Name: Grilled Carrot Hot Dogs
Prep time: 2 h
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 2 h 7 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: American
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

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!

carrot hot dogs topped with vegan chili cheese sauce and slaw

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!

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How to make grilled carrot hot dogs

Choose 6-8 carrots that are about the diameter of a hotdog. Wash them, then peel.

peeled carrots on red cutting board — Wash and peel carrots that are about the size of a hotdog.

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.

boiling carrots for hot dogs — Make sure not to overcook in this step. You want them just very slightly tender.

While the carrots are cooking, whisk together all of the marinade ingredients.

vegan carrot dog marinade ingredients in bowls on countertop

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.

cooked carrots marinating in pan for vegan hot dogs

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

carrot dogs on wooden slab with potato chips

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.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to my favorite Amazon products. If you purchase via my links, I may make a small percentage at no cost to you. Thanks for supporting my content.

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.

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Recipes that go well with carrot dogs

Plant-Based Vegan Starter Kits $27

Vegan Plant Based Starter Kit — Click the photo above to see Starter Kit options and content. Choose which book comes in your kit. $27 plus tax and shipping in the US.

Grilled Carrot Hot Dogs

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 2 hours

Cook Time: 7 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 7 minutes

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: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 165 Total Fat: 2g Trans Fat: 0g Fiber: 3.6g Protein: 6g

To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

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