Is carrot healthy for dogs

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

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Carrot Dogs

These easy and delicious carrot dogs are pure vegan magic! Its our favorite vegan hot dog recipe, a long-time reader favorite, remarkably simple to make, and the marinade uses common pantry staples. Theyre 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; youll be shocked youre 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 do you make a carrot taste like a hot dog?! We wondered that toountil we took the leap and tried our hand at this elusive carrot dog craze.

Weve been in love 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 thats only going to slightly kind of mayyybe resemble the regular hot dogs you once loved.

If youve 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*

Why I Love Carrot Dogs

I promise your skepticism will vanish with that first bite. At least, it did with mine, and Im 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.

Thats what hot dogs were to me, and thats 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.

Ingredients for Vegan Carrot Dogs

Youll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. In this section, well go through some key ingredients notes to make sure you achieve the best results!

For the marinade ingredients, youll need:

For the carrot dogs, youll need:

Large carrots Peeled and cut to the length of your hot dog buns. Youll also want to use your peeler to shape the raw carrots into that real hot dog shape. This is a major game-changer! You want to choose carrots on the thinner side, but ultimately, you want to choose carrots of equal size, so they cook evenly super important!
Hot dog buns Check ingredients to ensure vegan friendliness. Many brands are accidentally vegan

Substitutions and Variations

This recipe is fairly standard, and we recommend making substitutions only if absolutely necessary. Here are our best tips for substitutions / additions!

If youd like a little sweetness to balance out the flavors, feel free to add a touch of maple syrup.

For the onion powder: You can swap garlic powder for onion powder or use half and half. A touch of mustard powder can be nice too!

For the liquid smoke: A smoky BBQ sauce or steak sauce could also work.

For the vinegars: You can swap white vinegar or white wine vinegar for the rice vinegar easily. I would try to keep the ACV though!

For the smoked paprika: You can use regular paprika, but if you do, I wouldnt skip the liquid smoke!

For the soy sauce: Feel free to use coconut aminos, liquid aminos, low-sodium soy sauce, or tamari for the soy sauce.

How to Make Carrot Dogs

So, now that Ive gotten all sentimental (and hopefully convinced you a bit ), lets talk about how youre going to make this carrot dog recipe:

First, youll peel and shape your carrots.

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

Cut them down to bun size, peel them, and use your peeler tocarve your ends into a rounded shape.

This 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, youll boil em at a rolling boil.

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), youre 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 youve had some unsuccessful tries with carrot dogs in the past, a great troubleshooting step is to play with the cooking time.

From here on out, its pretty easy.

Youll mix up your marinade, pour it over the carrots, and let them sit in the fridge for 24 hours. This means youll 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.

Theres 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!

When its time to cook the carrot dogs, youll brown them 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.

Another option is to use a grill pan which is fantastic for achieving those classic grill marks on the cooked carrots.

How to Serve a Carrot Hotdog

Finally, throw em 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!

Carrot Hot Dog Toppings:

More Summer Cookout Recipes:

So, the only question left to ask yourself is: When are you going to make this epic vegan carrot dog recipe, and with what fun delicious-ness are you going to top them?!

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 youre not already following along, were @theplantpowercouple with the the.

We cannot wait to hear what you think!

Carrot Dogs

Brittany Roche

These easy and delicious carrot dogs are pure vegan magic! Theyre 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; youll be shocked youre eating a carrot!

Prep Time 1 day d 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 1 day d 40 minutes mins

For the carrot dogs:

4 large carrots
4 hot dog buns check ingredients to ensure vegan friendliness

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.
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.
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 saut 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!
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.

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

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Vegan Carrot Hot Dogs

Published: Mar 18, 2024 by Shane Martin This post may contain affiliate links.

Vegan Carrot Dogs taste like the real deal and are the perfect plant-based alternative to regular hot dogs! Easy and perfect for the grill.

The first time I heard about carrot dogs was in a moment of temptation. I was having a serious hot dog craving but hated store-bought veggie dogs. What was I going to do?

I tried a few recipes I had found on the internet, but nothing satisfied my taste buds. After a little trial and error, I finally created a carrot dog recipe, and this is the finished product.

My kids tried them and flipped out, so I knew we had something special.

Last year, I decided to bring these vegan carrot dogs to our first family summer cookout. There were a few laughs and insults at first. But, I was completely unprepared for everyones reaction. They could not believe they were eating carrots.

Things got really good when they tried myclassic potato saladandbaked beans. Is there any better picnic combination? I think not!

If you have never tried carrot hot dogs, prepare to be amazed! Perfect texture, flavor, and pure cookout delight.

Ingredients youll need for this carrot dog recipe

Packed with flavor and nutrients, these savory delights are perfect for vegans and omnivores alike looking for a healthy alternative to traditional hot dogs.

For the carrot dogs

Orange carrots: medium-sized carrots are about the size of a real hot dog. And you dont waste much when cutting and peeling.
Favorite hot dog buns or rolls:I enjoy my carrot dog on a toasted hot dog bun.

Marinade ingredients

Braggs Liquid Aminos:You may also low-sodiumsoy sauceor coconut aminos.
Low-sodium vegetable broth:Water is an option, but veggie broth adds to the savoriness and flavor.
Vinegar:I prefer rice vinegar because I think it helps bring out the marinades hot dog flavor. But apple cider vinegar and white vinegar are both excellent options.
Maple syrup:Date paste, date syrup, or preferred sweetener.
Liquid smoke:I love the smoky flavor of using liquid smoke. But you can leave it out if you find it too intense.
Spices:Smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper.

How to make vegan carrot dogs

You can make carrot dogs in two ways: Instant pot and stovetop. I prefer to use my Instant Pot because the pressure cooker infuses the marinade flavor into the carrots quickly.

Instant Pot

Add all of the marinade ingredients to a small bowl andwhisk.
Cut off the ends of the carrots. Use a vegetable peeler to peel and shape them like a hot dog.
Pour the marinade into the Instant Pot, add the carrots, and cook carrots for 2 MINUTES! Once the Instant Pot is finished, manually release the pressure and remove the carrot dogs. Cook on a hot grill or nonstick grill pan for 2-3 minutes per side until you see grill marks. You can also cook on a nonstick pan over medium heat.

Stovetop

Add the raw carrots to a large pot of water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil the carrots for 10-15 minutes or until they are fork-tender.
While the carrots boil, add the marinade ingredients to a small bowl and whisk. Set aside.
When carrots are ready, remove them from the boiling water and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking.
Add the carrots to the marinade in a gallon-sized freezer bag or airtight container. Set the marinated carrots in the fridge and let them rest for at least two hours, but overnight for the best results.
Preheat a nonstick pan over medium heat and cook the carrot dogs for 2-3 minutes per side. Cook a little longer if you want to get those char marks.

Hot dog toppings

Like a traditional hot dog, you can enjoy your carrot dog on a bun with mustard. But I think we can do a little better than that. Here are a few of my personal favorites:

What are some of your favorite toppings for dressing up your vegan carrot dog?

Variations

Get creative with your dogs by recreating classic regional favorites. Heres how:

Chicago-Style Carrot Dogs:sliced tomatoes, chopped white onion, sweet pickle relish, sport peppers, yellow mustard, dill pickle spear, celery salt, and poppy seeds.
New York-Style Carrot Dogs:spicy brown mustard,sauerkraut, and onions.
Coney Island Carrot Dog:coney chili sauce, yellow mustard, diced raw onion, andshredded vegan cheddar cheese.
Slaw Dog:coleslaw,chili, diced raw onion, yellow mustard.
Seattle Dog:cream cheese, grilled onions, jalapeos, and sriracha.
Gluten-free:Wrap your dog in a collard leaf instead of using a bun if youre watching those carbs.

For something creative and delicious, you can use your slow cooker to whip up theseBBQ Little Smokiesusing baby carrots. They are great for parties and gatherings, especially during the holidays.

Pro tips for making tasty carrot dogs

Save the carrot shavings andpickle them. Theyre great for topping sandwiches, salads, or even these vegancarrot dogs.
Dont overcook the carrots, or theyll turn to mush. Cooking time on the stovetop is a general guide. Be sure to keep an eye on them until they are fork tender.
Do not use a steamed carrot to make carrot dogs. They tend to get very soft and dont hold up well in the marinade.
Baste your carrot dogs with steak sauce while grilling for extra flavor. Amazing!

Storage

Leftover carrot dogs can be placed in an airtight container and stored in thefridge for up to 3-4 days. Store the leftover marinade in a jar with a tight-fitting lid for making future carrot dogs. It can be kept in the refrigerator for several days.

Vegan Carrot Dog FAQs

Can I freeze carrot dogs?

No, they dont freeze well.

Do carrot dogs really taste like hot dogs?

I havent had a normal hot dog in a long time, but from what I remember, they taste just like a hot dog. One thing is for sure: there is absolutely no carrot taste.

How long do I need to boil carrots for dogs?

10-15 minutes seems to be the sweet spot, but that is simply a guide. Watch the carrots as they boil; once they are fork-tender, they are ready.

What do I serve with carrot dogs?

Here are some of my favorite side dishes to serve with these delicious dogs!

If you make this recipe, be sure to let me know!Leave a comment,RATE IT, andtaga photo#shaneandsimpleon Instagram.

Vegan Carrot Hot Dogs

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 56 reviews

Vegan Carrot Dogs taste like the real deal and are the perfect plant-based alternative to regular hot dogs! Easy and perfect for the grill.

Author: Shane Martin
Prep Time: 5 mins.
Cook Time: 15 mins.
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4 dogs 1x
Category: Party Food
Method: Instant Pot
Cuisine: Vegan, American
Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale

Instructions

Make The Marinade

Pour all ingredients into a bowl and whisk to combine.

To Cook In Instant Pot

Preheat grill.
Place carrots in your Instant Pot, pour the marinade over the carrots, and cook for 2 minutes.
Once the carrot dogs have finished cooking in the Instant Pot, use the quick release, remove them from the Instant Pot and throw them onto the grill. Cook the carrot dogs for 2-3 minutes per side or until you get those really cool grill marks. You can use leftover marinade to baste carrot dogs as they cook.
Remove your dogs and serve on your favorite hot dog bun or roll fixed any way you like.
If you dont plan on eating your carrot dogs right away remove them from the Instant Pot and store in the fridge with the marinade until you are ready.

If You Dont Have An Instant Pot

Boil carrots for 8-10 minutes or until fork tender. YOU DONT WANT THEM MUSHY! Then, drain and rinse them under cold water to stop them from cooking.
Put the carrots in a gallon freezer bag or airtight container and pour the marinade over the carrots. Let them marinate in the fridge for at least 2-3 hours, but overnight will yield the best results.
Remove and follow the grill procedure mentioned above.

Dont Want To Grill?

Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat.
Add carrots, dogs, and cup of marinade to skillet. Cook for 6-8 minutes or until most, if not all, of the marinade has evaporated.
Serve immediately.