Crock Pot Hot Dogs

Crockpot hot dogs are the ultimate party food hack! They cook up tender and juicy with that perfect snap, and honestly, this is the easiest way to feed a crowd without breaking a sweat.

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Hot dogs are party perfection for so many reasons! Pretty much everyone loves them, you can set up a whole topping bar next to your other appetizers, and they’re budget friendly.

Backyard BBQs, game day tailgating, and birthday parties are the perfect times to make these! Just like my crockpot taco meat, you can set it and forget it while you actually spend time enjoying the party.

I’ve made hot dogs on the stove (boiling them 🫠), on the grill, in the smoker, over a campfire, and even in the air fryer. But this slow cooker method wins every time. Especially for those larger crowds!

Why A Crockpot Is Best For Party Hot Dogs:

Minimal effort while you prep other foods
One pot to clean up
Cook up to 60 hot dogs at once
Keeps them warm throughout your party
Guests can serve themselves
Perfect results every single time

I break out my crock often, especially for a party. I use it to make this buffalo chicken dip, these BBQ little smokies, and these hot honey meatballs. It’s the reason I have 4 crockpots, LOL.

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Hot dogs, buns, and condiments on a marble surface

See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and their quantities.

Ingredient Notes

Hot dogs – Use your favorite brand of hot dogs. They pretty much all work including the low fat chicken dogs.
Slow cooker – I like to use a crockpot that is at least 6 quarts. That way I can cook a bunch of hot dogs. *See size notes below*

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How To Make Crock Pot Hot Dogs

unwrapped hot dogs on a white plate next to some ketchup

Open the hot dog packages and drain the liquid. Place the dogs in the slow cooker and either stand them up on end or lay them down.

hot dogs standing up in a white crock pot

Cover and cook on high 2-3 hours rotating them every 30-45 minutes. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 165F. Reduce the temperature to the warm setting and serve.

For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

close up of tongs holding a single hot dog over a bowl of extra hot dogs

Storage & Leftovers

Unopened packages of hot dogs can be stored in the refrigerator until they reach their expiration date. If you are not planning on using them before then, they can be frozen for up to 6 months.

Once the package is opened, they will last up to 5 days if stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

Leftover cooked hot dogs will keep in the fridge, stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days. You can freeze the cooked hot dogs the same as before for up to 2 months. Just thaw in the refrigerator and reheat when ready to enjoy.

Crock Pot Size

I first used this crock pot I received when I got married, some 20ish years ago, and it is a round, 4.5 quart model. Most of the models now are between 6 and 10 quart, and are oval in shape.

Choose the size of the slow cooker based on how many hot dogs you want to cook.

a 2.5 quart holds around 20-24 hot dogs
4 quart will hold up to 48 hot dogs
6 quart will hold up to 60 hot dogs
10 quart will hold over 100 hot dogs

items for a hot dog bar on a marble counter

Stand Up vs Lay Flat

Depending on the length of the hot dog. Regular size, bun length, and jumbo are not created equal.

standard size = 4.8 inches
bun length = 6 inches
jumbo = 6 inches but thicker in diameter
foot long = 12 inches

A round 6 quart can hold 60 regular size hot dogs standing up, because they are not particularly long. The bun length ones are too long to stand on end, so you will have to lay them flat. Because of this, it can really only cook about 40 bun length ones.

If you use a larger oval model you can stand them on end and cook more at one time. Best to measure your slow cooker insert before you head to the store to get your dogs.

Keeping Them Warm

After cooking the hot dogs, turn the slow cooker to the warm setting. This will keep the hot dogs warm for 2-3 hours. After that they will start to dry out so enjoy them before then.

My old slow cooker doesn’t have a keep warm setting, just a low setting. If that is the case then they will keep on low for an hour. But, they were all eaten by then anyway!

ingredients for hot dogs in individual bowls with spoons in them

Hot Dog Bar

Now that you have a large amount of tender and juicy hot dogs, what are you going to do with them? Make a hot dog bar! Since you didn’t use any time cooking them, take that time to set up all the various toppings. Here are a few ideas:

Hot Dog Chili
Slaw
Cheese
Onion
Ketchup
Mustard
Relish
Salsa
Pico de gallo
Peppers
Lettuce
Tomato

Best Hot Dog Combinations

Chili Cheese Dog: chili, cheese sauce, and diced onion
Chicago Dog: All beef hot dog, yellow mustard, relish, chopped onion, tomato wedges, pickle spear, sport peppers, in a steamed poppy seed bun
Reuben Dog: sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, 1000 island dressing
California: veggie or chicken dog, avocado, pico de gallo, and bacon
Southwest: BBQ sauce, fried onions, jalapeno slices

While you’re at putting together the buffet line, don’t forget the hot dog buns, plates, napkins, cutlery, side dishes, and drinks.

hot dog on a plate topped with shredded cheese and onions

Do you add water to crock pot when cooking them?

That’s the best part of cooking hot dogs this way. No hot dog water! And the texture of the hot dogs is amazing. As the hot dogs slowly cook, they will release moisture which is enough steam to cook them in the crock pot. This creates a tender and juicy center and a crisp outside that snaps when you bite into it. Just the way I like them!

Can you cook hot dogs in a crock pot?

Depends on the following: Are the hot dogs pre-cooked? What is the size of your slow cooker? How many hot dogs are you making?

Are hot dogs pre-cooked?

Most hotdogs are precooked but they still need to be heated to a safe internal temperature before eating. My go to hotdog for cooking for a crowd is a chicken dog. They are tasty and lower in saturated fat. Not just for chicken, this method works for any type of hot dogs: beef, pork, and even sausage dogs!

My Favorite Hot Dog Brands

Chicken Dogs: Gwaltney
Beef: Hebrew National, Nathan’s
Pork: Ball Park, Oscar Meyer

If you love brats instead hot dogs like my husband does, check out How to Grill Brats!

If you love this recipe as much as I do, please leave us a five-star review in the comment section below. Thanks!

Pinterest pin image for crockpot hot dogs recipe

This slow cooker hot dog recipe is perfect for a graduation party, picnics, backyard bbqs, summer parties, family reunions, birthday parties, tailgating, and sleepovers for the kids. It’s the easiest way to feed a crowd of hungry friends and makes the best hot dogs!