Uplevel hot dog night with this irresistible hot dogs and sauerkraut recipe! Topped with sauerkraut, caramelized onions, and grainy stone-ground mustard, these hot dogs are so much better than your average hot dog and ketchup combo! I guarantee you won't be able to stop at just one!
When you tire of the same ol' ketchup and mustard hot dog routine, give these unbelievably tasty grilled hot dogs topped with sauerkraut and caramelized onions a try!
They're layered with tangy sauerkraut, sweet caramelized onions, and grainy stone ground mustard, creating an impressive flavor profile only grown-ups can appreciate! That's why I recommend making these for mom and dad and saving the classic version for the kiddos.
Sauerkraut and hot dogs are seriously delicious and the perfect complement to any summer BBQ side, such as a classic potato salad (without eggs) or summer tortellini salad.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- Versatile - You can make your savory grown-up hot dog, and your kids can still stick to the classic toppings - ketchup, yellow mustard, and some pickles on the side.
- Cooked how you like - These hot dogs can be cooked however you prefer-on the grill, in a frying pan with olive oil or butter, in the air fryer, or boiled.
- Family-friendly - This is a quick and easy recipe that is also perfect if you're on a budget!
- A summer staple - This recipe is perfect for a backyard cookout, BBQ, Memorial Day weekend party, or 4th of July!
Key Ingredient Notes
- Hot dogs - I used beef hotdogs for this recipe, but you could also use pork or turkey hotdogs.
- Sauerkraut - Sauerkraut is finely chopped, fermented raw cabbage. Sauerkraut can be purchased with no added ingredients, or you can find it in a variety of flavors.
- Brown mustard - I really prefer grainy brown mustard for this hot dog recipe. Woodstock Organic Stone Ground Mustard and Organicville Stone Ground Mustard are both great choices! Substitute with Dijon mustard, spicy brown mustard, or German mustard if needed.
- Onions - The onions are used to make caramelized onions. Caramelized onions are cooked over medium-low heat for about 45 minutes. They take some time to cook, but they are such a delicious hot dog topping that they are worth the extra cooking time!
*See the recipe card for exact quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
- Mustard - If you don't like grainy mustard, you can substitute it with yellow mustard, Dijon mustard, or honey mustard.
- Buns - Try pretzel buns or even a sandwich wrap.
- Hot dogs - To make this a plant-based meal, you can replace the meat-based hot dogs with vegetarian hot dogs or swap out the beef/pork hot dogs for turkey dogs.
- Other topping options - Some other toppings that I think would be delicious are sweet pickle relish, Thousand Island Dressing, sour cream, melted Swiss cheese, a pinch of black pepper, and sautéed bell peppers.
Planning a summer cookout? Pair these sauerkraut hot dogs with my spinach and feta turkey burgers for a classic BBQ spread!
Step-by-Step Instructions with Photos
- Add the olive oil to a large skillet and preheat over medium heat.
- Add the thinly-sliced onions to the warm skillet.
- Sauté the onions over medium-high heat for 10 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Reduce the heat to low, add the teaspoon of salt, and cook for 35-40 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. The onions will reduce and turn a deep golden brown color. When the onions finish cooking, transfer them to a small bowl.
- Tip: Some caramelized onion recipes call for balsamic vinegar or brown sugar. These additions aren't absolutely necessary, and your onions will still caramelize perfectly without them.
- While the onions are caramelizing, cook your hot dogs.
- I prefer to sauté hot dogs in a frying pan on the stovetop. You can also grill or boil them.
- When your onions have finished caramelizing, you can start layering your ingredients onto the hot dogs! Start with a scoop of onions.
- Add a scoop of sauerkraut on top of the onions.
- Top the sauerkraut with a layer of mustard.
- Serve immediately, and use these toppings to make as many hot dogs as you need.
Looking for more ideas for your next cookout? Serve these hot dogs with my Dutch Oven BBQ Pulled Pork or Grilled Chicken Thighs!
How to Store
Store leftover ingredients separately. The jars of mustard and leftover sauerkraut can last in the fridge for weeks. Store leftover caramelized onions and leftover cooked hot dogs in a sealed, airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Expert tips
- No matter which way you cook your hot dogs, they will cook very quickly! Keep an eye on them so that they don't burn.
- The caramelized onions can be made in advance. If you're making this recipe for a party and want to save time the day of the event, make the caramelized onions the day before.
- Sauerkraut is packed in liquid. When scooping out sauerkraut to add to the hot dogs, use a slotted spoon so that the liquid drains out while you are scooping it.
Serving Ideas
Sauerkraut and Hot Dogs are an easy meal that can be served with a variety of different sides! Here are a few of my favorite ideas:
More Easy Lunch Ideas
If you tried this Hot Dogs with Sauerkraut Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and tell me how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Hot Dogs with Sauerkraut and Caramelized Onions
Ingredients
- 5 medium onions thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 8 hot dogs
- 8 hot dog buns
- 16 ounce jar sauerkraut
- Stoneground mustard
Instructions
- Heat the butter in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions to the skillet. Sauté the onions over medium-high heat, stirring constantly for 10 minutes.
- Turn the heat down to low, add the teaspoon of kosher salt and let the onions cook for 35-40 minutes. Stir the onions every 5 minutes. They will slowly turn a deep golden brown color as they caramelize and reduce down. After 35-40 minutes, remove the onions from the heat and set aside.
- While the onions are cooking, you can cook your hot dogs. The hot dogs can be grilled, cooked in a frying pan or boiled. Follow package instructions for cooking your hot dogs.
- Once your hot dogs are cooked and your onions have caramelized, you can begin assembling your sauerkraut hot dogs.
- Place each hot dog in a bun, top the hot dogs with a layer of caramelized onions, then a layer of sauerkraut and then the stoneground mustard.
- You'll have some mustard, sauerkraut and caramelized onions leftover. Serve your sauerkraut hot dogs immediately and enjoy!
Nutrition
Notes
- To save time the day your serving your hot dogs, make the caramelized onions in advance. If the onions are made in advance, then this recipe can be made in under 10 minutes!
- The nutrition information is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice.
Katie says