Best Vegan Carrot Hot Dogs
These perfectly smoky and sweet Carrot Hot Dogs are incredible and perfect for summertime cookouts and gatherings. Who knew that carrots could make a delicious vegan hotdog that is fantastic on the grill!
Okay, my confession is that, though I love raw carrots, I have never cared for cooked carrots much. That is until these carrot dogs came into my life. No kidding, these things have completely changed my mind about cooked carrots!
Carrot hot dogs
Before I even begin to explain how to make grilled carrot 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. That is until now!
Ingredients needed
- Carrots- Choose carrots that are similar in width to a hotdog.
- Soy sauce- Tamari is a great option for those needing gluten-free.
- Maple syrup- Other sweeteners will also work.
- Liquid smoke- Be sure not to skip the liquid smoke because it add so much flavor.
- Seasonings- Spices like ground mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika combine to make the perfect seasonings.
The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.
What does a carrot hot dog taste like?
Carrot dogs look very similar to hot dogs when they are in a bun, but people will definitely be able to tell they are different when they take a bite. They are similar in flavor due to the smoky and sweet seasonings, but the texture is different.
My family and friends that I’ve served them to have all raved over the taste. They absolutely love it. But, they are not going to fool anyone into thinking they are a regular traditional hotdog.
Are they healthy?
Absolutely! Made with carrots and seasonings, what’s not to be healthy about these delicious vegan hot dogs. Carrot dogs are full of fiber, beta carotene, and even about a gram of protein.
How to make carrot dogs
Choose 6-8 carrots that are about the diameter of a hotdog. Wash them and then peel. Some folks have asked if they can just leave the peels on, and the answer is yes you can.
Marinating carrots
In order for carrots to marinate, they need to be softened first in order for the marinade to seep in and give them lots of flavors.
Boil or steam the 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. The marinade recipe was inspired by PCRM’s Carrot Dog Recipe and Pass the Plants.
Remove carrots from boiling water and place them 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 are 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 a whole grain bun (or gluten-free) and top with your favorite toppings.
If you would like to make your own ketchup for this recipe, check out my 10-Minute Vegan Ketchup recipe.
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
I have to say that my homemade Vegan Cheese Sauce is really a must for these vegan hot dogs. It’s really simple to make and so good with other dishes like pizza, nachos, lasagna, baked potatoes, and more.
Tips for making carrot hot dogs
- Carrot size- 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.
- Cook time- Don’t overcook when boiling. Less is more. They cook relatively fast in about 5-7 minutes in boiling water.
- Marinate- 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.
- Grilling- Handle gently when grilling and allow them to get those lovely grill marks.
- Cooking method- 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 them 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.”
Frequently asked questions
- Q: Can these be made without liquid smoke? Yes, they can, though I haven’t tried it. I’ve heard that adding add two teaspoons of smoked paprika in place of the liquid smoke works too.
- Q: How long should these be marinated? The longer the better. They need to marinate at least 3 hours or so but overnight is even better.
- Q: Can these carrot dogs be frozen? I haven’t personally frozen them, but some followers have told me they freeze them in the marinade and they do well.
- Q: Where do you find oil-free hotdog buns? Some oil-free hotdog bun options include Ezekiel, Silver Hills, and Trader Joe’s whole wheat pita bread brands.
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
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Grilled Carrot Hot Dogs
Ingredients
- 6-8 carrots that are around the size of a hotdog
- 6-8 whole grain or gluten-free buns
Marinade Ingredients
- 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 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/-1-2 teaspoon liquid smoke
- ¼ teaspoon ground mustard
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon 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.
Video
Notes
- Q: Can these be made without liquid smoke? Yes, they can, though I haven't tried it. I've heard that adding add two teaspoons of smoked paprika in place of the liquid smoke works too.
- Q: How long should these be marinated? The longer the better. They need to marinate at least 3 hours or so but overnight is even better.
- Q: Can these carrot dogs be frozen? I haven't personally frozen them, but some followers have told me they freeze them in the marinade and they do well.
- Q: Where do you find oil-free hotdog buns? Some oil-free hotdog bun options include Ezekiel, Silver Hills, and Trader Joe's whole wheat pita bread brands.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
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.
About Terri Edwards
Hi guys! I am the content creator behind EatPlant-Based and a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. I am passionate about sharing healthy recipes and tips to empower others to get healthy. I’m so glad you’re here! Read More…
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.
Love love my carrot hotdogs…..I made a large batch can i freeze them for enjoying later?
Hi Vanessa- I love these carrot dogs. So glad you do too! I haven’t frozen them for later but see no reason why they wouldn’t do just fine.
I will start off by saying that I have been shying away from trying a carrot dog for probably a year and a half. Like you, I love raw carrots but am not particularly a fan of cooked. I made these tonight and daaaaang! Super impressed. My 8 year old son also loves them. Definitely a new summer staple around here. Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Hi Allison- That’s AWESOME! So glad to hear that these were a hit at your house.
These are so delicious! They might be making it into my weekly rotation for the next year!
Chantry- Awesome! For the WIN!
These are delicious. I marinaded them (6″L x 3/4″-1″D) in the fridge for about 1 1/2 days. As they were already tender from marinating I cooked them in the IP just to get them to pressure than quick released, then grilled them on a cast iron griddle on the stove.
My family was pleasantly surprised by how good the carrot dogs were and said they would definitely eat them again. 🙂 I used the Instant Pot method and was pleased with how easy they were to make. I only used 2 T of coconut aminos because I have to watch my salt, but they were plenty tasty anyway. I think they’ll be on a regular rotation. One thing I plan on doing is making sure to serve baked beans or something with protein along side them. I also thought of maybe making this with baby carrots and then coating them with homemade BBQ sauce. Thank you for the nice recipe and the inspiration.
Aimee- Yay! I love that this recipe will be going into your family’s meal rotation. That says a whole lot! I actually have a recipe for crockpot bbq little smokies using baby carrots for this recipe that you might want to try.