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    You are here: Home / Entrees / Smoky & Delicious Carrot Dogs

    LAST UPDATED: May 28, 2022 • FIRST PUBLISHED: May 28, 2022

    Smoky & Delicious Carrot Dogs

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Carrot Dogs

    Yes, that's right: carrot dogs! Marinated grilled carrots served on a bun with your favorite toppings. They don't taste like hot dogs, but they're absolutely delicious. Packed with smoky flavor and perfect for cookouts!

    Carrot Dogs

    No, I didn't invent this concept. In fact, they've been a pretty big thing for a few years now, and I resisted them like crazy. I had better ideas, like tofu dogs and portobello dogs. And while I stand by those other types of vegan hot dogs, I can now also tell you this: carrot dogs are delicious!

    Jump to:
    • What Do Carrot Dogs Taste Like?
    • Ingredients You'll Need
    • How They're Made
    • Leftovers & Storage
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Vegan Grilling Recipes
    • Smoky & Delicious Carrot Dogs

    What Do Carrot Dogs Taste Like?

    Three Carrot Dogs Without Toppings on a Wooden Surface

    First, let me tell you what they don't taste like. Hot dogs. These pups aren't fooling anyone (not that my tofu dogs or mushroom dogs are).

    A carrot dog tastes like a big smoky carrot on a bun. Kind of hard to imagine, I know! The flavor isn't all that different from a hot dog, though it's got a bit of extra carroty sweetness in there.

    The texture is definitely not like that of a hot dog — carrot dogs are soft and tender.

    Ingredients You'll Need

    Two Carrot Dogs on a Plate with Bowl of Ketchup and Water Glass in the Background
    • Carrots. Although any carrots will do, big fat ones work best for this recipe. A trip to the farmer's market will be worth your time!
    • Water.
    • Soy sauce. Liquid aminos or gluten-free tamari can be substituted if needed.
    • Red wine vinegar. Feel free to substitute another type of vinegar, such as apple cider or white vinegar if that's what you have on hand.
    • Maple syrup. Other liquid sweeteners such as agave or coconut nectar will also work.
    • Liquid smoke. Look for this near where the barbecue sauce is sold at the grocery store.
    • Smoked paprika.
    • Onion powder.
    • Garlic Powder.
    • Oil. The recipe calls for canola oil, but any high heat oil will do. You could use vegetable oil, peanut oil, or corn oil, among others!
    • Hot dog buns. Check the ingredients list to ensure they're vegan!
    • Hot dog toppings. This is the fun part! Ketchup, mustard, relish, guacamole, refried beans, and vegan chili are a few of my favorites!

    How They're Made

    The following is a detailed photo tutorial on how to make this dish. Scroll all the way down if you'd like to skip right to the recipe!

    • Start by trimming and peeling your carrots. You want to cut each one to about the length of a hot dog bun, then peel it. If you'd like, you can even peel it so it's nice and even in thickness and has rounded edges like a hot dog!
    Six Peeled Carrots on a Cutting Board
    • Boil your carrots. Cover them with water, place the pot over heat and boil the carrots until they're just tender. Don't overdo it! If they get too soft they'll fall apart when you marinate and/or grill them.
    • Drain the carrots and rinse them under cool water when they're done.
    Carrots Boiling in a Pot of Water
    • Now mix up your marinade ingredients: water, soy sauce, red wine vinegar, maple syrup, liquid smoke, smoked paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder.
    • Place the carrots into a shallow dish and pour the marinade over them. Let them soak at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours.

    Tip: You can let your carrots marinate longer if you'd like, but I don't recommend going over 24 hours or they'll start to get soggy. Make sure to stick them in the fridge if you soak them for more than 2 hours.

    Side By Side Images Showing Steps for Marinating Carrot Dogs: Mix Marinade and Pour Over Carrots
    • After they've soaked for a bit, you can grill your carrot dogs. Use an outdoor grill, indoor grill, or a grill pan like I'm using in the photos. Your choice! You could probably even just use a regular skillet if you don't care about those cool looking lines.
    • Drizzle some reserved marinade over your carrot dogs while they grill.

    Tip: I like to drizzle a little extra marinade over my carrot dogs while they grill.You only need to grill your carrot dogs briefly to heat them up and maybe char them a bit. They're already cooked, and overdoing it will cause them to come out mushy.

    Side By Side Images Showing Two Stages of Grilling Carrot Dogs
    • When they're done, stuff your dogs into buns and pile on your favorite toppings.
    Three Carrot Dogs Topped with Ketchup, Mustard, Sauerkraut and Jalapeno Slices on a Wooden Surface

    Leftovers & Storage

    Carrot dogs are best served immediately, but if you do have leftovers they'll keep in a sealed container in the fridge for about 3 days.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can carrot dogs be made gluten-free?

    Yes! Just use gluten-free buns and gluten-free tamari in place of soy sauce.

    Can I use the marinade to make a second batch?

    I don't see why not! Just make sure to store it properly until you're ready to use it. It should be good in the fridge for at least a week or in the freezer for at least 3 months.

    What sides go well with carrot dogs?

    They go great with classic vegan side dishes like vegan baked beans, vegan coleslaw, vegan corn muffins, or vegan pasta salad!

    More Vegan Grilling Recipes

    • Grilled Tofu
    • Tofu Satay with Peanut Sauce
    • Tempeh Ribs
    • Mexican Grilled Corn
    • Barbecue Tofu Sandwiches

    Like this recipe? If so, please stop back and leave me a review and rating below if you try it! Also be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram, or subscribe to my newsletter for more recipes like this one!

    Two Carrot Dogs on a plate with onions, hot peppers, ketchup and mustard on top.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print

    Smoky & Delicious Carrot Dogs

    Yes, that's right: carrot dogs! Marinated grilled carrots served on a bun with your favorite toppings. They don't taste like hot dogs, but they're absolutely delicious. Packed with smoky flavor and perfect for cookouts!

    Course Entree
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Marinating Time 1 hour
    Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
    Servings 6
    Calories 139 kcal
    Author Alissa Saenz

    Ingredients

    • 6 large carrots
    • ½ cup water, plus more for boiling the carrots
    • ¼ cup soy sauce
    • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
    • 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • High-heat oil, for grilling
    • 6 hot dog rolls
    • Toppings of choice
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    1. Peel and then trim each carrot to about the length of a hot dog bun. If you'd like, you can peel it to an even thickness and round the edges to make it resemble a hot dog.

    2. Place the carrots into a large pot and cover them with water. Place the pot over high heat.

    3. Bring the water to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer the carrots until just tender (not mushy). This should take between 10 and 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of your carrots.

    4. Carefully drain the carrots and rinse them under cold running water.

    5. To make the marinade, stir the water, soy sauce, vinegar, maple syrup, liquid smoke, smoked paprika, onion power, and garlic powder together in a small bowl.

    6. Place the carrots in a shallow dish and pour the marinade over them. Let the carrots soak for 1 to 2 hours.

    7. After the carrots have finished soaking, lightly oil and heat an indoor or outdoor grill to medium, or lightly oil and place a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.

    8. Grill the carrot dogs for about 2 minutes on each side, until lightly charred and tender.

    9. Stuff the carrot dogs into rolls and top with toppings of choice.

    10. Serve.

    Nutrition Facts
    Smoky & Delicious Carrot Dogs
    Amount Per Serving (1 carrot dog with bun)
    Calories 139 Calories from Fat 13
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 1.4g2%
    Saturated Fat 0.1g1%
    Sodium 606mg25%
    Potassium 255mg7%
    Carbohydrates 32.2g11%
    Fiber 7.7g31%
    Sugar 9.4g10%
    Protein 5.6g11%
    Calcium 74mg7%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    About Alissa Saenz

    Hi, I'm Alissa! I'm a former attorney turned professional food blogger. I love creating vegan recipes with bold flavors! You can read more about me here.

    I'd love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.

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    Comments

    1. Aj says

      August 24, 2020 at 6:23 pm

      If you want it to taste like a hot dog, boil it.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Alissa! I'm a former attorney turned professional food blogger. I love creating vegan recipes with bold flavors!

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