Name: Smoked Hotdogs & Kraut
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 6 Jumbo Beef Franks; 1 ¼ cup Frank’s Kraut; ¼ teaspoon caraway seed; 6 hotdog buns

JUMP TO RECIPE

Topped with irresistible Frank’s Kraut and caraway seeds, this Smoked Hot Dogs and Kraut is one sensational recipe! Best of all, it’s only 4 ingredients! Read on for tips and tricks to making the absolute best smoked sauerkraut and smoked hot dogs on your pellet grill.

This unbelievably flavorful recipe is a wonderful blend of the classic hot dog and tangy sauerkraut. Preparing these two on the pellet grill gives them a smoky flavor that makes them completely irresistible! These smoked hot dogs and kraut are served up with a sprinkling of caraway seeds and wrapped in a soft bakery-style hot dog bun.

Is there anything more American than a good old-fashioned hot dog off the grill in the summertime??

Want other yummy dinner dishes to try? Try my Slow Cooked Reuben Style Brats, my BBQ Smoked Sausage Sandwiches with Kraut, or my Crockpot Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Sandwiches!

This post is sponsored by Frank’s Kraut, but my opinions and lifetime love of their sauerkraut are all my own.

GRILL OUT WITH FRANK’S KRAUT

“Summertime and the livin’ is easy.” There is nothing like a meal cooked outside on a warm summertime day, is there? Gathered around the grill, beverage of choice in hand, just waiting in anticipation of what’s to come.

We eat a lot of burgers, hot dogs, and brats in the summer. They are so easy to make and never disappoint! It’s when you top them with your favorite toppings that things get really good, though. And in our house, the toppings always include a big jar of Frank’s Kraut!

We keep one in the fridge year-round, but in the summertime, we go through Frank’s Kraut like crazy! There is nothing like it!

CAN YOU SMOKE HOT DOGS?

Yes, you can absolutely smoke hot dogs! In fact, smoking hot dogs emboldens the flavors of the beef while also giving the meat a tasty, crispy outside layer.

It’s very important to always heat hot dogs until they’re steaming hot, unlike smoked sausage, they are not pre-cooked in their raw form. Depending on the heat, it takes about 30-45 minutes to cook hot dogs in the smoker or until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F. with a meat thermometer.

Smoked hot dogs taste delicious by themselves, but adding condiments can give them an extra kick. If you enjoy your hot dogs loaded with condiments then I suggest adding sweet pickle relish or mustard to complement this tangy recipe.

HOW TO SMOKE SAUERKRAUT

Smoking sauerkraut couldn’t be easier! If you are planning to add it to whatever meat you are smoking, simply add it to the smoker like I did here with these hot dogs. But if you are wanting to serve smoked sauerkraut by itself, just add it to a heat-safe dish, and place it on your smoker, set to the smoke setting for about 30 minutes.

When it has the desired amount of smoke, and it is heated through, pull it from the smoker and serve!

WHY SCORE A HOT DOG?

Scoring a hot dog, or crosshatching it as you see here, lets the heat get down inside the meat quicker, shortening the cooking time. It also prevents the casing from bursting as they heat up, and keeps its shape.

Another benefit to this technique? All of that smoked sauerkraut and your condiments get to sink down into them and fill up those cracks! Yum!

Looking for side dishes that pair well with these perfectly flavored hot dogs? Try my Homemade Double Fried French Fries, Picnic Potato Salad or my Baked Sweet Potato Chips.

IS SAUERKRAUT HEALTHY?

Did you know that sauerkraut is also loaded with immune-boosting vitamins that may help ward off infection? It’s true! Since sauerkraut is made mostly with cabbage, it is excellent for aiding in digestion. Aside from its versatility and great taste, sauerkraut is also packed with probiotics that can improve your overall gut health.

Sauerkraut is a well-known ‘superfood’ and is on top of the list of foods to include in a healthy diet. This is because it’s loaded with folate, vitamin B6, riboflavin, thiamin, and vitamin K.

Want to learn even more about the benefits of sauerkraut? Check out the Ultimate Guide to Sauerkraut!

INGREDIENTS FOR SMOKED SAUERKRAUT AND HOT DOGS

This recipe only uses a handful of ingredients – for the full measurements, scroll down to the recipe card.

Jumbo Beef Franks: Can substitute with Turkey hot dogs or pork hot dogs if preferred. I bought these at the meat counter, they were BIG hot dogs.
Frank’s Kraut: We are not only smoking the hot dogs – we are smoking the sauerkraut, too!
Caraway Seed: Enhances the flavor profile by adding a hint of peppery citrus to the kraut. If you don’t like them, leave them out.
Hot Dog Buns: Skip the bread asile and treat yourself to a package of those soft homemade buns from the bakery section of the grocery store.

HOW TO SMOKE HOT DOGS ON A TRAEGER GRILL

My recipe for the best smoked hot dogs and kraut is so incredibly easy to prepare! To see even more detailed steps, please scroll down to the recipe card.

PREP

Fill pellet grill with apple pellets.

SET

Set smoker to smoke for 10 minutes.

CUT

Use a sharp knife to lightly crosshatch the skin of each hotdog, you needn’t go any deeper than about ⅛”.

PLACE

Sprinkle kraut with caraway seeds, and place kraut in a heat-safe dish.

SMOKE

Place hotdogs (crosshatched side up) and kraut on the smoker and smoke for 15 minutes.

Increase heat to 350 degrees and cook for another 15 minutes. Or until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F.

SERVE

Remove from the grill and place in hot dog buns. Top with smoked kraut.

ENJOY

Enjoy them immediately as they are or with your favorite hot dog condiments. For me, it has to be yellow mustard!

YES!!

Did you know that Frank’s has a Mustard Kraut, too? It’s so good!

Read more about Frank’s Mustard Kraut on their website, and see how I used it on these breaded pork cutlets!

Love them? Pin them!

Don’t forget where you found these tasty appetizers! Pin it to your favorite recipe board on Pinterest before you go!

My assistant the entire time I smoked the sauerkraut and hot dogs. He wasn’t going to miss out on a thing!

In addition to mustard kraut, Frank’s also has a Sweet & Smoky BBQ Kraut! Here it is on some BBQ Smoked Sausage Sandwiches!

OTHER YUMMY KRAUT RECIPES TO ENJOY

Turkey Reuben a.k.a. The “Rachel” (pictured above with Frank’s Mustard Kraut)
Sauerkraut, Bratwurst and Potato Soup
Everything Sauerkraut Bread
Polish Noodles & Sauerkraut [Kluski Kapusta Kiszona]
Polish Sauerkraut Soup (KAPUSNIAK)
Bacon Wrapped Pork Loin with Sauerkraut Stuffing
Quick Pretzel Bites with Sauerkraut Cheddar Cheese Sauce
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup with Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut Balls
Sauerkraut Salad

MORE SAUERKRAUT RECIPES TO LOVE

Follow along with Frank’s Kraut on their social media to get delicious recipes all year long. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for all things sauerkraut!

I hope you enjoy this recipe and it becomes a family favorite for you, too!

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Smoked Hot Dogs & Kraut in buns on a serving plate

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