Get in the spirit with these spooky Halloween hotdog fingers! Who doesn’t love a table covered with severed fingers? Okay, me either, but it’s Halloween! Make these kid-friendly halloweiners for your next party or get-together.

Ingredients You’ll Need
- Hotdogs: Use all beef hotdogs to make these fun Halloween hotdog fingers for a tasty appetizer.
- Hotdog Buns: Use regular hotdog buns or potato rolls. You can also wrap the hotdogs in Crescent Rolls with the “fingernail” peeking out for a fun variation of this recipe.
- Ketchup: Dip the hotdogs in ketchup, and spread them onto the bun to look like blood.
How to Make Halloween Hotdog Fingers
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
How do you cut the fingers to look like a bloody finger?
Step 1: Make the fingernails in the hotdogs using a paring knife to draw the shape of a “nail.”

Step 2: Then, slide the pairing knife underneath the top of the nail.

Step 3: Gently drag it to remove the skin from the hotdog in that area.

Step 4: Next, use the paring knife to create the “knuckles.” I carve two lines underneath the nail and 3-4 halfway down the hot dog to make it look natural.
Repeat with the remaining hotdogs and set them aside.

How do you cook Halloween hotdog fingers?
Step 5: Fill a saucepan with water and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Add the hotdogs and cook them according to the package, usually 5-7 minutes.

Step 6: Drain and transfer the hotdogs to a skillet and pan-sear them over medium heat until they turn golden brown.

Step 7: Dip the hotdogs in a generous amount of ketchup and set them into the hotdog buns to serve.

If you enjoy the hotdogs, try more appetizer recipes!

What to do with the Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store the leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: Let the severed finger hotdogs cool, and transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag. Cooked hotdogs freeze for up to 1 month.
- Thaw: Let the hotdogs defrost in the refrigerator overnight.
- Reheat: Warm the leftovers in a skillet over medium heat or the microwave. You can also bring them to temperature in the air fryer. Cook them for 3-4 minutes at 350℉ (176℃).
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of hotdogs should I use?
I prefer all beef hotdogs, and I usually buy Nathan’s or Frank’s because I like how they taste. However, any hotdog brand will work, and you can even use chicken sausage, bratwurst, or Polish sausage.
Can I make these in the air fryer?
Of course! Cook the hotdogs in the air fryer for 7-10 minutes at 370℉ (188℃).
More Sausage Recipes:

Halloween Hotdog Fingers
- 1 package beef hotdogs, 8 count
- 1 package hotdog buns, 8 count
- 2 tablespoons ketchup, for garnish
- Make the fingernails in the hotdogs using a paring knife to draw the shape of a "nail." Then, slide the pairing knife underneath the top of the nail and gently drag it to remove the skin from the hotdog in that area.
- Next, use the paring knife to create the “knuckles.” I carve two lines underneath the nail and 3-4 halfway down the hot dog to make it look natural. Repeat with the remaining hotdogs and set them aside.
- Fill a saucepan with water and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Add the hotdogs and cook them according to the package, usually 5-7 minutes.
- Drain and transfer the hotdogs to a skillet and pan-sear them over medium heat until they turn golden brown. Dip the hotdogs in a generous amount of ketchup and set them into the hotdog buns to serve.
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.