Slow-Cooked Hot Dogs: A Crock-Pot Conundrum

How to Cook Hot Dogs in a Crock Pot with Water

Cooking hot dogs in a crock pot with water is an easy and convenient way to prepare this popular food for a crowd. Whether you're hosting a backyard BBQ, birthday party, or potluck, this method ensures your hot dogs are cooked to perfection and kept warm until ready to serve. Here's a simple guide to help you get started.

How to cook hot dogs in a crock pot

Cooking hot dogs in a crock pot is a great way to feed a crowd. They are perfect for birthday parties, BBQs, potlucks, or a summer pool party. It's an easy way to make a lot of food for a lot of people.

Step 1: Prepare the Hot Dogs

Firstly, take the hot dogs out of their packaging and unwrap them. You can use regular-sized hot dogs or, if you have a taller crock pot, opt for Hebrew or bun-length hot dogs. If your hot dogs don't fit lengthwise in your crock pot, you can always lay them down horizontally.

Step 2: Cook the Hot Dogs

Place the hot dogs in the crock pot. You can stand them upright or lay them down, depending on what fits best. There is no need to add water to the crock pot as the hot dogs will release enough moisture during the cooking process.

Cover the crock pot with the lid and cook on a high setting for 2-3 hours or on a low setting for 3-4 hours. If you are cooking a large number of hot dogs (around 50 or more), you may need to cook them for up to 4 hours on high or 2 hours on low.

Step 3: Keep Warm and Serve

Once the hot dogs are cooked, you can switch your crock pot to the warm setting. They can be kept warm for up to 3 hours. Use tongs to serve the hot dogs into buns and offer a variety of toppings and condiments for your guests to choose from.

Tips:

• Plan for 1-2 hot dogs per child and around 3 hot dogs per adult.
• A 4-quart crock pot can hold about 48 regular-length hot dogs, while a 6-quart pot can hold around 64.
• If you are worried about the hot dogs drying out, you can rotate them halfway through the cooking process.
• Avoid using forks to remove the hot dogs from the crock pot as they may pierce the sausages and cause juice to leak out.

Topping Ideas:

• Minced/fried onions
• Sauerkraut
• Thinly sliced tomatoes
• Jalapenos or hot peppers
• Mayonnaise
• Mustard
• Ketchup
• Relish
• Shredded cheese
• Chili

How long to cook hot dogs in a crock pot

Cooking hot dogs in a crock pot is a great way to feed a crowd. It's perfect for parties, potlucks, and summer BBQs. You can cook a large number of hot dogs at once, and the slow cooker will keep them warm throughout the event.

How to Cook Hot Dogs in a Crock Pot:

First, unwrap all the hot dogs and place them in the crock pot. You can stand them upright or lay them on their sides, depending on the size of your crock pot and the length of the hot dogs.

There is no need to add water to the crock pot. The hot dogs will release enough moisture on their own, and adding water may change the texture of the hot dogs or cause them to split.

Cover the crock pot and cook the hot dogs on low for 3-4 hours or on high for about 2-3 hours. If your crock pot has a warm setting, you can keep the hot dogs warm for up to 3 hours after cooking.

Tips for Serving:

• Use tongs to serve the hot dogs into buns, along with your desired toppings and condiments.
• Some suggested toppings include caramelized onions, tomato sauce, ketchup, guacamole, mustard, sauerkraut, shredded cheese, chili, and relish.
• You can also set up a hot dog bar, where guests can help themselves to hot dogs, buns, and various toppings.
• Plan for 1-2 hot dogs per child and 3 per adult.
• A 4-quart crock pot can hold about 48 regular-length hot dogs, while a 6-quart pot can hold about 64.

Storing and Reheating Hot Dogs:

• Store unopened hot dogs in the refrigerator until the expiration date or freeze for up to 6 months.
• Once opened, keep the remaining hot dogs in a sealed bag in the fridge for 3-4 days.
• Leftover cooked hot dogs can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or frozen for up to 2 months.

So, the next time you need to feed a crowd, consider using your crock pot to cook hot dogs! It's an easy and convenient way to ensure everyone gets a delicious and warm meal.

How many hot dogs can you cook in a crock pot

The number of hot dogs you can cook in a crock pot depends on the size of your crock pot and the length and thickness of the hot dogs. For example, a 4-quart crock pot can hold about 48 regular-length hot dogs, while a 6-quart pot can hold about 64. If you have a taller crock pot, you can use the Hebrew or bun-length hot dogs, but if they don't fit lengthwise, you can always lay them down in the crock pot.

If you're looking to cook hot dogs in bulk, a slow cooker is a great option. You can cook up to sixty hot dogs at once, and they'll stay warm until you're ready to serve them. This makes a slow cooker ideal for parties, potlucks, and feeding a crowd.

When cooking hot dogs in a crock pot, there's no need to add water. The hot dogs will release enough moisture to cook themselves, and adding water can change the texture of the hot dogs and make them split. Simply place the hot dogs in the crock pot, cover, and cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 3-4 hours, depending on your desired temperature setting.

So, the next time you're planning a party or get-together and want to serve hot dogs, consider using your crock pot for an easy and convenient way to cook and keep them warm.

How to serve hot dogs

Hot dogs are a great option for feeding a crowd, and crock pots are a convenient way to cook them. Once cooked, there are endless ways to serve them. Here are some ideas on how to serve hot dogs:

The Set-Up

You can set up a hot dog bar with various toppings and condiments, allowing guests to customize their dogs. This is a fun and interactive way to serve hot dogs, and it ensures everyone can create a dog that suits their taste.

The Buns

The bun is the foundation of your hot dog masterpiece. While you can opt for classic hot dog buns, consider switching things up with brioche, Hawaiian buns, pretzel buns, or even gluten-free options.

The Dogs

Quality hot dogs are a must. Look for those made with grass-fed beef, free from nitrates and nitrites, and containing real food ingredients. If you want to cater to different tastes and dietary preferences, offer a variety of options like beef hot dogs, sausages, vegetarian hot dogs, and vegan dogs.

The Toppings

This is where things get fun and creative. Offer a range of toppings like shredded cheese, caramelized onions, relish, chili, coleslaw, sautéed bell peppers, avocado or guacamole, crushed chips, grilled pineapple, and bacon.

The Condiments

No hot dog is complete without a drizzle, squirt, or spread of something saucy. Offer a selection of condiments like mustard (yellow, spicy brown, Dijon), ketchup, mayonnaise, BBQ sauce, and ranch dressing.

The Sides

While a loaded hot dog can be a meal in itself, you might want to offer some sides to balance things out. Classic potato salad, dressed-up baked beans, and watermelon cucumber salad are all great options.

The Presentation

For a fun presentation, serve the hot dogs in baskets with paper liners, along with fruit and chips on the side. You can also serve them with a variety of side dishes like boiling corn on the cob, pasta salad, or baked sweet potato fries.

With these tips, you'll be well on your way to creating a delicious and memorable hot dog experience!

Hot dog toppings

Hot dogs are a great, easy dish to serve at parties and BBQs, especially when cooked in a crock pot. But what about toppings?

There are endless combinations of toppings to add to hot dogs, and a great way to serve a crowd is to set up a hot dog bar with a variety of toppings. This way, your guests can dive in and create their own flavour combinations.

Some classic toppings include:

• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Relish
• Onions
• Cheese
• Chilli

But why not get creative and try something new? Here are some unique topping combinations to inspire you:

• The I Wish We Were in Hawaii Dog: Grilled pineapple, red onions, and teriyaki sauce.
• The Italian-American Hot Dog: Grilled onions and bell peppers, ketchup, and pepperoncinis.
• The I Wish We Were in Mexico Dog: Grilled corn, cotija cheese, cilantro, and mayo.
• The Chicago Dog: Pickled peppers, diced tomatoes, yellow mustard, and chopped onions.
• The Deli Dog: Sauerkraut, curry mustard (mix together a little curry powder and Dijon mustard), and everything bagel seasoning.
• The Banh-Mi-But-Make-It-A-Hot Dog Dog: Sriracha mayo (mix together sriracha and mayo), jalapeño, pickled carrots, and cilantro.
• The Reuben Dog: Grated dill pickles, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing.
• The Cuban Dog: Ham, Swiss cheese, mustard, and sliced pickles.
• The Big Mac Dog: Shredded lettuce, diced onion, American cheese, and Big Mac sauce (Thousand Island dressing).
• The Carolina Dog: Mustard, onions, chilli, and slaw.
• The Tijuana Dog: Bacon-wrapped hot dog with grilled onions, jalapeños, pickled jalapeños, mustard, ketchup, and mayo.
• The Beer Dog: Mustard, onion, and beer.
• The Slaw Dog: Coleslaw, celery seed, and fried onion strings.
• The Reuben Dog: Sauerkraut, Russian dressing, and pickled onions.
• The Kimchi Dog: Kimchi, okonomiyaki sauce, spicy mustard, Japanese mayo, pickled ginger, and furikake.
• The Potato Dog: Pan-fried potatoes, peppers, onions, and mustard.
• The Spicy Dog: Chipotle aioli, cilantro, and cheese.
• The Avocado Dog: Avocado, mayo, mustard, ketchup, and crushed potato chips.
• The Swedish Dog: Swedish fried onion bits.
• The Bacon Dog: Bacon, mayo, and cheese.

Frequently asked questions