Hot Dogs and Sauerkraut
An easy meal on a budget, Hot Dogs and Sauerkraut pair well in a casserole or with the sauerkraut topping the hot dog in a bun.
This recipe is easy to make in a skillet, crock pot, instant pot or air fryer.
Hot Dogs and Sauerkraut Recipe
Warm sauerkraut that’s lightly seasoned with brown sugar, salt and pepper adds so much flavor to hot dogs. Simply serve sauerkraut on top of mustard, ketchup, relish or any other toppings of choice.
Freshly warmed or leftover weiner dogs can be chopped up and mixed into a warm bed of sauerkraut for quick dinner. This recipe is very similar to our Kielbasa and Sauerkraut.
Sauerkraut can be warmed quickly in an instant pot in just a few minutes. A skillet and air fryer take about ten minutes. In the oven on a sheet pan takes about 20 minutes and a crock pot takes 2 – 3 hours on low or 60 – 90 minutes on high.
If you prefer a cold topping or side dish of sauerkraut try our Sauerkraut Salad.
Easy peasy is a great way to describe this meal. Hot dogs taste good because the combination of meats is flavorful and savory enough to offset the bitterness in the sauerkraut.
We have several other delicious recipes with sauerkraut including our Instant Pot Sauerkraut & Sausage, Pork & Sauerkraut Roll-Ups and Instant Pot Pork Chops with Sauerkraut.
How to Season the Sauerkraut
About a tablespoon of brown sugar, teaspoon of salt, half teaspoon of pepper and a shake or two of red pepper flakes season sauerkraut very well.
The red pepper flakes are optional and will add a little kick.
How to Make Hot Dogs and Sauerkraut
Drain sauerkraut before using. Rinsing is optional. If rinsing is preferable then be sure to drain well to avoid excess moisture.
Warm oil and add sauerkraut on one side of the skillet and brown hot dogs on the other side.
Sprinkle brown sugar, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes if desired over sauerkraut.
Cover skillet and cook on medium high heat for 5 minutes.
Uncover and stir seasonings into sauerkraut using tongs. Rotate wieners and cover. Cook for another 3 to 5 minutes.
The meal is ready to serve when everything is warmed through and the sauerkraut is lightly browned.
Crock Pot Version
Line or lightly grease crock and add a layer of sauerkraut with a small amount of juice or beer on the bottom. Most of the juice should be drained.
Sprinkle seasoning over sauerkraut and stir together.
Lay hot dogs over top of the sauerkraut and cook on low 2 – 3 hours or on high for 1 – 1 1/2 hours.
Instant Pot Version
Add 1 – 2 tablespoons of oil to the instant pot along with a layer of sauerkraut and about 1/2 cup of juice OR beer. Arrange wieners on top.
Small cubes of potatoes may be added if desired.
Seal pot and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes. Perform a quick release and serve warm.
Does Sauerkraut Go with Hot Dogs?
A few tablespoons of sauerkraut may be served on top of all the traditional hot dog toppings. Sauerkraut and mustard go together especially well.
Hot dogs may also be cut into pieces and stirred into sauerkraut for an easy casserole. Potatoes may be mixed in or served on the side.
It doesn’t matter whether you use pork, turkey or beef hotdogs they all pair well with sauerkraut.
How Much Sauerkraut for Hot Dogs
A typical bun length hot dog tastes great with 2 to 3 tablespoons of warm sauerkraut to accent all of the flavors.
One 2 tablespoon serving of sauerkraut is about one ounce.
A 14 ounce can of sauerkraut has about 14 servings to put on top of a hot dog.
When serving meat and sauerkraut ensure there is at least 2 to 3 times as much meat as sauerkraut.
More Easy Family Meals:
Easy Taco Crescents are the perfect appetizer, snack, party food or easy meal!
Hamburger & Tater Tot Casserole uses ground beef, frozen vegetables and tater tots to make an easy meal.
Crock Pot Ham, Potato & Mushroom Soup is a simple recipe that is hearty and delicious
Hot Dogs and Sauerkraut
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 pound hot dogs
- 14 ounce can sauerkraut drained
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon Koshor salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- dash red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium high heat.
- Turn down to medium and add drained sauerkraut and hotdogs in a single layer.
- Sprinkle brown sugar, salt and pepper over the top of the sauerkraut. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.
- Use tongs to stir sauerkraut and seasonings together and rotate hot dogs.
- Cook another 3 – 5 minutes until sauerkraut is lightly browned and hot dogs are heated through.
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Such an easy dinner idea!
While I grew up eating sauerkraut and hot dogs, I never watch my mother make it. Doesn’t adding more salt make it extra salty? After all, salt is used to make sauerkraut. Just asking!
Hey There! Great question – salt and pepper are definitely optional, but typically help balance out some the bitter flavor from the sauerkraut. It’s definitely about personal preference and salt can be added at the table if you prefer to leave out during the cooking process to taste test 🙂
This was very good. I usually boil and then brown my hot dogs in butter. This was more tastier. I just so happen to have sauerkraut that needed to be used. I had never cooked it before. I am now a fan! Plus I love using one pan
Hey There! Thanks so much for trying our recipe and let us know! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂
I would never used canned sauerkraut from a can. Never and salt always rince. It has more salt than is ever needed. Looks good just use the right sauerkraut and NO MORE SALT
Odd to me to comment on a recipe you’ve deciding you don’t like without even following. Why not just find one that suits you better?
To the author: I’m going to try this tonight. My mom used to make this but not that often so I don’t know how she did it. thank for sharing it.
WOW, great recipes ! Thanks a bunch ! Really, you guys are the best !
Excellent recipe! Thanks for this