Simple Pretzel Dogs + Video

Pretzel Dogs feature all-beef dogs baked inside of soft pretzel buns. They’re soft, chewy, and satisfyingly savory. Plus, they’re ready in just 35 minutes so you can make this pretzel dogs recipe any night!

 

Pretzel Dogs

This pretzel dog recipe is perfect for dinner but even better for serving on game day.

Soft pretzels and beer with cheesy hot dogs are perfect party food, and it doesn’t get much better than having them all together in one bite!

These baked hot dogs are so much tastier than anything you can buy pre-made. Plus, they are so much fun to make, especially if you get your kids to help you.

You don’t even need a stand mixer. Because beer and pretzels go so well together, we use beer as the liquid in the dough for the pretzel dog buns!

It adds a little punch of flavor, and oh boy, it’s spectacular!

Some of our other favorite pretzel recipes are perfect party food too!

Jalapeño Popper Bread Bombs are filled with cream cheese and spicy jalapeno. The soft bread on the outside makes them irresistible.

If all you’re looking for is a soft pretzel to dip into cheese sauce, make the Best Ever Soft Pretzel Bites. Then, make a batch of beer cheese sauce to dip them in!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Hot Dogs – You can use organic, all beef, nitrate-free, sausages, or whatever makes you happy. 
  
  I am going to make these in mini size next time which will make for the perfect appetizer!
  
• Beer – You can substitute milk or water for the beer if needed. I prefer Blue Moon in this pretzel dog recipe, but you can use whatever you have on hand.
  
• Baking Soda – This doesn’t go in the dough — it goes in the boiling water! It’s the secret to making pretzel dough (and bagels too).
  
• Honey – Adds a little sweetness to the dough and provides the necessary sugar to feed the yeast. Don’t skip it!
  
• Salt – Use kosher salt in the dough, plus coarse or pretzel salt on the outside of the buns for crunch and flavor.

Tips and Tricks to Make the Perfect Pretzel Dog

• Make sure the beer is warm. 

Microwave the beer in a microwave-safe glass measuring cup for 15 seconds at a time. For the yeast to activate, the beer should be 110-120°F. 

• Roll the dough into long strands.

We’re not wrapping each hot dog up like a burrito! Instead, you’ll wind the strand around the dog from top to bottom, creating a spiral effect.

Not only will it stay attached more easily, but you’re guaranteed an even thickness and even cooking!

• Don’t have a stand mixer?

You can easily mix the dough by hand! Just add the beer, yeast, and honey to a large mixing bowl. 

Once the yeast blooms, stir in the salt and the flour, then use a spoon to combine everything. Proceed with the pretzel dogs recipe as instructed.

• Use a large enough pot for boiling water.

The water will bubble up when you add the baking soda, so you don’t want it to be too full to start!

Prep Ahead

• Make the pretzel dough
• Preheat oven to 450°F

Kitchen Tools You Will Need

• Baking Sheet lined with Parchment Paper – Used for anything from cookies to roasting, a good baking pan will last for years.
• Large Pot – You must boil each pretzel dog before baking to get that classic pretzel dough!
• Stand Mixer or Large Bowl
• Rolling Pin – If you don’t have wine, a clean wine bottle will do the job.
• Slotted Spoon for getting the dogs in and out of the boiling water.

Serving Suggestions

You’ll need dipping sauces for your pretzel dogs, and there are so many delicious options to choose from!

Ketchup, mustard (or honey mustard), and nacho cheese are top picks, but I think Chick Fil A sauce would be tasty too.

For game day, you’ll obviously want to pair these with other appetizers and snacks. But for dinner, all you need is some chips and fruit salad or a big bowl of Nana’s Southern potato salad!

Storing and Reheating Pretzel Hot Dog Leftovers

The dough’s texture is best when eaten right away, but you can refrigerate leftovers for 4-5 days in the refrigerator. Store in an airtight container or zippered bag once cooled.

Reheat leftovers in the oven or air fryer at 375°F for 3-5 minutes, or until warmed through.

Pretzel Dogs Recipe FAQ

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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Other Easy Pretzel Recipes

Simple Pretzel Dogs + Video

Donna Elick

These simple pretzel dogs feature hot dogs baked inside of soft beer pretzels. Ready in just 35 minutes, so you can make this recipe any night!

5 stars from 3 reviews

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Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!

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Prep Time 22 minutes mins

Cook Time 13 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Method Oven

Servings 8

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• ▢ 12 ounces warmed beer, 110°-120°F* see notes
• ▢ 2 tablespoons honey
• ▢ 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ 1/2 cup baking soda
• ▢ 1 large egg
• ▢ coarse salt, or pretzel salt
• ▢ 8 hot dogs

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
• Pour beer into the bowl of a stand mixer (see cooks note if you do not have a stand mixer), sprinkle yeast over top, add honey and stir. Allow yeast to bloom for 5-10 minutes. Once it is nice and foamy, it is ready.
• Fill an 8-quart pot with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. In a small bowl beat egg and 2 tablespoons water with a fork. Set aside. Wash a section of countertop for rolling out dough. Do not flour it or it will be harder to roll out the dough.
• Add flour and salt to mixer. Knead for about 3 minutes until the dough comes together in one ball. Add more flour a tablespoon at a time as needed, if the bread is too sticky to come together. The dough should be tacky when you pull it out of the mixer, not sticky.
• Place dough on countertop and form dough into a ball.
• We are going to cut this ball into 8 (somewhat) even pieces. First, quarter the ball of dough. Then cut each quarter in half. Roll each piece into a 12” strand.
• Place the end of the dough strand on the end of the hot dog pinching the end together, and then wrap it around the dog until all of the dough is wrapped around the dog. Pinch the ends so they stay together.
• Carefully, add baking soda to boiling water. USE CAUTION: IT WILL BUBBLE UP. Place hot dogs into boiling water about 3 at a time. Remove with a slotted spoon after 30 seconds. Place on parchment paper to cool and repeat until all hot dogs have been boiled.
• Arrange all pretzel dogs on parchment so they are not touching. Brush eggwash onto each one and sprinkle with coarse salt.
• Bake for 11-13 minutes until the tops are browned.
• Enjoy!

Video

Donna’s Notes

You can mix the dough by hand if you do not have a stand mixer. Add beer, yeast, and honey to a large bowl. Once the yeast blooms stir in the salt and the flour. Mix with a spoon. Turn dough out onto the floured countertop and knead for 3-5 minutes until the dough is no longer sticky. Proceed with remaining instructions.

I microwaved the beer in a glass microwave-safe measuring cup, 15 seconds at a time until it was 110-120 degrees.

You can substitute milk or water for the beer. I prefer Blue Moon beer in this recipe, but you can use whatever you have on hand.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 350cal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 2664mg | Sugar: 4g | Fiber: 2g | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 4mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Originally published April 2014, updated and republished September 2024

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