Vegan/Vegetarian Hot Dog Recipes

Hot dogs are an American staple. When it comes to summer grilling, standing around bonfires or around a baseball field, hotdogs are usually the main meal. Unfortunately, hot dogs aren’t the best for you. Most contain an excess amount of sodium and fat.  When comparing a regular style hotdog at 770 mg of sodium to a veggie dog at 330 mg of sodium, the veggie dog seems much more appealing. They taste great too!

Here are a few recipes that will spruce up the nutrition facts of a hot dog and be suitable for vegans and vegetarians all over! Don’t worry meat eaters, you’ll enjoy these too.

1. Chicago veggie style

Ingredients:

Vegan veggie dogs (I prefer to use Lightlife SmartDogs brand)

1 Dill Pickle

3 slices of tomato

½ yellow onion diced

1 tbsp. Sweet relish

2 Sport peppers

1 Poppy seed bun

Dash of celery salt

Mustard

Place veggie dogs on a aluminum foil lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. While the veggie dogs are cooking, dice the yellow onion into small pieces and slice tomatoes into thin, half circles. Once the veggie dogs are done, put your dog in the bun, add a bit of mustard, the rest of the toppings and a pickle spear and you’re all set! Finish with a dash or two of celery salt. There you have it. Veggie dogs Chicagoan style!

2. Asian Inspired Veggie Dog

Ingredients:

Favorite style veggie dog

½ yellow onion chopped

1 tbsp. olive oil

2 tbsp. soy sauce

1 package dried seaweed

2 tbsp. vegan mayonnaise (I prefer Vegenaise)

1 tsp. wasabi paste

Sriracha

This isn’t your average Asian cuisine. Put your veggie dogs in the oven. Add about a tablespoon of olive oil into your pan and turn on heat to medium. Dice your onions and add them to the pan. Sauteé until the onions are soft and translucent. Add about two tablespoons of soy sauce to deglaze the pan and let your onions cook until softer and brown. Add two tablespoons of vegan mayonnaise to a bowl, then add half of a teaspoon of wasabi paste and mix well.  Once your veggie dogs are done you’re ready to assemble! Spread the vegan mayonnaise and wasabi mix onto each inner side of your hot dog bun. Add the hot dog, then your onions. Add a bit of Sriracha and sprinkle your seaweed on top!

3. Classic Chili Cheese Dog

Ingredients:

Favorite style veggie dog

1 pack of favorite brand meatless ground

½ yellow onion chopped

¼ c. vegan cheddar cheese (My favorite is Daiya brand vegan cheese!)

1 tbsp. olive oil

Place veggie dogs in the oven. Add about 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and add your meatless ground. Sauteé until warmed all the way through. Dice half of your yellow onion. That’s it! Place your dog in the hot dog bun; add a sprinkle (or three) of Daiya vegan cheese, then the meatless ground and your onion. Grab a beer and you’ve got an all American meal.