’s amazingly smoky from the first bite. Or you can add a chili sauce along with your favorite barbecue sauce and make these tasty vegan carrot dogs into the best vegan chili dogs. Yum.

Optional extras to jazz up your vegan carrot hot dogs

Optional extra – for an extra luxe cheesy carrot dog you can top your carrots with your favorite vegan cheese 5 minutes before the carrots are done cooking. Add a little nutritional yeast to take the vegan carrot hot dogs to the next level. Let the cheese melt over the carrots and become golden and delicious.

How to make easy carrot hot dogs in an instant pot in minutes 

Toss the raw carrots in oil and seasoning and place carrots in the bowl of your instant pot and cook on MANUAL for 3 minutes. Use the quick release and allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes or so.

Then just grill the carrot dogs on a hot pan or grill for a few minutes on each side to brown them. That’s it. Your dawgs are ready to serve up enveloped in fluffy hot dog buns topped with all your favorite hot dog toppings.

How to make carrot hot dog sausages in an air fryer 

Cut the carrots to make them bun-length. Peel if necessary (for very new fine-skinned carrots I don’t usually peel, but if the skin is a little thicker the carrots turn out better when peeled). 

Place a baking sheet or basket in the air fryer and add the carrots.

In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, soy sauce, smoked paprika, maple syrup, onion powder, and salt. 

Pour the dressing on top of the carrots and toss to coat. 

Bake the carrots at the highest temperature for 35-40 minutes, tossing twice halfway through baking and once more 5 minutes before they are done. When tossing the last time, top with the vegan cheese if you’re using it.

Once the carrots are baked golden and they’re fork tender, remove them from the air fryer.

Make your hot dogs and add all your favorite hot dog toppings. Enjoy your new loaded hot dog that’s just as good as regular hot dogs.

Making easy vegan carrot dawgs on the grill

Cut the carrots to make them bun-length. Peel if necessary (for very new fine-skinned carrots I don’t usually peel, but if the skin is a little thicker the carrots turn out better when peeled). 

Boil the carrots in hot water for 15 minutes or until they are tender when you stick a fork in them. 

Remove the carrots from the water and place them in a ziplock bag. Add the olive oil soy sauce, smoked paprika, maple syrup, onion powder, and salt. Close the bag and toss the ingredients around inside to coat the carrots. Leave to rest for 5 minutes or until you are ready to grill.

Heat the grill and grill the marinated carrots for 2 minutes on each side or until they are golden brown. Bast with the remaining marinade in the ziplock bag occasionally if needed.

Make your hot dogs and add all your favorite hot dog toppings. Enjoy.

How to make vegan carrot hot dogs with the microwave 

Place the carrots in a microwave-safe dish with 4 tablespoons of water. Cover with a plate or lid and microwave on high for about 3 minutes. Check for doneness with a fork. Microwave in 30-second intervals until desired tenderness. Drain the water.

Remove the carrots from the water and place them in a ziplock bag. Add the olive oil soy sauce, smoked paprika, maple syrup, onion powder, and salt. Close the bag and toss the ingredients around inside to coat the carrots. Leave to rest for 5 minutes or until you are ready to grill.

Heat the grill and grill the marinated carrots for 2 minutes on each side or until they are golden brown. Bast with the remaining marinade in the ziplock bag occasionally if needed.

Make your hot dogs and add all your favorite hot dog toppings. Enjoy.

The best hot dog toppings 

Ketchup – can you really make a hot dog without ketchup? Not in my world. 

Salsa – for a more sophisticated adult version of ketchup say hello to the salsa. I like to make my favorite easy salsa and top it generously on my hot dogs.

Guacamole – mixing the humble hot dog with guacamole? Yes, please. 

Mayonnaise – use your favorite creamy mayonnaise or your favorite vegan cheese sauce. Yum.

Sriracha – for more spice sriracha is always a good hot dog topping idea

Mustard – the classic mustard is a can’t go wrong hot dog topping. Use a sweet and mild mustard for a light flavor kick, or add a spicy mustard for extra punch.

Pickled things – make these as a grilled carrot hot dog with tangy slaw. Or use pickled onions, relish pickled red cabbage, or even sauerkraut. Pickled ingredients are always a great topping option.

Onions – Caramelized soft onions, crispy golden onions, pickled onions, or fresh thinly sliced onions. Yum.

Sweet chili sauce – is one of my favorite hot dog toppings. Sweet chili sauce is a fresh, flavorful, and tasty topping.

Chili – pickled or fresh chili adds spice and bite as a topping.

Cheese – add your favorite cheese toppings for a deluxe hot dog topping.

What to serve with hot dogs

Hot dogs can be eaten just as is with all your favorite toppings, or they can be served with a delicious salad and fries. Here are some of my favorite hot dog sides

FAQs about vegan hot dogs 

Can I make carrot hot dogs in advance?

Yes. These carrot dogs are great made in advance. Just pre-boil or bake the carrots and store them in the refrigerator in a sealed airtight container or ziplock freezer bag for up to 3 days. Reheat or grill before serving.

Are carrot hot dogs freezer safe?

Yes. You can easily freeze your carrot dawgs for 3-4 months. Just defrost in the refrigerator and reheat or grill before serving.

How many calories are in vegan hot dogs

There are around 125 calories per hot dog, depending on the toppings you use.

Amazing easy carrot hot dogs recipe

The best easy carrot hot dogs – smoky, golden on the outside, tender, and juicy on the inside. These vegan hot dawgs are incredibly tasty. 
I know, I know…carrot hot dogs that actually taste like regular hot dogs sound too good to be true. But somehow it’s true. Through the magic of a few ingredients and a marinade that’s just the right amount of smoky and sweet, these carrot hot dogs are tasty, mouthwatering and so similar to regular hot dogs that it’s almost impossible to understand.
Course gluten-free, Vegan Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword vegan dinner
Prep Time 8 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 125kcal
Author Simone – Munchyesta.com

Ingredients

  • 6-8 large Carrots evenly sized
  • 3 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 tbsp Soy Sauce or Tamari
  • ½ tbsp Smoked Paprika
  • 2 tbsp Maple Syrup
  • ½ tsp Onion Powder
  • ½ tsp Salt
  • ½ cup Vegan Cheese optional

Instructions

How to make carrot hot dogs in an air fryer

  • Cut the carrots to make them bun-length. Peel if necessary (for very new fine-skinned carrots I don’t usually peel, but if the skin is a little thicker the carrots turn out better when peeled). 
  • Place a baking sheet or basket in the air fryer and add the carrots.
    In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, soy sauce, smoked paprika, maple syrup, onion powder, and salt. 
    Pour the dressing on top of the carrots and toss to coat.
  • Bake the carrots at the highest temperature for 35-40 minutes, tossing twice halfway through baking and once more 5 minutes before they are done. When tossing the last time, top with the vegan cheese if you’re using it.
    Once the carrots are baked golden and they’re fork tender, remove them from the air fryer.
    Make your hot dogs and add all your favorite hot dog toppings. Enjoy.

Making easy vegan carrot dawgs on the grill

  • Cut the carrots to make them bun-length. Peel if necessary (for very new fine-skinned carrots I don’t usually peel, but if the skin is a little thicker the carrots turn out better when peeled). 
  • Boil the carrots in hot water for 15 minutes or until they are tender when you stick a fork in them. 
  • Remove the carrots from the water and place them in a ziplock bag. Add the olive oil soy sauce, smoked paprika, maple syrup, onion powder, and salt. Close the bag and toss the ingredients around inside to coat the carrots. Leave to rest for 5 minutes or until you are ready to grill.
  • Heat the grill and grill the marinated carrots for 2 minutes on each side or until they are golden brown. Bast with the remaining marinade in the ziplock bag occasionally if needed.
    Make your hot dogs and add all your favorite hot dog toppings. Enjoy.

How to make vegan carrot hot dogs with the microwave

  • Place the carrots in a microwave-safe dish with 4 tablespoons of water. Cover with a plate or lid and microwave on high for about 3 minutes. Check for doneness with a fork. Microwave in 30-second intervals until desired tenderness. Drain the water.
  • Remove the carrots from the water and place them in a ziplock bag. Add the olive oil soy sauce, smoked paprika, maple syrup, onion powder, and salt. Close the bag and toss the ingredients around inside to coat the carrots. Leave to rest for 5 minutes or until you are ready to grill.
  • Heat the grill and grill the marinated carrots for 2 minutes on each side or until they are golden brown. Bast with the remaining marinade in the ziplock bag occasionally if needed.
    Make your hot dogs and add all your favorite hot dog toppings. Enjoy.

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