Air fryer hot dogs are an easy way to cook hot dogs so they get crispy and blistered on the outside in just a few minutes. Plus, you can toss in the buns at the end to toast them perfectly. In this post, we will go over the simple steps to make amazing hot dogs in the air fryer, as well as some tasty toppings and variations to try. Whether you’re a hot dog lover or just looking for a quick and easy meal, you won’t be disappointed!
Why I Love Air Fryer Hot Dogs
Now that my kids are becoming more responsible and do most of the cooking around here, the air fryer is their favorite cooking appliance. I totally get it. An air fryer requires no preheating. You set it and walk away until the food is done. And for my younger kids, it isn’t as intimidating as using the gas range or hot oven.
To help them with their meal prep, I’ve been working on creating more easy air fryer recipes that are kid-friendly and ready in just a few minutes. Since my kids would eat hot dogs every day if I let them, I figured it was time I created the perfect air fryer hot dogs for them. They don’t like the toasted buns in the recipe below but I think that extra minute at the end makes all the difference!
Air Fryer Hot Dogs Ingredients and Tools
- Bun-length beef or turkey hot dogs
- Hot dog buns
- Air fryer
How to Make Air Fryer Hot Dogs
Simplicity and convenience are the keys to this simple recipe! No need to heat up the grill for amazing char and flavor.
Time needed: 5 minutes.
How to Make Air Fryer Hot dogs
- Score the skin of the hot dog
While this isn’t a required step, not only does it result in a nice-looking result, the edges of the knife cuts get extra crispy in the air fryer.
- Cook the hot dogs in the air fryer
Place the hot dogs in the basket of your air fryer with the scored skin facing up. Cook at 400 degrees for 4 minutes. Time may vary depending on the power level of your air fryer.
- Place the hot dogs inside the hot dog buns
You can stop here or if you like toasted hot dog buns, continue on to step four below.
- Toast the hot dog buns
With the hot dogs inside the buns, place them back into the basket of the air fryer and cook at 400 degrees for 1-2 minutes until the buns are toasted.
Recipe FAQs
Think of any type of food that you would roast in the oven or deep fry. Those types of foods really shine in an air fryer. For vegetables, potatoes, cauliflower, asparagus, broccoli, green beans, and sweet potatoes all roast up beautifully in an air fryer. For proteins, chicken, shrimp, steak, fish, sausage, and hot dogs work well. You can also grab your favorite appetizers from the freezer section like mozzarella sticks, chicken nuggets, egg rolls, corn dogs, and tater tots.
Like most food-related questions, the answer will vary from person to person. Air fryer hot dogs create the same char and blistered surface that you get from the grill. The main difference will be the lack of any smokiness you might get from a grill.
What type of hot dogs work best in the air fryer?
Any type of hot dog will work just fine in an air fryer so it is mainly up to your own personal preference. I always recommend using beef hot dogs because they are just so much better tasting than the cheap ones, but grab the ones you love! If you are looking for lower calories, try out turkey or plant-based hot dogs.
Which Air Fryer Do You Recommend?
Before I give you my recommendation, let’s figure out what type of machine you need! First, determine the size of the air fryer you need. For our family, a higher volume air fryer will always beat out a smaller unit. I don’t want to have to make multiple batches of food to get dinner on the table!
Up next, check out the temperature range and power level of any air fryer you are considering. Many of them get really nice and hot but not all of them have that lower temperature range below 300. Definitely select one that goes as low as 250 so you can make all types of air fryer recipes, like these Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs. Also, look at the power level. I always suggest picking a 1500-watt machine.
So now after all that chit chat, I’ve fallen in love with my COSORI 5 qt air fryer. It is my second air fryer and hands-down better than my first one. You will love it.
Recipe Variations
Being a home cook provides endless opportunities to experiment with recipes, personalizing them to your tastes and creativity. Any of the following variations would be great spin-offs of these air fryer hot dogs.
- Add bacon by wrapping the hot dog with a strip of thin-cut bacon before they go into the air fryer.
- Add cheese by cutting a shallow line down the middle of the hot dogs. Air fry them for 3 minutes then add julienned pieces of cheese into the cut lines. Finish cooking the hot dogs for 1 more minute.
- Add heat by cutting a shallow line down the middle of the hot dogs and adding slices of fresh jalapeños into the cut. Cook as directed in the recipe below.
Looking For More Great Air Fryer Recipes?
If these amazing hot dogs were the solution to your dinner woes, be sure to check out these other delicious recipes. Go grab them now before you scroll away!
Air Fryer Hot Dogs
Ready in just a few minutes with perfectly toasted buns!
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Instructions
- Use a knife to score one side of the hot dog about 5 -6 times. This isn’t necessary but creates some nice crips edges after they are done in the air fryer.
- Place the hot dogs in the basket of your air fryer and cook at 400 degrees for 4 minutes. Time might vary depending on the power level of your air fryer. This recipe was written using a 1500-watt air fryer.
- Put the cooked hot dogs into the buns and place them back into the air fryer basket. Cook at 400 for 1-2 minutes until the buns are toasted. Serve.
Notes
For frozen hot dogs, reduce the temperature to 350 degrees and cook for 8 minutes.
Add bacon by wrapping the hot dog with a strip of thin-cut bacon before they go into the air fryer.
Add cheese by cutting a shallow line down the middle of the hot dogs. Air fry them for 3 minutes then add julienned pieces of cheese into the cut lines. Finish cooking the hot dogs for 1 more minute.
- Prep Time: 1 minute
- Cook Time: 4 minutes
- Category: Main dish
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 hot dog and bun
- Calories: 300 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 530 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
Keywords: air fryer hot dogs
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