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These Easy Pretzel Dogs are a delicious step up from an ordinary hot dog and perfect to enjoy on-the-go! Thanks to a tube of refrigerated pizza dough, these will be in the oven and on the table in a snap!
I love these pretzel dogs for the simple reason that they’re DELICIOUS and get rave reviews!! But I also love them because they’re easy to make and perfect for so many occasions. Game day appetizers? Yes! After school snacks? You bet. As a main dish for on the go meals? Absolutely!
Give ’em a try and let me know what you think!!
Ingredients Needed
- Pizza Dough – You can use refrigerated pizza dough, frozen Rhodes dinner rolls (thawed), homemade pizza dough or dough from your local pizzeria.
- Hot Dogs or Smoked Sausages – You can even use a flavored smoked sausage if you like, such as Jalapeño Cheddar!
- Baking Soda Bath – This is simply a combination of water and baking soda, a necessity when making pretzels!
- Egg Wash – A combination of an egg yolk and water.
- Toppings – I like to brush mine with melted butter and sprinkle it with salt!
How to Make Pretzel Dogs
Start by preheating the oven to 400F and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Next, you’ll open the tube of pizza dough and unroll it. Use a pizza cutter to make 6 equal pieces of dough.
Remove the hot dogs or sausages from its package and wrap each with one strip of dough. Depending on the type of hot dog or sausage is used, you’ll likely need to overlap the dough as you roll it up in order to fit the entire strip of dough.
Once the water mixture is to a rolling boil, carefully place three dough-wrapped dogs into the water. Let cook for about 45 seconds.
Now it’s time to cook these! First, you’ll combine 8 cups of water and 1/2 cup of baking soda in a large saucepan or pot.
Remove these from the boiling water with a slotted spoon and let the excess water drop off. Repeat with the remaining pretzel dogs.
Place them on the prepared baking sheet.
Brush the top with egg wash and sprinkle with kosher salt (coarse salt). You can also top with everything but the bagel seasoning, sesame seeds, poppy seeds or leave them plain.
Bake until golden brown in the preheated oven. Once baked, I like to brush them with melted butter and serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce!
What’s a Good Dipping Sauce for Pretzel Dogs?
- Ketchup is a classic option! Easy does it.
- Warm cheese sauce OR beer cheese sauce!
- Honey mustard – a great sweet and savory dipper!
Tips for the Best Pretzel Dogs
- Do NOT skip the boiling step! This is a crucial step in the pretzel-making process.
- Make sure to let the excess water drip off the pretzel dogs before baking – you can even dab them with a paper towel if needed. You don’t want them soggy on the bottom.
- Use a good, thick hot dog. Or even better, try a smoked sausage for extra flavor!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you cook the hot dogs first or use them raw?
All hot dogs and smoked sausages are precooked, meaning they’re not raw. These are added to the recipe cold and will heat up in the oven.
What is the purpose of boiling the pretzel dogs first?
Boiling a pretzel dog in baking soda water is what gives it the chewy texture, gorgeous brown exterior and iconic pretzel flavor! Can it be skipped? Sure, but it’ll vastly change the flavor and texture to be more bread-like instead of like a pretzel.
How should I store leftovers?
Let the pretzel dogs cool completely then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, Reheat in the microwave or in the oven until warmed through.
Can they be frozen and reheated after baking?
Yes. You can absolutely freeze these. Let them thaw to room temperature before warming in the microwave or oven.
Other Recipes You’ll Love
- Mini Pretzel Dogs – Similar to these Pretzel Dogs, but uses cocktail wieners!
- Walking Tacos
- Meatball Calzones
- Ham and Cheese Crescent Rolls
- Meatball Sliders
- Pizza Braid
Easy Pretzel Dogs
Equipment
- One Baking Sheet
- One Large Saucepan
Ingredients
- One 13.8 ounce tube refrigerated pizza dough
- 6 hot dogs or smoked sausages*
- 8 cups water
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon water
- course sea salt optional
- butter optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400℉ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Open the pizza dough package and unroll the dough; press into a rectangle.One 13.8 ounce tube refrigerated pizza dough
- Use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into 6 equal strips.
- Wrap each of the hot dogs (or sausages) with one of the dough strips.6 hot dogs or smoked sausages*
- Add the water and baking soda to a large saucepan and bring it to a boil.8 cups water, 1/2 cup baking soda
- Boil 2-3 pretzel dogs at a time for 30-45 seconds.
- Carefully remove the pretzel dogs from the water, letting the excess water drip off, then place them on the parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and water; brush over the pretzel dogs; sprinkle with sea salt.1 egg yolk, 1 tablespoon water, course sea salt
- Bake for 12-14 minutes or until a deep golden brown.
- Brush the pretzel dogs with butter, if desired and serve warm with ketchup and mustard.butter
