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    Make It Skinny Please » Recipes » Main Dishes » Carrot Dogs

    Published: Jun 29, 2022 · Modified: Oct 5, 2022 by Toni Dash · 7 Comments

    Carrot Dogs

    Weight Watchers Points1
    Calories: 51kcal
    Carbs: 11g
    Protein: 1g
    Fats: 0.3g
    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    carrot dogs on cutting board with toppings.

    Smoky, slightly sweet Carrot Dogs are a delicious addition to any summer gathering. Perfect for those who want to skip the meat or are looking for a lower calorie solution for a hot dog craving. These veggie dogs are a perfect addition to your summer cookout with natural ingredients are great flavor!

    carrot dogs on cutting board with toppings.

    Yes, carrot dogs are 'a thing'. There's a good reason they've become popular! Vegan carrot dogs have become a trendy replacement for a traditional hot dog. They truly taste amazing!

    You know what else they are good for? Less calories than regular hot dogs but with the same flavors. Who would guess humble carrots could transform into a flavorful, satisfying replacement for hot dogs?

    They'll excite your taste buds with zero guilt.

    It can be difficult to figure out hot dog options when watching calories or for guests needing a vegan recipe. This cooked carrot recipe checks those boxes. The marinated carrots have a delicious flavor of the marinade with some carrot taste too.

    It's a great way to get some hot dog flavor using healthy plant whole foods instead of the real thing. An awesome recipe for game day without any animal products!

    Do these really taste like hot dogs?? They DO! The smoky flavor is amazingly delicious.

    Use this carrot dog recipe whenever you'd make a regular grilled hot dog recipe.

    Jump to:
    • What makes this skinny?
    • Recipe Ingredients Notes
    • How to make Carrot Dogs
    • Expert Tips
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    •  How to Store
    • More recipes you'll love!
    • Recipe

    What makes this skinny?

    • A beef and pork hot dog (without a bun) has 162 calories and an all beef hot dog (without a bun) has 186 calories. A large carrot has 30 calories. The net calorie savings is significant.
    • Though the carrots are marinated, most the marinade is not absorbed by the cooked carrots so will not be included in the calorie count.
    • Adding a bun and toppings are optional and should be factored into your tracking is appropriate. With the low calories of these amazing carrot dogs splurging on a bun is totally doable. There are a number of lower calorie or low carb buns to choose from too.

    Recipe Ingredients Notes

    carrot dogs labelled ingredients.

    You'll find these ingredients at regular grocery stores.

    Carrots. Choose carrots that are similar in thickness to a real hot dog; medium carrot size. The raw carrots will be peeled and trimmed to fit in a hot dog bun before cooking. You can make 6 to 8 carrots with this amount of marinade.

    Liquid Smoke. This seasoning is available with other spices. It is made from condensing the smoke from burning wood and tastes like that smoky flavor when grilling.

    Soy sauce. Regular or gluten-free soy sauce or tamari can be used. Low-sodium soy sauce can be substituted if desired.

    Vegetable broth. This gives more flavor and volume to the marinade.

    Maple syrup. Use real maple syrup. Adds some sweetness to the other seasoning flavors.

    Apple cider vinegar. Adds some tanginess.

    Mustard powder. Use dry mustard powder.

    Hot dog toppings ideas:

    Think of these as you would regular hot dogs and add what you love:

    • hot dog buns
    • ketchup
    • mustard (yellow mustard, spicy mustard, Dijon mustard)
    • diced red onion or green onions
    • sliced or chopped fresh tomatoes
    • pickle relish or pickles
    • bbq sauce (this can be loaded with sugary calories so choose wisely)
    carrot dogs in buns in a line.

    How to make Carrot Dogs

    STEP 1. Preparation

    Peel the carrots and cut them into the length of the hot dog buns you are using (if using buns).

    carrot dogs recipe steps 1-4.

    STEP 2. Boil carrots

    Bring a pan of water to a rolling boil. Place carrots in the pan of boiling water and cook carrots until they are fork tender (the fork can just poke into the carrots) aproximately 10-15 minutes; do not over boil.

    Remove from heat and drain the carrots. Rinse with cold water or place the carrots back in the pan with cold water or ice water until they are cool to the touch (this stops the cooking process which will continue when they are off the heat).

    STEP 3. Marinate

    In a small bowl combine the marinade ingredients: liquid smoke, soy sauce, vegetable broth, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, mustard powder and onion powder. Whisk to combine and dissolve the spices.

    Pour marinade into a gallon ziplock freezer bag and add the carrots. Seal and place in the refrigerator to marinate for 5 hour or overnight.

    carrot dogs recipe steps 5-8.

    STEP 4. Grill

    Reserve the leftover marinade for basting. Place carrots on a hot grill (medium-high heat) just to warm through and get grill marks. Or use a cast iron grill pan on the stove top.

    STEP 5. Serve

    Serve these vegan carrot hot dogs as you would with regular hot dogs in a bun with favorite toppings.

    carrot dogs in buns overhead close up.

    Expert Tips

    Do not over boil the carrots. The carrots should just be fork tender, meaning you can stick a fork into them but they are not mushy. You'll want some firmness in the carrot hotdog for best results. After marinating they will cook a bit longer on the grill or grill pan too.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What size carrots are best for making carrot dogs?

    Though any size will work large carrots that are the thickness of a hot dog are the the best choice to best replicate real hot dogs. Try to find carrots that aren't too tapered at the end (but any carrots will work).

    Can I marinate the carrots longer than 5 hours?

    Yes! In fact marinating them overnight will give an even stronger flavor. Do not lessen the marinating time however because the carrots won't have enough flavor.

    Can I make these with baby carrots?

    You can make mini carrot dogs with baby carrots. The boiling time will be less (fork test them for doneness) and we would recommend using a cast iron grill pan after marinating to heat them through and get grill marks instead of an actual grill. Great for appetizers!

    carrot dogs in buns overhead.

     How to Store

    Store cooked carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat when serving. Leftover cooked carrots can also be sliced and added to salads without heating them.

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    • Roasted Carnival Squash (Oven + Air Fryer methods)

    Recipe

    carrot dogs in buns on cutting board.

    Carrot Dogs

    Weight Watchers Points1
    Click to track Weight Watchers Points
    Smoky Carrot Dogs are amazingly delicious and a great low calorie vegan replacement for regular hot dogs. Marinated in a delicious combination of seasonings then grilled or cooked in a grill pan. Add them to a bun and load them up with favorite toppings.
    5 from 58 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Vegan
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Marinating time (minimum): 5 hours
    Total Time: 5 hours 25 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 51kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    Equipment

    grill pan

    Ingredients

    • 8 medium to large carrots
    • 2 teaspoon Liquid Smoke
    • 2 tablespoon soy sauce regular or gluten-free soy sauce or tamari
    • ¾ cup vegetable broth
    • 2 tablespoon pure maple syrup
    • 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon mustard powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder

    For serving (suggestions; all optional)

    • 8 Hot Dog Buns
    • Ketchup
    • Mustard
    • Red Onion diced
    • Green Onion chopped
    • Tomatoes sliced

    Instructions

    • Peel and cut carrots to the length of a hot dog bun.
    • Bring a pan of water to a rolling boil. Boil the carrots until fork tender (you should be able to poke a fork into them without them being mushy), approximately 8-15 minutes depending on carrot size.
    • Drain pan and rinse carrots under cold water until they no longer feel warm to the touch (or place in ice water bath). This stops the cooking process.
    • In a small bowl combine the marinade ingredients: liquid smoke, soy sauce, vegetable broth, maple syrup. apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, dry mustard powder and onion powder. Whisk to combine and dissolve the spices.
    • Add the marinade to gallon freezer ziplock bag or airtight container that allows the carrots to be submerged. Add the carrots.
    • Marinate the carrots in the marinade mixture in the refrigerator for at least 5 hours,
    • When ready to eat, warm the carrots through on a medium-high grill or in a hot cast iron grill pan. This will give them grill marks too.
    • Serve on hot dog buns (optional) with any desired toppings.

    Notes

    Nutrition Facts and Weight Watchers Points note
    • The nutrition calculation is for the carrots and marinade. Because most of the marinade is not consumed the calories and Weight Watchers Points should be slightly lower (zero).
    • Buns and toppings not included in the calculation.
    Serving size
    Up to 8 carrots can be made with this amount of marinade. Fewer carrots can be made with the same amount of marinade.
    Expert Tip
    Do not overcook the carrots. They should be fork tender so they still have some structure but not mushy.
    How to Store
    Store cooked carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat when serving. Leftover cooked carrots can also be sliced and added to salads without heating them.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 51kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 393mg | Potassium: 261mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 12075IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 0.4mg
    Tried this recipe? Please share it!Mention @MakeItSkinnyPlease or tag #MakeItSkinnyPlease!
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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutritional Coach and certified Weight Loss Specialist, writer/blogger, photographer, chief recipe developer and creator of Make It Skinny Please. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her slimmed down recipes using real food ingredients bring excitement to the dining table and never taste like 'diet food'. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Amanda Wren-Grimwood says

      June 29, 2022 at 9:05 am

      5 stars
      What a great idea! Cooking the carrots in advance really works with time and the marinade is so tasty too.

      Reply
    2. Erin says

      June 29, 2022 at 8:48 am

      5 stars
      What a creative idea! I've never heard of carrot dogs but now I want to try them. The flavors sound amazing!

      Reply
    3. Holley says

      June 29, 2022 at 8:40 am

      5 stars
      These carrot dogs are genius! They taste amazing and I could eat more than one without the guilt!

      Reply
    4. Mari says

      June 29, 2022 at 8:31 am

      5 stars
      I am not a big fan of hotdogs, but to be fair, you got me intrigued with this vegan alternative. The photos makes them look really appetizing and all those flavors and spices going on are enough to make me want to try this recipe. 😲

      Reply
    5. Katie says

      June 29, 2022 at 8:29 am

      5 stars
      Such a clever alternative! I know a lot of friends that would be into this.

      Reply
    6. Janessa says

      June 29, 2022 at 8:24 am

      5 stars
      I absolutely love this idea! Carrot dogs are a great alternative for hot dogs!

      Reply
    7. Michelle says

      June 29, 2022 at 8:10 am

      5 stars
      What a fantastic twist on hot dogs! Thanks for the tip on not overcooking them, gotta watch them carefully!

      Reply

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I'm a Certified Nutrition Coach and NASM certified Weight Loss Specialist. I'm excited to share Classic Recipes made more calorie friendly using real food!

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