Delicious and comforting gluten free hot dog fried rice that comes together in no time for a quick weeknight meal. I make this every week (sometimes more!) because it’s not only my husband’s favorite, but I almost always have all the ingredients on hand. Though I don’t usually post non-paleo recipes here, I’m making an exception after so many Instagram requests!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
If you’re looking for a quick, satisfying meal that the whole family will enjoy, this hot dog fried rice is perfect. The combination of savory hot dogs, aromatic ginger and garlic, and fluffy rice creates comfort food at its finest. Another reason to love this recipe is that it’s a one pot meal! This means that not only is the cooking process simple and easy, so is the cleanup.
When I first created this recipe, I was trying to use up leftover rice and some hot dogs from the fridge. What started as a simple clean-out-the-fridge meal quickly became a household favorite! The tender pieces of hot dog add a smoky, savory element that pairs wonderfully with the slight sweetness of carrots and peas.
This dish reminds me of the fried rice my mom would make when I was growing up, but with my own twist that makes it perfect for busy weeknights when you need something delicious in under 30 minutes. If you enjoy this, you’ll also love my spicy Thai basil chicken fried rice and my beef pepper rice recipe.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Rice: Day-old rice works best as it’s drier and less likely to clump. The firmer texture helps it separate easily during stir-frying. You can also use fresh or frozen cauliflower rice instead of cooked rice. Because cauliflower rice is less filling and starchy, I like to bulk it up a bit more with an extra cup.
- Hot dogs: I recommend using grass-fed hot dogs for better quality and flavor. They provide a savory, slightly smoky taste that enriches the entire dish.
- Avocado oil: You can use any other neutral cooking oil.
- Toasted sesame oil: Just a small amount adds that authentic Asian flavor that makes fried rice so distinctive.
- Onion and carrots: These aromatics create a flavor base while adding color, texture, and nutrition.
- Garlic and ginger: Fresh is best here! They add incredible depth and that wonderful aromatic quality that makes this dish so satisfying.
- Eggs: Creates little ribbons of protein throughout the rice and binds everything together beautifully.
- Frozen peas: Adds a pop of color and subtle sweetness. For Whole30, use chopped green onions instead.
- Tamari sauce: Provides the umami flavor that makes this dish so craveable. Use coconut aminos for the paleo/Whole30 version. Coconut aminos are less salty than tamari sauce so you may need to increase the amount, or add a bit of salt to your taste.
- Optional garnish: Chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds.
How to Make This Hot Dog Fried Rice
Step 1: Drizzle toasted sesame oil over rice and stir. This imparts flavor and makes rice easier to work with later.
Step 2: Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add onion and carrots to cook for 3 minutes. Add halved and sliced hot dogs to cook for 2 minutes, then stir in minced garlic and ginger for 1 minute until fragrant.
Step 3: Add rice and stir until heated through, about 3 minutes, breaking up any clumps with a wooden spoon.
Step 4: Move the contents of the pan to the side and add 1 tbsp of avocado oil to the pan. Then add the whisked eggs, letting them spread thinly. Let the bottom of the eggs set for 1 minute without touching, then stir to scramble. Mix it into the fried rice.
Step 5: Add in frozen peas and tamari sauce and stir together for 1 minute. Remove from heat and serve, sprinkled with green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Serve warm.
Substitutions to Make Paleo & Whole30 Fried Rice
This recipe is so easy to make into a paleo cauliflower fried rice with simple substitutions:
- Use 4 cups of fresh or frozen cauliflower rice instead of cooked rice. Because cauliflower rice is less filling and starchy, I like to bulk it up a bit more with an extra cup.
- Use chopped green onions to replace frozen peas. You can also use chopped green beans, but add them with the onions and carrots since they take longer to cook.
- If you have other veggies on hand, feel free to get creative and add them in. This hot dog fried rice is quite versatile and can easily be customized. You just need to be mindful of how long each ingredient takes to cook through so you can add them to the pan at the right time!
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I like using glass containers to avoid any plastic taste seeping into the food.
For reheating, I’ve found that a quick stir-fry in a hot skillet works best – about 3-4 minutes until heated through. Add a tiny splash of water if it seems dry. Microwaving works in a pinch (1-2 minutes, stirring halfway), but the texture isn’t quite as good.
For meal prep, I often make a double batch on Sunday and portion it into individual containers for quick lunches throughout the week. My kids love finding this in their lunchboxes too!
Recipe FAQs
While day-old rice works best since it’s drier and less sticky, you can use freshly cooked rice in a pinch. Spread it on a baking sheet and place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to cool and dry out a bit before using.
Don’t overcook them! Add them to the pan after the vegetables have started to soften, and only cook for about 2 minutes before adding the garlic and ginger.
Absolutely! While eggs add protein and help bind the ingredients together, you can simply omit them if you prefer. The dish will still be delicious, just slightly less cohesive.
This recipe is incredibly versatile! Feel free to add bell peppers, broccoli, green beans, corn, or whatever vegetables you have on hand. Just be mindful of cooking times.
If you make this recipe, please leave me a star rating and comment below! I love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Follow me on social media Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for even more delicious recipes!
Hot Dog Fried Rice (Quick and Easy)
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked white rice, at least a day old works best or 4 cups riced cauliflower
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 tbsp avocado oil or your favorite cooking oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 medium carrots diced
- 4 grass-fed hot dogs halved lengthwise then sliced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 inch fresh ginger grated
- 2 eggs whisked
- 1/2 cup frozen peas or chopped green onions for Whole30
- 2½ tbsp tamari sauce or coconut aminos for Whole30 – can use soy sauce if not gluten free
- Optional garnish: chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Drizzle toasted sesame oil over rice and stir. Set aside.3 cups cooked white rice, at least a day old works best, 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- Heat 1 tbsp of avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add onion and carrots to cook for 3 minutes. Add halved and sliced hot dogs to cook for 2 minutes, then stir in minced garlic and ginger for 1 minute until fragrant.1 small onion, 2 medium carrots, 4 grass-fed hot dogs, 3 garlic cloves, 1/2 inch fresh ginger
- Add rice and and stir until heated through, about 3 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
- Move the contents of the pan to the side and add the remaining 1 tbsp of avocado oil to the pan. Then add the whisked eggs, letting them spread thinly. Let the bottom of the eggs set for 1 minute without touching, then stir to scramble. Mix it into the fried rice.2 eggs
- Add in frozen peas and tamari sauce and stir together for 1 minute. Remove from heat and serve, sprinkled with green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Serve warm.1/2 cup frozen peas, 2½ tbsp tamari sauce, Optional garnish: chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds
Notes
- Use 4 cups of fresh or frozen cauliflower rice instead of cooked rice. Because cauliflower rice is less filling and starchy, I like to bulk it up a bit more with an extra cup.
- Use chopped green onions to replace frozen peas. You can also use chopped green beans, but add them with the onions and carrots since they take longer to cook.
- If you have other veggies on hand, feel free to get creative and add them in. This hot dog fried rice is quite versatile and can easily be customized. You just need to be mindful of how long each ingredient takes to cook through so you can add them to the pan at the right time!
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I like using glass containers to avoid any plastic taste seeping into the food.
- For reheating, I’ve found that a quick stir-fry in a hot skillet works best – about 3-4 minutes until heated through. Add a tiny splash of water if it seems dry. Microwaving works in a pinch (1-2 minutes, stirring halfway), but the texture isn’t quite as good.
- For meal prep, I often make a double batch on Sunday and portion it into individual containers for quick lunches throughout the week. My kids love finding this in their lunchboxes too!
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This recipe is a winner! I don’t eat grains so I just cooked about 4 cups of cauli-rice separately and used that in the recipe. This is sooo easy to make and frankly I just put in the whole package of 6 hot dogs instead of 4. It makes great left overs too.
This is such a great leftovers recipe and easy to modify (I used some cherry tomatoes and bell peppers) everyone enjoyed it and there were leftovers for lunch too! Yummy!!! Thanks Jean
I love those additions and need to try! So glad you enjoyed!!
This was awesome. I made it for a quick lunch for my 2 young sons. I used half rice half cauli rice, threw in some leftover okra and used a frozen carrot/pea/ corn mix. It was easy and we all loved it – especially with some Yellowbird sriracha on top for me. Yum!
Delicious, simple, and quick! I was AIP for a year about five years ago and never felt better. I quit because recipes and the lifestyle were hard to maintain for me. However, your recipes have totally changed that for me! Loved this meal and can’t wait for lunch tomorrow.
That makes me SO happy. Thank you so much for the comment. Eating with restrictions can be enjoyable and I’m so glad you loved this recipe!!
This recipe was delicious!! Got some snickers from the family when I said I was making “hot dog” fried rice. I surprised them all !! They loved it!!
This was the 1st recipe I’ve made of yours…can’t wait to try more!
Haha I’m so glad you proved them wrong. Thanks so much for making and rating!
This was so good!! The perfect use for leftover rice or those hotdogs that have been in the freezer! Super quick for meal prep too
Thank you so much, Alden!! Always love being part of your meal plan. Appreciate you leaving a review!
I have been wanting to make this for so long and finally got around to it. I used quinoa because it was what I had, and separated the egg yolk from the white to mix the yolk with the quinoa and cook the white as per your directions. Everything worked out perfectly and tasted amazing with a side of homemade yum yum sauce.
Amazing! Thanks so much for trying it out!