Okay, my confession is that, though I love raw carrots, I have never cared for cooked carrots much. That is until these grilled carrot hot dogs came into my life. No kidding, these things have completely changed my mind about cooked carrots!
The ultimate vegan hot dog
Before I even begin to explain how to make grilled carrot hot dogs, I have to admit that I really thought it was a dumb idea. Not only did I not care for cooked carrots, but a carrot hot dog, seriously?
The thing that made me finally try them is that my husband loves carrots any-which-way I make them, and I thought these would be a great treat for him. I’m telling you, the man LOVES carrots!
Truth is, I already had great recipes for vegan hamburger chili, cheese sauce, and coleslaw that would be the toppings, but there just weren’t any good vegan hotdog options. Until now!
These carrot dogs are…
- Amazingly delicious
- Inexpensive
- Easy to make
- Healthy
- Versatile with toppings
- Low-fat
- Hearty
- Simply fabulous!
How to make grilled carrot hot dogs
Choose 6-8 carrots that are about the diameter of a hotdog. Wash them, then peel.
Boil or steam carrots for 5-7 minutes, or until they are barely tender. You definitely don’t want a fork to be able to go through them, because you’ll be grilling them in the final step and don’t want them to fall apart.
While the carrots are cooking, whisk together all of the marinade ingredients.
Remove carrots from boiling water and place in a flat pan or container (or even a ziplock bag), then pour marinade over them. Cover with cling wrap or lid and place in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours. Quicker InstantPot instructions listed below.
Once fully marinated, place on grill for about 5-7 minutes. Make sure to get those great grill marks on each one and heat thoroughly. Place in whole grain bun (or gluten-free) and top with your favorite toppings.
RECIPE CARD BELOW
Grilled carrot dog topping ideas
- Vegan Chili
- Cheese Sauce
- Country Coleslaw
- relish
- onions
- grilled onions and peppers
- jalapenos
- beans
- salsa
- ketchup
- mustard
- Low-Fat Vegan Mayo
Some oil-free hotdog bun options include Ezekiel, Silver Hills, and Trader Joe’s whole wheat pita bread brands.
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Key tips for making grilled carrot hot dogs
- When choosing which carrots to use, make sure they are about the diameter of a hotdog and all about the same size. One that I used was a bit larger than the others, so it didn’t cook as quickly in the boiling water. My husband said he preferred the smaller diameter ones.
- Don’t overcook when boiling. Less is more. They cook relatively fast in about 5-7 minutes in boiling water.
- Marinating is necessary for soaking up the flavors, so don’t skip this step, even if you are using the InstantPot method. Longer is better.
- Handle gently when grilling and allow them to get those lovely grill marks.
- These can easily be made on the stovetop. Simply place the marinated carrots in a frying pan set on medium. Allow to brown on one side for 3-4 minutes. Turn them and allow to brown on the other side. Remove from heat and serve.
- Chuck with BrandNewVegan has easy InstantPot instructions. “Simply add your raw carrots and marinade to your Instant Pot and cook on MANUAL for 3 minutes.”
Recipe inspired by PCRM’s Carrot Dog Recipe.
Recipes that go well with carrot dogs
- Vegan Country Smoked Baked Beans
- Low-Fat Homemade Potato Chips
- Easy Black Bean Corn Salad
- Four Bean Salad
- Red Coleslaw
Plant-Based Vegan Starter Kits $27
Grilled Carrot Hot Dogs
Okay, my confession is that, though I love raw carrots, I have never cared for cooked carrots much. That is until these grilled carrot hot dogs came into my life. No kidding, these things have changed my mind about cooked carrots!
Ingredients
- • 6-8 carrots that are around the size of a hotdog
- • 6-8 whole grain or gluten-free buns
- • ¼ cup veggie broth
- • ¼ cup rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- • ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce (other options tamari or amino acids)
- • 2 Tbsp maple syrup
- • 1/-1-2 tsp liquid smoke
- • ¼ tsp ground mustard
- • ½ tsp smoked paprika
- • ½ tsp garlic powder
- • ½ tsp onion powder
Instructions
- Choose 6-8 carrots that are about the diameter of a hotdog. Wash them, then peel.
- Boil or steam carrots for 5-7 minutes, or until they are barely tender. You definitely don’t want a fork to be able to go through them, because you’ll be grilling them in the final step and don’t want them to fall apart.
- While the carrots are cooking, whisk together all of the marinade ingredients.
- Remove carrots from boiling water and place in a flat pan or container (or even a ziplock bag), then pour marinade over them. Cover with cling wrap or lid and place in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours. Quicker InstantPot instructions listed below.
- Once fully marinated, place on grill for about 5-7 minutes. Make sure to get those great grill marks on each one and heat thoroughly. Place in whole grain bun (or gluten-free) and top with your favorite toppings.
Notes
To speed the cooking time, simply place all marinade ingredients and peeled carrots into your InstantPot and cook on manual for 3 minutes. Once they are finished, hit the quick release and allow them to set for at least an hour or until you’re ready to grill them. Easy-peasy!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 165 Total Fat: 2g Trans Fat: 0g Fiber: 3.6g Protein: 6g
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I have never eaten a full-size carrot in my entire life…until these! Probably won’t eat them any other way, but this recipe made them FUN & DELICIOUS!!!
These look very good. I have seen many recipes for these, but they have really never appealed to me….think I am going to try yours! Just one question…..is it necessary to grill these? I do not have a grill pan.
Hallie, I’m so glad you’re going to try them! I seriously had my doubts too, but they are so good. You really don’t have to grill them. They can be made in a pan on the stove top by just heating them on medium high until they get a little brown. You could even cook them in oven on 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. Hope you enjoy them!
Do you have any grilling recommendations for cooking these on a grill where meat is cooked also? I’m the only plant based eater in my family🙄. These taste amazing but I want to grill. I tried them on foil and the kinda left black burn stuff on them which wasn’t good. Thanks for any ideas.
Barb, I would definitely put them directly on the grill without any foil. Having the grill marks on them is even better. Just place them directly on the grill and allow to brown a bit, then turn them to brown on the other side. It only takes about 5 minutes or so.
I’ve made these in the Instant Pot as we no longer have a grill. Three minutes and done! No need to marinate for several hours. I also freeze the leftover marinade from the pot abscess use later for more carrot dogs. The best marinade I’ve had so far!!
I love the idea for freezing the leftover marinade for later. Terrific idea!
Are the smoked seasonings a must? I’ve been kind of leery of using them.
Sue, I think they are a really important part of the flavor. However, if you’re already a fan of cooked carrots, it might be interesting to see how they turn out without the liquid smoke. Please let me know if you decide to try it.