Introduction
These Slow Cooker Buttered Hot Dogs are an incredibly easy, budget-friendly comfort food that takes just a few ingredients. Hot dogs are coated with classic mustard and ketchup, then slow-cooked with butter and seasonings until they become juicy, flavorful, and deliciously rich. Perfect for game day, parties, potlucks, or an easy family dinner!
🛒 Ingredients
- 2 packages (about 16 oz each) beef or classic hot dogs
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup yellow mustard
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar, optional
- 2 tablespoons water
Optional toppings
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Diced onions
- Pickle relish
- Extra ketchup
- Extra mustard
- Chopped green onions
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the hot dogs
Cut each hot dog into 2–3 pieces. For more flavor, make a few shallow diagonal cuts in each piece without cutting completely through.
2. Add to the Crockpot
Place the hot dog pieces into a 6-quart slow cooker and spread them out evenly.
3. Add the sauces
Drizzle the ketchup and yellow mustard over the hot dogs.
Add Worcestershire sauce and water, then sprinkle over the garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and smoked paprika.
4. Add the butter
Cut the butter into several pieces and place them evenly over the hot dogs.
If you like a slightly sweet barbecue-style flavor, add the brown sugar.
5. Cook
Cover with the lid and cook:
LOW: 2–3 hours
HIGH: 1–1½ hours
Stir gently halfway through cooking so the sauce coats all the hot dogs.
6. Finish
Once the hot dogs are hot and the butter and sauces have formed a flavorful coating, give everything one final stir.
For an extra cheesy version, sprinkle shredded cheddar over the top, cover for 5–10 minutes, and allow the cheese to melt.
🍽️ How to Serve
Serve the hot dogs directly from the slow cooker with:
- Soft hot dog buns 🌭
- Coleslaw
- Potato salad
- French fries
- Mac and cheese
- Pickles
- Chips
You can also serve them as party bites with toothpicks and small bowls of ketchup and mustard.
💡 Tips
- Use beef hot dogs for a richer flavor.
- Don’t add too much salt—the hot dogs and butter already contain salt.
- For a sweeter sauce, increase the brown sugar to 2 tablespoons.
- For a spicy version, add ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or a few dashes of hot sauce.
- Keep the slow cooker on WARM when serving at a party.
⏱️ Recipe Information
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 2–3 hours on LOW
Total Time: About 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 6–8
Method: Slow Cooker
❤️ Conclusion
These buttery, saucy Slow Cooker Hot Dogs are one of those ridiculously easy recipes that are perfect when you need something quick and satisfying. Toss everything into the Crockpot, let it cook, and you have juicy, flavorful hot dogs ready for the whole family! 🌭🧈🔥