This easy vegan hot dog recipe is my vegetarian alternative to real hot-dogs made of seitan that taste incredibly authentic, juicy meaty and better than store bought vegan frankfurters by far! Makes 16 regular wieners or 12 jumbo size. Perfect for potluck or bbq.
Wait until you taste these homemade vegan hot dogs!! Wow!! I was so impressed with how these turned out! The flavour is amazing. Adapted from my vegan ham recipe
Jump to:
What are vegan hot dogs made of?
These plant based hot dogs are made of tofu and vital wheat gluten which is what is used to make seitan (learn more about seitan in the FAQ section below) The taste and texture is bang on!! I’m so excited to share!!
Honesty you’ll think you’re eating a real hot dog! Your family & kids will request these often I guarantee it!
Best of all these meat free hot dogs are super affordable, healthy and tastier than your local store bought veggie brands: field roast, lightlife, tofurkey, etc.. ( even Ikea!) and of course the classic real meat variety, chicken beef or pork.
This seitan recipe makes a lot to serve a crowd, can be frozen for when you’re craving a hotdog or a quick and easy lunch for the kiddos
Don’t be intimidated this is a super simple recipe most of the ingredients are spices!!
Ingredients needed:
- Tofu: adds soy protein, texture, moisture and flavour
- Vital wheat gluten: essential for this recipe binds evening together
- Bbq sauce: adds wonderful flavour!
- Nutritional yeast: a must for umami
- Liquid smoke: adds subtle smoky taste.
- Sesame oil: makes them juicy and moist
- Spices: to mimic hot dog taste: celery salt, allspice, paprika, garlic and onion powder, coriander, salt
- Tamari: savoury and salty addition
- Mustard and apple cider vinegar: unites the flavours
- Vegetarian bouillon: adds depth of flavour, I used better than bouillon no chicken soup base
How to make vegan hot dogs:
You'll be surprised how easy and delicious this homemade hotdog recipe is!
- To make the seitan dogs: Add tofu and rest of ingredients to food processor. Puree.
- Add the vital wheat gluten mix until just combined
- Shape Into a loaf
- Knead dough 20-25 times. Portion into 12-16 pieces.
- Roll each one in tinfoil, tootsie roll style
- To cook them: Steam for 30 minutes
- Add to large freezer bag with marinade for couple hours or overnight
- Cook in a pan or grill and enjoy in a hotdog bun with your favourite toppings! For full ingredients and instructions see printable recipe card below
Hot dog toppings and sides:
Here's some ideas on what to put on your veggie dog and summer potluck sides to serve with them!
- Sauerkraut and regular or dijon mustard, mmm
- Make it a chili dog! Top with vegan chili, diced red onions and drizzle of cheese sauce, oh yay!
- Classic: hot dog relish, mustard and ketchup!
- Chicago dog: yellow mustard, bright green relish, diced onions, sliced tomatoes, pickles, and pinch of celery salt!
- or just on a plain bun with butter or with ketchup like my grandkids eat them❤️
- Sides: Enjoy with sides like: corn on the cob, watermelon, potato salad ,coleslaw pasta salad, ramen salad, corn salad, fruit salad -so many choices!!
FAQ:
Absolutely they freeze beautifully just wrap individually and store in a freezer bag or sealed container or freeze in the marinade
Yes I’d say they are a healthier choice compared to real meat dogs which are definitely bad for you. But you still need to check back label for ingredients and sodium levels. Homemade vegan dogs are the way to go in my opinion! Like my recipe😊
Yes my homemade hotdog recipe is awesome and super tasty!! and some store bought brands are better than others. I like field roast frankfurters or tofurky dogs
No, this meatless hot dog recipe needs vital wheat gluten to hold together
Almost all grocery stores like Whole Foods, Trader Joes and super stores like Walmart and Costco, carry a variety of vegan hot dog brands like field roast, lightlife smart dogs, tofurky, Upton, etc…
Vital Wheat Gluten is made from wheat. It is made by washing the wheat flour with water until all the starch has been removed. And you are then left with the gluten which must be cooked before eaten.
Seitan is a vegan meat substitute made using vital wheat gluten. It is sometimes referred to as “wheat meat”
Tips for success:
- Don’t over work the seitan dough or the hot dogs could be tough
- make the optional marinade for an awesome flavour boost and for extra moisture
- Keep the tin foil as smooth as possible when rolling as the frankfurters will take on the rolled shape when they cook and expand to fit the wrapper tightly
- Let hot dogs firm up in fridge for at least and hour or two or overnight for best texture (and flavour if using marinade)
- If hot dogs are to wide to fit in steamer cut of a little on each twisted end ( I always do this)
This vegan hot dog recipe is:
- fun and simple to make
- juicy and meaty
- healthy
- super tasty
- kid approved
- a must for potluck or bbq!
More vegan meat recipes:
- Vegan Turkey (Seitan)
- Vegan Steak
- Vegan Meatballs
- Vegan Meatloaf
- Vegan Chicken
- Vegan Ham
- Grillable Vegan Burger
- Vegan Corned Beef
- Vegetarian Salisbury Steak
Enjoy everyone! Happy Day! Please feel free to comment below and give this recipe a rating. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!
Follow me on PINTEREST and INSTAGRAM for more tasty Plant Based & Vegan Recipes❤️
Subscribe here for free weekly recipes delivered right to your inbox! No need to scour the internet. Your one stop shop for recipes is here😊 No spam I promise!
Print
Best Vegan Hot Dogs
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12-16 hot dogs 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This easy vegan hot dog recipe is my vegetarian alternative to real hot-dogs made of seitan that taste incredibly authentic, juicy meaty and better than store bought vegan frankfurters by far! Makes 16 regular wieners or 12 jumbo size. Perfect for potluck or bbq.
Ingredients
For hot dogs:
- 1 -400 gram package extra firm tofu
- ⅓ cup water
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons bbq sauce*
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon vegetarian better than bouillon no chicken soup base
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
- 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons granulated onion (powder)
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic (powder)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- ¾ teaspoon celery salt
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- 1 and ½ cups + 2 tablespoons vital wheat gluten
- a couple drops red food colouring (optional for colour)
Marinade (optional)
- 1 cup boiling water, from kettle
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons tamari or soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons vegetarian better than bouillon no chicken soup base
- ½ teaspoon celery salt
- ½ teaspoon granulated onion (powder)
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
Instructions
- To make: Drain tofu wrap in layers of paper bowl squeeze out extra moisture with your hands. Break into chunks and add to food processor with rest of ingredients EXCEPT GLUTEN and process until smooth like a puree
- Now add vital wheat gluten evenly over the top and mix until just combined, it's ok if you see a bit of flour on top.
- Turn seitan dough onto counter and knead 20-25 times and form into a loaf. Slice loaf into 4 pieces. Portion each piece into 3-4 sections. Tear off 12-16 pieces of tin foil approximately 6 inches wide. Roll each piece of seitan into a sausage shape roughly the same length as s hot dog bun. Wrap each wiener in the tin foil by rolling up tootsie roll style and twisting the ends.
- To cook: Stack them in a steamer insert of a steamer pot. Trim the twisted ends slightly if needed to fit. Fill the base of the pot with water making sure it doesn't touch the steamer insert. Cover and steam for 30 minutes (I steam on medium heat) While they are cooking mix marinade ingredients in bowl
- When cool enough to handle unwrap them (at this point they are cooked and can be eaten) Add frankfurters to a large zip lock freezer bag with the marinade.
- Squeeze out excess air, seal bag and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight for best flavour and texture.
- To serve: Remove from marinade. Pan fry or grill with little oil or microwave them! Enjoy in a hot dog bun with your favourite toppings. Makes 12 jumbo dogs or 16 regular size.
- Will keep covered in fridge with or without marinade for up to 5 days and freeze well also with or without the marinade. For step by step photos, Tips, FAQ, and serving suggestions see above post
Notes
- Don’t over work the seitan dough or the hot dogs could be tough. When kneading the dough it should just start to come together and firm up that's when you stop.
- Keep the tin foil as smooth as possible when rolling as the frankfurters will take on the rolled shape when they cook and expand to fit the wrapper tightly
- Nutritional chart is calculated without the marinade
- can sub ketchup for bbq sauce
Adapted from my vegan ham recipe
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 30 Minutes
- Category: Mains
- Method: Food processor / Steamer pot
- Cuisine: American, Canadian
Valerie
I made these hot dogs today, and they are wonderful! I didn't use the marinade, and I think the taste and texture are perfect as they are. Mine are a little mis-shapen, so next time I'll be a bit more careful when rolling them up. These are comparable to my favorite commercial hot dog, Field Roast Stadium Dogs, but much less expensive! Thank you so much for the recipe!
Verna
What a wonderful review that you so much Valerie. I am thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
Valerie
I meant to say comparable to Stadium Dogs in flavor and texture, not ingredients.
Pauline
These are fantastic - no adjustments needed at all! Thank you! I marinate 2 at a time, using the same marinade (halved the recipe) time and time again. I, use a couple of dogs, take some more out of the freezer and bam - ready in a few days again
Verna
Yay!! So glad you like them. Thanks so much for your awesome feedback Pauline 🙂
Susan
My (sometimes reluctant) vegan husband loved your ham recipe so much I was hoping to wow him with your hot dog recipe, something he sorely missed, especially on camping trips. No vegan hot dog lives up to his expectations. Until now! Wow him we did! He loved them and declared they were just as good as any meat hotdog he's had! The red dye was genius because they look very authentic. I used some silicone hot dog molds to make smaller dogs for some children, but I'll be stocking up my freezer with a few recipes of jumbo dogs that I wrap in cheese cloth. #zerowaste
P.S. I substituted chicken broth with Orringtons Vegan Ham Broth.
Verna
Thanks Susan!! What wonderful feedback I am so happy you all enjoyed them. I'll have to try and look for the mock ham broth. I am in Canada so it just might not be in my area. Have a great day!! 🙂
Susan Roman
I had to order it from Amazon in the USA to my friends daughter's house. She brought it to Canada during a visit.
Verna
Thanks Susan good to know 🙂 I appreciate it and will look for it next time I'm in the states, which hopefully will be soon
Eric L
I forgot to add to my other comment, you can add it, or just delete this part:
I made them in the instant pot, high/manual for 22 minutes with 20 minutes natural release, followed by quick release.
Eric L
Fantastic recipe! I made it as written except only 1 Tbsp of oil, used ketchup to replace the other Tbsp oil. Also made the marinade, very easy.
Much better texture and mouthfeel than the popular brand at our Kroger -- and cheaper! I like the flavor better, too. It is a little stronger but in a good way.
Thank you, Verna.
Verna
Thank you so much Eric for the wonderful review! It it so appreciated. You made my day 🙂
Joe
Exceeded my expectations! Well done! These were remarkable. I made them a day prior then. Grilled the next day for a few friends and family. They were all very impressed. One thought I was joking when I said they were vegan!
Verna
Thank you what a nice compliment! so happy you all enjoyed them
Hope
Surprisingly realistic texture and flavour. Thank you for the recipe. Quite a few ingredients but worth it.
Verna
Glad you enjoyed it!
Millie
Real hit with the family I highly recommend making. Very economical and tasty too!
Verna
Thank you so much appreciate the feedback.
Terresa
Were these ever delicious!! They made my kids so happy, honestly they tasted so much like a real hot dog! We couldn’t believe it. Thank you for sharing this
Verna
So happy to hear this it totally made my day!
Tom Judson
Another absolute winner! These are better (and way cheaper) than any vegan hot dog I’ve ever purchased (and they’re so overly processed!) Next time I’ll add a little red food coloring—they were more sausage colored than hot dog colored—but other than that, truly sensational. I can’t decide whether I like these or your ham recipe more. They’re both terrific! Oh, yeah, and these dogs work on the grill really well—they’re absolutely firm enough for that. Thanks for another great one!
Verna
Thank you so much Tom!! I worked hard perfecting these and truly appreciate your feedback it means so much. I am so Happy you enjoyed them!!
KM
I always freeze my tofu and almost never have fresh on hand. Do you think, since this is basically puréed, it would make a difference?
Thanks for the recipe - can’t wait to try it!
Verna
Actually if previously frozen it might make a difference and stay crumbly rather than puree. So I can't guarantee it will work. Hope that helps! enjoy!
KM
That’s what I was worried about. I’ll just have to do up a big batch of hot dogs soon after grocery day. 🙂
Thanks!!!
Verna
you are so welcome- enjoy!!
Reagan
I’ve tried carrot dogs and did not care for them so I am excited to try your vegan version. Thank you!
Verna
Enjoy!
Hailie
I am a beginner vegan I would like to try these hot dogs but I don’t know where to buy the vital wheat gluten? I live in Canada
Verna
You can check you're local health food store and grocery store. Or purchase from Amazon. I always use Bob's Red Mill. There is a link in the recipe card. Enjoy!
KM
If you have a Bulk Barn nearby, they always have it. Bigger Loblaws stores (Superstore but not Independent, for example) usually carry Bob’s Red Mill.
Both also carry chickpea flour which is another staple for us. Chickpea flour omelettes and “fried eggs” are pretty freakin awesome and easy.
Good luck on your vegan journey. 🙂
Terri Brown
I haven't made these yet, because one of my family members is seriously allergic to soy. What could I use instead of tofu?
Verna
Hi Terri, you could try 1 and 1/2 cups canned chickpeas rinsed and drained. I haven't tested this so let me know how it goes.
Annie
I'm so making this! Haven't made hot dogs yet! I've made a few of your seitan recipes and love them.
Verna
Thank you so much! Enjoy!