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Hot Dog Spaghetti is the goofy, budget friendly dinner my kids cheer for, with sliced hot dogs simmered into a rich parmesan tomato sauce and piled over noodles for the ultimate fun weeknight meal. If your family loves easy pasta nights, you will also want our best spaghetti and meatballs.
It uses pantry staples and a pack of hot dogs to feed the whole family for just a few dollars.
Hot Dog Spaghetti Quick Look
- 🕐 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🍴 Cook Time: 70 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 80 minutes
- 🍽 Serving: 6 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 532kcal
- 🌶 Flavor Profile: Savory, cheesy, comforting tomato sauce
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, as simple as our easy chow mein with ramen noodles
Quick Answer
To make Hot Dog Spaghetti, sear sliced hot dogs in olive oil in a Dutch oven. Stir in tomato sauce, parmesan, oregano, basil, sugar, garlic powder, and onion powder, then simmer covered on low for about an hour. Cook spaghetti separately, taste the sauce and season with salt, then serve the sauce over the noodles with extra parmesan.
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Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Searing the hot dogs builds flavor. A quick browning adds a savory, almost smoky depth before the sauce goes in.
- A long simmer melds everything. An hour on low lets the hot dogs soak up the seasoned tomato sauce.
- Parmesan adds savory richness. Stirred right into the sauce, it brings nutty, salty depth.
- A pinch of sugar balances the acidity. It rounds out the canned tomato sauce so it tastes slow simmered.
- Cooking the noodles separately keeps them from turning mushy in the sauce.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Budget friendly and feeds a family of six for just a few dollars.
- Kid approved, since what kid does not love hot dogs and spaghetti together?
- Mostly hands off, much like our classic spaghetti and meatballs that simmers low and slow.
Key Ingredients
- Hot dogs: Sliced into coins; use your favorite beef or all beef franks.
- Tomato sauce: The base of the sauce; a smooth canned sauce works great.
- Parmesan cheese: Stirred in for savory, nutty richness.
- Italian seasonings: Oregano, basil, garlic powder, and onion powder build the flavor.
- Spaghetti: Cooked separately and topped with the hearty sauce.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
- Swap the franks: Use turkey dogs, beef franks, or even smoked sausage.
- Add veggies: Stir in sauteed onion, bell pepper, or mushrooms.
- Make it cheesy: Top with shredded mozzarella and broil for a minute.
- Spice it up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- More family dinners: Try our slow cooker Mississippi beef cubed steaks.
How to Make Hot Dog Spaghetti
- Add the oil to a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. Once hot, add the sliced hot dogs and sear them, stirring often, until lightly browned.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, parmesan, oregano, basil, sugar, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, and simmer covered for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. While it simmers, cook the spaghetti per the package directions.
- Taste the sauce and add salt if needed, then serve immediately over the noodles with more parmesan if desired.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Sear, do not boil, the hot dogs for the best flavor and a little texture.
- Simmer low and slow so the sauce thickens and the flavors meld.
- Salt at the end since hot dogs and parmesan are already salty.
- Cook noodles separately and toss with a little oil so they do not stick.
- Use a smooth tomato sauce for a classic texture, or crushed tomatoes for more body.
- Save leftovers, the sauce tastes even better the next day.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
Hot Dog Spaghetti is a complete comfort meal on its own, but it is even better as part of a casual family dinner spread. Pile the saucy hot dogs over a nest of noodles and shower it with extra parmesan.
Round it out with a simple green salad, some cheese stuffed breadsticks, or a side of garlic bread to soak up the sauce. For another cozy noodle night, try our easy chow mein with ramen noodles.
Leftovers reheat beautifully, so make a big batch and enjoy it for lunch the next day.
Hot Dog Spaghetti FAQs
Hot Dog Spaghetti is a fun, budget friendly dinner of sliced hot dogs simmered in a seasoned parmesan tomato sauce and served over spaghetti noodles. It is a kid favorite that comes together with simple pantry staples.
Any hot dogs work for Hot Dog Spaghetti. Beef or all beef franks hold up well to the long simmer, but turkey dogs or even smoked sausage are great too.
Yes, the sauce for Hot Dog Spaghetti actually tastes better the next day. Make the sauce ahead, refrigerate, and reheat gently, then cook fresh noodles to serve.
Store leftover Hot Dog Spaghetti sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave and serve over freshly cooked or reheated noodles.
Yes, freeze the cooled sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat before serving over noodles.
Hot Dog Spaghetti pairs well with a green salad, garlic bread, or cheese stuffed breadsticks. Add extra parmesan on top for even more savory flavor.
Other Recommended Family Dinner Recipes
If you make this Hot Dog Spaghetti, please leave a star rating and a comment below. I love hearing how your family liked it, and it helps other readers find the recipe too!
Love this one? Don’t miss viral TikTok ramen, homemade strawberry butter, crescent roll cinnamon rolls, caramel pecan logs.
Hot Dog Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 15 ounces hot dogs 1/2 inch sliced
- 28 ounces tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 pound spaghetti noodles prepared per the package directions
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Add the oil once hot in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat.1 tablespoon olive oil
- Add the hot dogs and get a light sear on them, stirring often.15 ounces hot dogs
- Stir in the tomato sauce, parmesan, oregano, basil, sugar, garlic powder, and onion powder.28 ounces tomato sauce, 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and simmer, covered for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
- While the sauce simmers, make the noodles.1 pound spaghetti noodles
- Taste the sauce and add salt if needed.Salt to taste
- Serve immediately with the noodles and more parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Sear ‘Em Up – Get those hot dog bites golden in the olive oil—they’ll taste like little champs!
- Simmer Slow – Cook the sauce on medium-low heat so it gets all friendly with the spices.
- Al Dente Noodles – Boil your spaghetti noodles per package instructions until al dente—no mushy messes here!
- Stir Gently – Use a wooden spoon so the hot dog pieces don’t turn into hot dog mush.
- Taste Check – Sneak a spoonful of the sauce—add salt or garlic powder if it needs a boost!
- Cheese Finish – Pile on extra parmesan cheese right before serving—it’s the best part of this kid’s meal!
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
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Thank you for the positive feedback about the scrolling – we did not like it either and found a way to make sure everyone did not have to any more. THANKY YOU!!!
Agree with Kyla, that was a great idea to retype the ingredient measurements with the instructions! No more scrolling back and forth. I guess my rating is about the instructions for now, but I was looking for this recipe for my picky eaters, so making this tonight! Also like the suggestion to brown the hot dogs first.
LOVE that you put the measurements in the written narrative instructions. THANK YOU! Making this for the fam tonight!