These Brazilian Hot Dogs are a classic Brazilian childhood favorite! They’re a special treat that’s easy to make and tastes oh-so-special. They’re cooked in a tomato sauce with veggies to elevate their flavors and can be topped with a ton of fun stuff, from the sauce they’re cooked in to Parmesan cheese, some Batata Palha potato sticks, or anything you like! – recipe makes 10, easily doubled!
Why I love Cachorro Quente, Classic Brazilian Hot Dogs
Oi Gente!
Let’s be clear: I absolutely love hot dogs, and ummm who doesn’t!?
Cachorro Quente, which is what we call these Brazilian hot dogs in Portuguese, remind me of my childhood in Brazil, and I make them to this day because they taste like home.
In Brazil, we cook our hot dogs in a tomato sauce with sauteed vegetables for extra flavor. They’re not typically cooked on the grill like American hot dogs, and, the best part—they’re topped with crispy potato sticks, Parmesan cheese, extra sauce and condiments.
Cachorro quente is perfect for all sorts of festas and celebrations from birthdays to festas Juninas, and especially kid-related special activities, like sleepovers, study groups, after school snacks and kiddie hangouts. Why? They’re delicious, quick to make and a very cheap way to feed a bunch of kids!
And speaking of kids, for the littlest kiddos, we sometimes slice the franks into small bites, and serve their hot dogs without the onion and bell peppers. This makes it so much easier for them to eat.
Much like Hot Dog Pasta, we didn’t eat hot dog dinners every evening. Usually, when we made cachorro quente, was a quick and cheap way to celebrate something, and we always had such a great time!! It’s true, meus amigos, these classic Brazilian hot dogs are synonymous of fun!
These Brazilian hot dogs are fantastic in just the bun by themselves, but they’re even better with the toppings! Add some more of the sauce, Parmesan cheese, batata palha potato sticks (or potato chips), your choice of condiments , or whatever you like – either way, they’re impossible not to love.
Bom Apetite!
Brazilian Hot Dog Ingredients
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- Your favorite Hot Dogs—The brand I like the most, which reminds me of the taste of the dogs I ate growing up, is Oscar Mayer Classic Wieners.
- Hot dog buns—no need to toast them, but you can if that’s your thing!
- Minced garlic or that Brazilian sofrito I know you have in your fridge!
- Green Bell Pepper
- Onion
- Unsalted Butter
- Marinara Sauce—I used jarred. My favorite is the Costco brand.
- Water
Topping suggestions:
- Parmesan Cheese
- Additional simmering sauce
- Ketchup, mustard, mayo and whatever condiment floats your boat.
- Batata Palha potato sticks. You can also just use regular potato chips crumbled on top.
How to Make Brazilian Hot Dogs
Start by making a slit down the middle of the hot dogs. We do this so we can visually know when the dogs are done—they sort of “bloom” when they’re heated through – you’ll see.
Then, heat a medium saucepan over medium heat and melt butter in it.
Once the butter is melted, add the onions and bell peppers. Sautee until they’re soft, then add the garlic, and cook until fragrant.
Pour in the tomato sauce, as well as the water. Stir to combine, then submerge the hot dogs in the mixture. Bring it to a simmer, and let those dogs cook until they “bloom” about 5-10 minutes.
When cooked, transfer the hot dogs to the buns. Top them with extra sauce, a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and batata palha potato sticks. Drizzle on mayo, ketchup and mustard, if desired, and enjoy!
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Complete your party with these Brazilian Drinks!
Don’t forget dessert!
- Brigadeiro Cake – for the ultimate birthday party celebration!
- Nega Maluca Brazilian Chocolate Sheet Cake – for a super easy, stress free sheet cake
- Brigadeiro Brazilian Fudge Balls – for a classic Brazilian bite-size party treat
Other Brazilian Kid Favorites
- Pao de Queijo – Brazilian Cheese Bread
- Hot dog pasta
- Arroz Maluco – Brazilian Fried Rice with Ham and Egg
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Cachorro Quente – Brazilian Hot Dogs
Ingredients
For the Brazilian Hot Dog Sauce:
- 10 hot dogs
- 10 hot dog buns
- 1 small onion, sliced or 1/2 of a large one
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and sliced
- 1 teaspoon Brazilian sofrito or 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1.5 cups marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup water
Toppings Suggestions:
- Batata palha potato sticks, to taste or crumbled (cracked?) potato chips
- Parmesan cheese, to taste
- Ketchup, to taste
- Mustard, to taste
- Mayonnaise, to taste
Instructions
- Using a paring knife, make a slit down the middle of each of the hot dogs and set aside.
- In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
- When the butter is melted, add the chopped onions and the bell peppers. Sautee until the onions are transparent, about 2 minutes.
- Next, add in the garlic, and sautee until it's fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- Pour in the marinara sauce and the water, and stir to combine, then submerge the hot dogs in the sauce. Bring to a simmer.
- Simmer the hot dogs for 5-10 minutes.
- Place the cooked hot dogs in the buns, and top with the sauce, a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, and potato sticks to taste. Dress with mayo, ketchup and mustard, if desired!
Loved it so much! This is the best recipe for it I’ve found and it is absolutely ridiculously good. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe!
Oi, Brittni! THANK YOU!!!! This is definitely a fun recipe and I love that you loved it this much 🙂