Carrot Dogs

This is the BEST carrot dog recipe. It’s simple to make, and the marinade uses common pantry staples. Both the flavor and texture are so mind-blowing; you’ll be shocked you’re eating a carrot! #vegan #carrotdog #carrots #vegetarian #plantbased

These easy and delicious carrot dogs are pure vegan magic! It’s our favorite vegan hot dog recipe, a long-time reader favorite, remarkably simple to make, and the marinade uses common pantry staples. They’re perfect for a summer cookout and make a fun lunch for both kids and adults alike! Both the flavor and texture of these plant-based hot dogs are so mind-blowing; you’ll be shocked you’re eating a carrot!


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Turning CARROTS into HOT DOGS?!  Oh, yes we did! 

The carrot dog recipe is one of those ridiculous myths you think will NEVER work.

I mean, how the hell do you make a carrot taste like a hot dog?!  We wondered that too…until we took the leap and tried our hand at this elusive carrot dog craze.  

We’ve been hooked ever since.

And please, please know I am not some health freak on a mission telling you to waste your time preparing some sub-par vegetable substitute that’s only going to slightly kind of mayyybe resemble the hot dogs you once loved. 

If you’ve spent any length of time with us here at Plant Power Couple, you know that is so not how we operate.

No, my friends. This vegan carrot dog recipe is the real deal.

But if this is your first time making or even hearing of carrot dogs, you might have to exercise some trust with us on this.

*puts hand out for you to hold it*

This is the BEST carrot dog recipe. It’s simple to make, and the marinade uses common pantry staples. Both the flavor and texture are so mind-blowing; you’ll be shocked you’re eating a carrot! #vegan #carrotdog #carrots #vegetarian #plantbased

Why I Love Carrot Dogs

I promise your skepticism will vanish with that first bite. At least, it did with mine, and I’m someone who was a pretty big fan of hot dogs in my omnivorous days. 

In fact, it was a big tradition for my dad and me to attend Dollar Dog Night at Phillies games during this time of year, so (even though this sounds kind of silly when I put it in words), hot dogs are one of those foods with which I have a really strong emotional connection.

We all have them, right? The weird but delicious tuna casserole your mom made every week, that chicken noodle soup you still crave every time it rains…. 

That’s what hot dogs were to me, and that’s why I was super serious about finding a more ethical version that would still allow me to enjoy those classic ballpark flavors I loved and the fond memories that come with them. 

It just so happens that I found this perfect vegan hot dog in a carrot dog recipe. Weird, but true, and oh so very good.

How to Make Carrot Dogs

So, now that I’ve gotten all sentimental (and hopefully convinced you a bit 😉), let’s talk about how you’re going to make this carrot dog recipe:

First, you’ll peel and shape your carrots.

Carrot Dogs, step 1: Use a vegetable peeler to peel and shape your carrot dogs. Cut them down to bun size, peel them down so they're an even texture throughout, and round off the edges to make them look like hot dogs!

We like to use our hot dog buns as a guide here. 

Cut them down to bun size, peel them, and use your peeler to”carve” your ends into a rounded shape. I use a peeler like this with a nice comfortable grip that makes shaping the dogs a lot easier unlike those sharp peelers from my childhood that I swear I still have nightmares about.

Shaping the carrots is totally optional but HIGHLY recommended, as it does make these carrot dogs look even more creepily (or rather, awesomely) like a classic ballpark dog.

Next, you’ll boil ’em.

The boiling time will depend on the thickness of your carrots, but it should be somewhere between 10-15 minutes. 

When you can put a fork in them with the tiniest bit of resistance (but before they start falling apart), you’re good to go! This is the part that CAN take a few tries to get the hang of. It certainly did for us. 

So, if you’ve had some unsuccessful tries with carrot dogs in the past, a great troubleshooting step is to play with the cooking time. 

How to make carrot dogs, steps 2 and 3: Place carrots in boiling water and boil for 13-17 minutes or until fork-tender. Mix the marinade in a glass measuring cup. Marinate carrots in marinade for 24 hours.

From here on out, it’s pretty easy.

You’ll mix up your marinade, pour it over the carrots, and let them sit in the fridge for 24 hours. This means you’ll need to plan a little in advance. 

Marinating time is another crucial element to nailing this carrot dog recipe. 24 hours is usually where we find the flavor sweet spot, but they can go up to two days. Just be forewarned, the hot dog flavor will get stronger with time. 

There’s another troubleshooting tip though: If the carrots have too strong (or weak) a flavor for your taste, play with that marinating time!

Time to cook the carrot dogs!

This incredible carrot dog recipe is almost too good to be believed, until you try it that is! :) It's a simple, easy, vegan recipe that will really surprise you with how spot-on it tastes! // plantpowercouple.com

You’ll brown ’em up in a saute or cast iron pan with a few Tablespoons of the leftover marinade. 

The cast iron pan is IDEAL for this because it helps get those perfect slightly charred sides with a little caramelization from the marinade. Heaven.

This is the BEST carrot dog recipe. It’s simple to make, and the marinade uses common pantry staples. Both the flavor and texture are so mind-blowing; you’ll be shocked you’re eating a carrot! #vegan #carrotdog #carrots #vegetarian #plantbased

Carrot Dog Topping Ideas

Finally, throw the carrot dogs in some buns and top them with alllll your favorite toppings.

Go crazy here. One of the things we love about this carrot dog recipe is how fun it is to top them.

Providing a variety of fun toppings can be a great idea for families or gatherings too. Everyone can have fun making it their own!

Here are some of our favorite topping ideas:

Vegan Hot Dog Wine Pairing

This may seem silly, but if you’ve been watching our IG Live series this summer, you’ll know how much we’ve been enjoying learning how to pair wine with our meals – especially something as fun (read NOT fancy) and unexpected as a hot dog, or in this case, a carrot dog!

The wine you choose to pair with your carrot dog really depends on the toppings you’re using!

If you’re more of a sauerkraut + mustard kinda person, a German white wine like this Dry Riesling or this Gewurztraminer is REALLY fun.

If you’re a traditional straight ketchup kinda person (or ketchup AND mac and cheese – YUM), I’d suggest an easy-drinking red wine like this Beaujolais!


So, the only question left to ask yourself is: When are you going to make this epic vegan carrot dog recipe, and how are you going to serve it?!

Whatever it is and whenever you try it, let us know!

Rate the recipe and leave a comment below or tag us in all your carrot dog creations on Instagram. We LOVE it when you do that! If you’re not already following along, we’re @theplantpowercouple with the “the”.

And if you want to be sure you never miss a Plant Power Couple recipe, don’t forget to sign up for our email list.

We cannot wait to hear what you think!

Yield: 4 carrot dogs

Carrot Dogs

These easy and delicious carrot dogs are pure vegan magic! They’re a long-time reader favorite, remarkably simple to make, and the marinade uses common pantry staples. Both the flavor and texture are so mind-blowing; you’ll be shocked you’re eating a carrot!

24 hr, 20 Prep Time:

20 minCook Time:

24 hr, 40 Total Time:

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4.9 based on 7 review(s)

Recipe Image

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. First, shape and boil your carrots: Bring a medium pot of water to a rolling boil. Peel the carrots and cut the ends off, so they are able to fit into the bun. We also like to use our peeler to round off the ends of the carrots, making them look more like hot dogs. Add them to the pot and boil for about 10 -15 minutes. The time will vary depending on the thickness of your carrots. When you can easily stick a fork in them (but before they're falling apart), they're ready. Remove carefully with tongs.
  2. While the carrots boil, make the marinade: In a shallow dish, whisk together all the ingredients. When ready, add your boiled carrots, cover, and set in the fridge to marinate for 24 hours.
  3. Finally, make and serve: Pull your dogs out of the fridge and heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add a Tbsp of refined coconut oil and allow it to melt (sub veg broth for oil-free). Add your carrots carefully along with 3 Tbsp of the marinade and sauté them for about 5 – 10 minutes, rolling them around often. You want the outsides to get a little charred, so it really looks like a hot dog. Serve your carrot dogs in buns immediately with ALL the toppings!
  4. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. We suggest reheating them in a saute pan, covered, with a Tbsp or two of the marinade.

Notes

If you dig this recipe, you'll probably love our Carrot Dogs in a Blanket recipe. Check it out; they're perfect for parties!

7.8.1.2
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https://www.plantpowercouple.com/recipes/carrot-dog-recipe/

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This is the BEST carrot dog recipe. It’s simple to make, and the marinade uses common pantry staples. Both the flavor and texture are so mind-blowing; you’ll be shocked you’re eating a carrot! #vegan #carrotdog #carrots #vegetarian #plantbased

49 thoughts on “Carrot Dogs

  1. What a great recipe! Can you tell me if they freeze well, either before or after cooking them? Thank you!
    1. Hi, Shawna, thanks so much! Hmmm, we haven't attempted to freeze them, but I would be concerned about the texture of the thawed carrot. If you do give it a try, let us know how it goes!
  2. I really liked these! Thanks for the great recipe! I might try baby carrots to be like cocktail weinners.
  3. Do you need to consume immediately after cooking? Or could I make some ahead 1-2 hours before company arrives? Thanks!
    1. Hi, Kelly! Apologies for having missed this comment. For anyone else who is wondering the same thing: I think you could probably cook them ahead of time and then reheat them on the skillet or even a grill before serving. You definitely want them to be warm when served! Hope it worked out well for you!
    1. They should be fine for as long as 2-3 days, but the flavor will intensify the longer they're in the marinade. I happen to really like them with a stronger flavor, but others have said it was too much. So, it depends on your preference!
  4. Hi. Should I discard the marinade after each use? I made a batch yesterday and I want to make some more (delish). Do I need a fresh start?
    1. Hi, Deja. So sorry we're just seeing your question. First, we're very glad you liked the recipe, and as to your question: If you're making another batch the very next day, it should be fine. I'd probably reduce the number of carrots just a bit because you'll have less marinade. You could also just "top off" the first batch with small amounts of fresh ingredients to make up the difference. Hope this helps for the future, and again, sorry for the delay.
  5. Randomly saw this recipe and Oh my! Can't wait to try! But one question, in Texas liquid smoke comes in a variety of 'flavors', i currently have the mesquite flavor. Does it matter or should it be a 'plain' liquid smoke? Thanks!
    1. Hi there, Arielli. I just checked the one we have, and it's hickory "flavored." I think you could get away using the mesquite. You're really just looking for that salty/smoky/sweet combination. Hope that helps!
      1. Hi, Julie! I prefer cooking them and then reheating on the grill myself. I also like to put on one of those trays that decreases the gaps between (or a veggie tray or foil) so the they (hopefully) don't fall through. Hope this helps!
  6. I made these carrot dogs tonight and they were delicious. My husband who is not fully vegan said he honestly would not know that it was not a hot dog. Thanks so much for the recipe.
  7. What if I didn’t let it marinate for 24 hours? Will it not taste as good? I forgot to start this yesterday. So it’ll only be in the marinate for an hour or so. 🤦🏻‍♀️
    1. Hi, Jaimie, sorry I'm just seeing this. As you may have found out, it requires a longer marinade so the flavor can really permeate the carrot. If it should happen to happen again, I'd recommend cooking the carrots in more of the marinade so it can develop as it cooks. Hope things worked out, and hope this helps.
  8. This sounds delicious I can’t wait to try! Only thing is I don’t have a cast iron pan only ceramic pans. Will that work? I was thinking of sautéing them for a bit in there then putting on my grill. What do you think?
    1. Hi, Angela! A ceramic pan should work just fine. It may take just a little longer to get the charring effect. Hope that helps! I'd love for you to let us know what you think when you make them!
  9. Excited to try these! But I forgot to add the liquid smoke and they’ve been marinading for almost 24 hrs already. How can I remedy this? Add the liquid smoke and marinade for another 24 hrs? Pan fry them in liquid smoke? Take them out of the marinade and place them in liquid smoke for 30 min-1hr?
    1. Sorry I am seeing this a few days later, Mimi. If it should happen again, I'd probably add the liquid smoke to the marinade for a few hours and saute the carrot dogs in the marinade to get as much flavor from it as you can. Hope things turned out okay for you.
    2. Let me tell you. I was so floored by this recipe. I made quite a few and they were gone by day 2. I loved these so much I recorded it and saved it and it has it's own highlight on my IG page. I loved that it was all savory and not sweet. Too many "smoky" recipes use maple syrup in the marinade. The carrots are already sweet and this recipe, if done correctly, hides just enough of the "carrotness" to make you believe you are eating a hotdog instead of a carrot. The fixings take it over the top. My non-vegan husband was thrilled. He wanted to keep eating them. I've been Vegan, just over a year and I can't thank you enough.
      1. I'm so very happy you liked the so much, Lisa! My non-vegan father also loves to eat these up, usually with the word "how?" between bites. LOL! But seriously, I'm very glad you both enjoyed them, and thank you for reaching out to let us know!
  10. Can you grill them instead of cooking in a pan or will you not get enough marinade while cooking? Would it be better to cook ahead and reheat on the grill?
    1. I prefer cooking them and then reheating on the grill myself. I also like to put on one of those trays that decreases the gaps between (or a veggie tray or foil) so the they (hopefully) don't fall through. Hope this helps!
  11. Try these tonight we liked them but they were way too salty should we cut back on the liquid aminos or not marinate them as long. I marinated them for 24 hours.
  12. Holy Hell - I seriously am going to serve this to my unknowing carnivore friends and wait for them to notice...or NOT! I had to put it down from the plate to send this memo, but it's delicious! I can't thank you enough for this recipe - please keep posting and I'll keep trying. Unbelievably AWESOME! P.S. I did mine with ketchup and mustard...
    1. HAHAHA! I'm so happy to hear how much you enjoyed them, Kasha! And thank you for taking time to reach out and let us know. I really appreciate that. Again, so glad to hear you liked them so much.
  13. Wow! What a treat. I actually pulled 2 carrots to cook at the 22 hour marinating mark and the flavor was really good. I will definitely make them again.
  14. These were delicious! Even my omnivore skeptic daughter liked them. We finished them on the charcoal grill and I topped mine with German mustard and sauerkraut

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