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    Home » Recipes » Course

    Sauerkraut and Hot Dogs Recipe

    Published: May 28, 2022 by Katie · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a comment.

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    The next time you serve hot dogs for dinner, get creative with them and try out this Sauerkraut and Hot Dogs Recipe! These delicious hot dogs are topped with tangy sauerkraut, sweet caramelized onions and grainy, brown mustard.

    Four sauerkraut and hot dogs recipe hot dogs, with mustard in a small white dish in the top right, onions in a small white dish in bottom left and more cooked hot dogs in bottom right.

    A delicious grilled hot dog recipe makes it's way into our weekly dinner plans at least once a month. It's a quick dinner that makes everyone in the house happy. Of course, my kids stick to the classic toppings - ketchup, yellow mustard and some pickles on the side.

    My husband and I are often in the mood for a grown-up version of the classic hot dog though! This recipe for Sauerkraut Hot Dogs is exactly what we're looking for!

    The cold, crisp sauerkraut adds the perfect amount of crunch. The sweet, caramelized onions balance out the vinegar tang from the sauerkraut. The grainy, stoneground mustard rounds all of the flavors out perfectly!

    These hot dogs can be cooked however you prefer - on the grill, in a frying pan cooked in olive oil or butter, in the air fryer or boiled.

    Hot dogs for dinner are obviously more of a summertime meal. Some of my other favorite summer dinners include my Healthy Turkey Burgers, my Air Fryer Frozen Turkey Burgers, and my Whole 30 Pulled Pork.

    Jump to:
    • 🥘Ingredients
    • 🔪Equipment needed
    • 📋 Instructions
    • 🌭Ingredient substitutions
    • 📖Variations
    • 🍽Storage
    • ⭐Top tips
    • 🥗Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💭Follow me

    🥘Ingredients

    Ingredients needed to make the sauerkraut and hot dogs recipe.
    • Hot dogs - I used beef hotdogs for this recipe, but you could also use pork hotdogs 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. I chose a dill and garlic sauerkraut from Saverne Artisanal Kraut. You can also find sauerkraut flavored with caraway seeds, sriracha, jalapenos, beets, turmeric and ginger. You don't have to purchase sauerkraut from the grocery store, you could make your own using a homemade sauerkraut recipe!
    • Brown mustard - I really prefer a grainy, brown mustard for this hot dogs recipe. Woodstock Organic Stoneground Mustard is a great choice! You could swap out the brown mustard though, for a Dijon mustard, spicy brown mustard or a German mustard.
    • Hot dog buns - Choose whatever hotdog buns that you prefer!
    • Onions - The onions are used to make the 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, they are worth the extra cooking time!
    • Butter & salt

    *See recipe card for exact quantities.

    🔪Equipment needed

    • Large frying pan, outdoor grill or stock pot - You can use any of these cooking tools to make your hot dogs. Choose whichever one that you prefer!
    • Large skillet with deep sides - This will be used to make your caramelized onions. The onions eventually cook down, but to start, you will need a deep frying pan or skillet.
    • Cutting board & chopping knife

    📋 Instructions

    Step 1: Thinly slice each medium onion and place them into a hot, oiled, large skillet.

    Raw onions in a red skillet.

    Step 2: Sauté the onions over medium high heat for 10 minutes, stirring constantly.

    Onions caramelizing in a red skillet.

    Step 3: Reduce the heat to low, add the teaspoon of salt and cook for 35-40 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. The onions will reduce down and turn a deep golden brown color. When the onions have finished cooking, transfer them to a small bowl.

    Some caramelized onion recipes call for balsamic vinegar or brown sugar. They aren't absolutely necessary, and your onions will still perfectly caramelize without any additions.

    Caramelized onions in a red skillet.

    Step 4: 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 your hot dogs or boil them in water.

    Get the rest of your ingredients out and ready - the sauerkraut, mustard and hot dog rolls. You can lay everything out on a cookie sheet (sheet pan) lined with parchment paper like I did. This will make it easy to transfer your finished Sauerkraut and Hot Dogs Recipe to the table.

    Three plain hot dogs in buns, on a sheet pan, mustard in top right corner, sauerkraut in top left corner, caramelized onions in bottom left corner, cooked hotdogs in bottom right corner.

    Step 5: When your onions have finished caramelizing, you can start layering your ingredients onto the hotdogs! Start with a scoop of onions.

    Three hot dogs topped with caramelized onions in buns, on a sheet pan, mustard in top right corner, sauerkraut in top left corner, caramelized onions in bottom left corner, cooked hotdogs in bottom right corner.

    Step 6: Add a scoop of sauerkraut on top of the onions.

    Three hot dogs topped with onions and sauerkraut in buns, on a sheet pan, mustard in top right corner, sauerkraut in top left corner, caramelized onions in bottom left corner, cooked hotdogs in bottom right corner.

    Step 7: Top the sauerkraut with a layer of mustard.

    Three hot dogs topped with onions, sauerkraut and mustard in buns, on a sheet pan, mustard in top right corner, sauerkraut in top left corner, caramelized onions in bottom left corner, cooked hotdogs in bottom right corner.

    That's it! Serve the hot dogs immediately and make as many hot dogs as you need using these toppings.

    🌭Ingredient substitutions

    • Mustard - If grainy mustard isn't for you then you can substitute in yellow mustard, Dijon mustard or honey mustard.
    • Buns - To make this recipe gluten free, you can use gluten free hot dog buns. Pretzel buns would also be delicious! Check the bakery section of your grocery store for pretzel hot dog buns.
    • Hot dogs- The meat based hot dogs can be replaced with a vegetarian hot dog to make this a plant-based meal. You can also swap out the beef/pork hot dogs for turkey dogs.

    📖Variations

    • Spicy - Use a sriracha or jalapeno based sauerkraut to add some heat to this recipe!
    • Kid friendly - Kids may not be a fan of this recipe, luckily you can easily adapt hot dogs for dinner night to fit anyone's preferences!
    • 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.

    🍽Storage

    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, air tight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

    ⭐Top 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.
    • This is a fantastic recipe to add to your next party food menu! Sauerkraut hot dogs can be served at your Memorial Day weekend BBQ, 4th of July BBQ, Labor Day weekend party or any birthday party!
    Close up shot of sauerkraut and hot dogs recipe.

    🥗Serving suggestions

    Sauerkraut and Hot Dogs is an easy recipe that can be served with a variety of different sides! You can keep it simple and serve hot dogs with potato chips, French fries or macaroni salad.

    Sauerkraut hot dogs would also go well with a fresh green salad, grilled vegetables, roasted potatoes or loaded mashed potatoes.

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    Print

    📖 Recipe

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    Four sauerkraut and hot dogs recipe hot dogs, with mustard in a small white dish in the top right, onions in a small white dish in bottom left and more cooked hot dogs in bottom right.

    Sauerkraut and Hot Dogs Recipe

    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    The next time you serve hot dogs for dinner, get creative with them and try out this Sauerkraut and Hot Dogs Recipe! These delicious hot dogs are topped with tangy sauerkraut, sweet caramelized onions and grainy, brown mustard. 

    • Total Time: 55 minutes
    • Yield: 8 servings 1x

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 5 medium onions - thinly sliced
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 8 hot dogs
    • 8 hot dog buns
    • 16 ounce jar sauerkraut
    • Stoneground mustard

    Instructions

    1. 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.  
    2. 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.  
    3. 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. 
    4. Once your hot dogs are cooked and your onions have caramelized, you can begin assembling your sauerkraut hot dogs.
    5. 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.
    6. You'll have some mustard, sauerkraut and caramelized onions leftover.  Serve your sauerkraut hot dogs immediately and enjoy!

    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!
    • Author: Katie
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 50 minutes
    • Category: lunch, dinner
    • Method: stove top cooking
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: sauerkraut and hot dogs recipe, sauerkraut hot dogs

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    I’m Katie, the food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer at Sugar & Snap Peas. I specialize in easy, budget friendly, family recipes. My goal is to help you take the stress out of cooking and provide you with simple, creative recipes.

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