Curly Fries Mini Hot Dogs

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You’d be hard-pressed to find a kid who doesn’t like french fries or hot dogs. My kids are no exception. These Curly Fries Mini Hot Dogs make a quick dinner on the fly or lunch.  Serve them with some carrot sticks or fruit to round out the savory and fast food appeal of this guilty pleasure dinner.

These Curly Fries Mini Hot Dogs combine two favorite iconic foods into one yummy bite-sized lunch or dinner for kids.

We got the inspiration for this genius idea from this French Fry Franks recipe from the Food Network which called for making a cornmeal batter and deep frying both the fries and franks. To keep this meal healthier (and easier!) we made these out of just baked curly friends and cocktail franks. We baked our fries instead of frying them to keep this dish on the healthier side.

Needless to say, despite their simple prep, my kids gobbled these mini French fry dogs right up!

French fries and hot dogs go together like peanut butter and jelly. They’re basically the official food of summer, right? But they can be hard to enjoy or feed to your kids when they’re oily, too salty or leave little grease spots on every surface they touch (ugh!). One of my favorite things about this healthier version is that they’re BAKED. A good piece of parchment does a great job of soaking up any excess oil.

All you need are some frozen curly fries and mini cocktail franks. You could also sub in veggie dogs cut in half or thirds for a non-meat version.

Serve with ketchup and a side of mustard. These go quick! So make a bunch in one setting. These cute mini dogs would also be great appetizers for a potluck, party or upcoming Super Bowl party!

Something about franks and fries always makes me think of summer, and these make the PERFECT addition to any barbecue! I don’t know about you, but I’ve found barbecue events with kids can be tricky if you have picky eaters. These are so extremely simple they’re guaranteed to please. Whipping up a tray of these always makes me the favorite mom at the BBQ.

For extra fun flavors that will please adventurous kids AND adults, you can pair these with unexpected dips or toppings for a tasty twist on a classic!

For instance, you can drizzle with vinegar and sprinkle with chopped garlic, cilantro and a pinch of sea salt for a fun, old-fashioned ballpark flavor. Or try dipping in a hot mustard, ranch dressing or green salsa.

Push the boundaries with toppings like jalapeños, crushed potato chips, Mexican Cotija cheese + lime juice, or Thai peanut sauce and an Asian-inspired slaw.

 

For a few more of my favorite kid-pleasing, easy summer barbecue foods, visit our recipes for:

Barbecue Ranch Potato Chip Chicken Tenders – this deliciously easy dinner doubles as an easy cookout crowd-pleaser.

Spinach Artichoke Dip Pizza – what’s better than spinach artichoke dip? Spinach artichoke dip and PIZZA! The perfect finger food for every summer barbecue.

25 Super Cute Summer Snacks for Kids – a delish collection of simple summer snacks for kids.