I had my first Vietnamese sub about 5 years ago and I couldn't believe what I had been missing my entire life! I'd have one at least once a week if it weren't for the financial and caloric expense. So, I've come up with this Banh Mi Turkey Hot Dog recipe instead. I was amazed at how delicious and satisfying it was! These healthy turkey hot dogs are loaded with fresh vegetables and herbs. They are also the perfect way to get your Banh Mi sandwich (Vietnamese sub) fix in a quick, economical, healthy and Weight Watchers friendly way!
I'm trying to be careful with the grocery budget and eat healthy at home, so this Turkey frank is my quick and economical strategy for getting that Vietnamese sub fix. I use turkey hot dogs so it's also Weight Watchers friendly @ only 5 ww points. And it's totally kid friendly as well (my kids LOVE this meal)! This turkey dog recipe pairs well with my Skinny Coleslaw Recipe (0 ww points)!
Jump to:
- 🥘Ingredient Notes
- 📖 Variations & Substitutions
- 📋 Hot Dog dinner Idea
- 🔪Step -by-step: How to Make Banh Mi Turkey Hotdogs
- Expert Recipe Tips
- 🥗 What to Serve with Turkey Dogs
- 👪 Serving Size
- Top Tip: Calories in Turkey Hot Dogs
- 🔢WW Points
- 🌡️Storage
- 🥒🥕Gourmet Hot Dog Toppings
- ❔ Recipe FAQs
- 🍲More Weight Watchers Recipes!
- 🌭Banh Mi Turkey Hot Dog Recipe
- 📖 Variations & Substitutions
However, if you still want a Banh Mi Sandwich, I would recommend giving my Slow Cooker Chicken Banh Mi Vietnamese Sandwiches a try. They are also WW friendly!
🥘Ingredient Notes
In Vietnamese Banh Mi means 'bread', referring to a type of baguette that is often split lengthwise and filled with various savory ingredients such as cucumber, carrot, daikon radishes, mint, and cilantro. This gourmet hot dog has all those things, including a rice vinegar mixture and sriracha sauce.
- Turkey Dogs. You can use any brand of turkey hot dog, but I prefer Butterball Turkey Franks. They are easy to find, but they are 4 ww points. Applegate Natural uncured hot dogs are also supposed great, as are Ball Park, and they are both lower points (1-3 ww points) than Butterball, but I haven't been able to find them (in Canada). You can get Ball Park through Instacart.
- Hot Dog Buns. While whole wheat are a healthy choice, Hebrew national light (97% fat free) hot dogs are 1 ww point. Depending on where you live, you can buy other brands of weight watchers friendly/light/low point hot dog buns.
- Rice Vinegar. I use regular or seasoned, but the seasoned has more flavor, so I prefer it.
- Fresh Cilantro and Fresh Mint. These are non-negotiable! I have tried dried herbs and they do not work. The burst of fresh flavor you get from the herbs is well worth the trouble.
📖 Variations & Substitutions
- Hot dogs - Sometimes I make these with regular beef hot dogs for the kids.
- Add-ins- You can add daikon radishes.
- Grilling: You can make these in the oven instead of grilling them. They can also be made in the air fryer.
- Sriracha - You can use another type of hot sauce instead of sriracha. You can use jalapenos (jarred) if you don't have (or like ) sriracha sauce.
📋 Hot Dog dinner Idea
The great thing about this recipe is that the hot dogs/turkey dogs can also be baked or broiled in the oven or boiled on the stove top any time of the year.
In fact, if you're looking for a healthy quick weeknight hot dog dinner ideas, this is banh mi hot dog is perfect. My family loves these so much that we eat them on a regular rotation!
🔪Step -by-step: How to Make Banh Mi Turkey Hotdogs
- Step 1: Grill, bake, broil, or boil the turkey dogs, as per package directions. or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F/74 degrees C.
- Step 2: Mix sugar and rice vinegar together in a small bowl.
- Step 3: Add cucumber, grated carrot, red onion, and herbs to bun, dividing between all 4 buns . Add a turkey hot dog to hot dog bun. Drizzle vinegar/sugar mixture over turkey dogs. Then drizzle sriracha sauce over turkey hot dogs (as much as desired). *I only use a little as it's spicy!
- Step 4: Squeeze lime wedge over turkey dog and veggies and herbs, dividing by all 4.
Expert Recipe Tips
- Toast the Buns for Texture: Lightly toasting or grilling the buns adds a nice crunch and prevents them from getting soggy under the vinegar mixture and juicy veggies.
- Chill the Veggies Beforehand: For extra crunch and refreshment, keep your sliced cucumbers, grated carrots, and onions in the fridge until just before assembling.
- Use a Julienne Peeler or Mandoline: For that classic Banh Mi look and texture, julienning the carrots (instead of grating) adds visual appeal and better structure.
- Don’t Skip the Lime: The lime juice balances the sweetness of the sugar and the heat from the sriracha, tying everything together — it’s a small step that makes a big difference!
- Assemble Right Before Serving: For best texture and freshness, don’t add the vinegar mix or sriracha until just before serving. This prevents the bun from getting soggy.
- Control the Heat: Let everyone customize their own heat level. Serve the sriracha on the side or offer both spicy and mild hot sauces at the table.
- Use High-Quality Turkey Dogs: Choose a brand with recognizable ingredients and minimal fillers. The better the base protein, the better the overall flavor.
🥗 What to Serve with Turkey Dogs
Make it a Meal: Pair with a crunchy slaw like my Artichoke and Red Bell Pepper Slaw (shown) at 1 ww point, or a fresh summer salad such as this Strawberry Spinach Pecan Salad (2 ww points + dressing you put on it) to round out the meal.
And if you're looking for a great summer dessert to serve with this meal, try my Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake (No Bake).
👪 Serving Size
This turkey hot dog recipe makes 4 turkey hot dogs. But you can half, double or triple the recipe by simply clicking on the serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.
Top Tip: Calories in Turkey Hot Dogs
It's best to educate yourself when you're buying hot dogs and turkey hot dogs, as many brands still use mechanically separated meat. You can read more about choosing a healthy hot dog HERE.
Turkey Hot dogs typically have about 100 calories. They are also a good source of protein and have less fat than a typical hot dog. And they are cheaper to buy than a lot of other leaner meats.
In terms of Weight Watchers points, a typical turkey hot dog is nearly half the points of a regular hot dog. Turkey smokies are also generally less than half the points of regular smokies.
But of course, it varies by brand, so you have to read your labels. And it's worth mentioning that they can also be quite high in sodium, so you don't want to be eating turkey hot dogs regularly. But sometimes you just gotta have a dog and/or a Vietnamese sub and this will satisfy both those cravings!
🔢WW Points
You can lower the WW points in this recipe by choosing a fat-free turkey hot dog (mine was not fat-free) and a light bun (see ingredients adn variations). This recipe is 5 WW points.
🌡️Storage
Store the turkey dogs separately from the veggies and rice vinegar sugar mixture in the fridge for up to 3 days (in sealed containers) The buns can be stored at room temperature. You can freeze the hot dogs (leftovers) separately from the buns (the buns can be frozen too). The toppings do not stand up to freezing-they need to be prepared fresh.
🥒🥕Gourmet Hot Dog Toppings
Although it's quick and easy to make, this Banh Mi Hot dog still qualifies as a gourmet hot dog recipe because of all the toppings on it- it's not just your typical ketchup, mustard and onion toppings.
But the bonus is that it's all healthy stuff like fresh carrots, cucumbers, mint, cilantro and red onion! So, if you're looking for quick, easy and healthy hot dog recipe that tastes gourmet, then give this one a try. You won't believe how satisfying it is (even I didn't!)
❔ Recipe FAQs
Yes! Pickled carrot and daikon (often found in traditional Banh Mi sandwiches) can be used for extra tang and authenticity. Just reduce or omit the sugar-vinegar drizzle, as the pickled veggies already have acidity.
Whole wheat hot dog buns are a healthy choice, but you can also use white, brioche, or even mini baguettes to lean more into the traditional Banh Mi feel. *See variations and ingredients for lower point/ww hot dog bun recommendations
Definitely! Use plant-based hot dogs and ensure your buns and sriracha are vegan-friendly. You’ll still get the fresh, herby flavor profile of a Banh Mi.
Yes – the carrots, onions, and cucumbers can be prepped the day before and stored in the fridge. Mix the vinegar and sugar right before serving for the freshest flavor.
And if you're like me and still hanging onto those end days of summer, then these Weight Watchers frozen desserts Strawberry Drumstick Frozen Yogurt Cups, Rocky Road Frozen Greek Yogurt Bark, or this Healthy Strawberry Yogurt Popsicle Recipe, are perfect for your weekend BBQ, Memorial Day, Canada Day or a fourth of July bbq. Although, I still eat these all year long (yes, they are that good!)
Happy Grilling!!!
🍲More Weight Watchers Recipes!
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🌭Banh Mi Turkey Hot Dog Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 turkey hot dogs * chicken hot dogs can be substituted
- 4 whole wheat hot dog buns
- ⅓ cup red onion, chopped
- 1 long English cucumber, slice into ¼ inch circles (or thinner if preferred)
- 1 cup grated carrots
- 2 tablespoon fresh cilantro leaves
- 2 tablespoon fresh mint leaves
- ½ teaspoon white granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 wedge fresh lime * about ¼ of a lime
Garnish
Instructions
- Grill or bake, broil or boil turkey dogs as per package directions.4 turkey hot dogs
- Add cucumber, grated carrot, red onion and herbs to bun, dividing between all 4 buns⅓ cup red onion, chopped, 1 long English cucumber, slice into ¼ inch circles (or thinner if preferred), 1 cup grated carrots, 2 tablespoon fresh cilantro leaves, 2 tablespoon fresh mint leaves
- Mix sugar and rice vinegar together in small bowl and drizzle over veggies and herbs½ teaspoon white granulated sugar, 1 ½ teaspoon rice vinegar
- Squeeze lime wedge over veggies and herbs, dividing by all 41 wedge fresh lime
- Add turkey hot dog to hot dog bun.4 whole wheat hot dog buns
Garnish
- Drizzle sriracha sauce over turkey hot dogs (as much as desired). I only use a little as it's spicysriracha sauce- drizzled
Notes
-
- Toast the Buns for Texture: Lightly toasting or grilling the buns adds a nice crunch and prevents them from getting soggy under the vinegar mixture and juicy veggies.
-
- Chill the Veggies Beforehand: For extra crunch and refreshment, keep your sliced cucumbers, grated carrots, and onions in the fridge until just before assembling.
-
- Use a Julienne Peeler or Mandoline: For that classic Banh Mi look and texture, julienning the carrots (instead of grating) adds visual appeal and better structure.
-
- Don’t Skip the Lime: The lime juice balances the sweetness of the sugar and the heat from the sriracha, tying everything together — it’s a small step that makes a big difference!
-
- Assemble Right Before Serving: For best texture and freshness, don’t add the vinegar mix or sriracha until just before serving. This prevents the bun from getting soggy.
-
- Control the Heat: Let everyone customize their own heat level. Serve the sriracha on the side or offer both spicy and mild hot sauces at the table.
-
- Use High-Quality Turkey Dogs: Choose a brand with recognizable ingredients and minimal fillers. The better the base protein, the better the overall flavor.
📖 Variations & Substitutions
- Hot dogs - Sometimes I make these with regular beef hot dogs for the kids.
- Add-ins- You can add daikon radishes.
- Grilling: You can make these in the oven instead of grilling them. They can also be made in the air fryer.
- Sriracha - You can use another type of hot sauce instead of sriracha. You can use jalapenos (jarred) if you don't have (or like ) sriracha sauce
Char
This recipe is so easy, fresh, and tasty, you'll never want to go out for lunch or supper again. Bursting with so many flavours and textures. You'll want to have it every day. Seriously. I think kids would love it, too, as they can personalize the toppings.
Terri Gilson
Happy to hear it was a hit! My kids love this recipe too! 🙂
Kristen
What a great spin off the regular old hot dog. My hubby would love these!