These air-fried hot dogs are a family favorite, offering a taste and texture that competes with the best freshly grilled hot dogs. This air fryer recipe guarantees delicious results every time. I would even go so far as to say that air fryer hot dogs rival freshly grilled hot dogs.
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So now you can enjoy one of my favorite quick and easy summertime dinners any day, any season. Plus, hot dogs are usually a totally kid-approved meal that they will love for any lunch or dinner.
Now I know that hot dogs are only minutes in a microwave, can easily be boiled, and grilling is top of the line for serving hot dogs. Do try them out in your air fryer though, and see if you agree that it is indeed the best way to cook hot dogs.
🥘 Ingredients
All you need is hot dogs and buns. Don't forget all of your favorite hot dog toppings and condiments unless you like your hot dog plain. These are tasty either way.
- Hot Dogs - 8 of your favorite hot dogs, Oscar Meyer, Ballpark, Trader Joe's, etc.
- Hot Dog Buns - 8 hot dog buns. Bakery style is my favorite, but just plain buns work too!
- Condiments (optional) - Ketchup, mustard, sauerkraut, etc.
Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!
🌭 Condiment and Topping Ideas
These condiments and toppings offer a wide range of flavors and textures, allowing you to customize your hot dogs to suit any taste preference. From classic combinations to more adventurous pairings, there's something for everyone in this table of delicious options!
| Condiments | Topping Ideas |
|---|---|
| Ketchup | Sauerkraut |
| Mustard (Yellow, Dijon, or Spicy) | Chili |
| Mayonnaise | Shredded Cheese (Cheddar, Swiss, etc.) |
| Relish (Sweet or Dill) | Diced Onions |
| BBQ Sauce | Jalapeños (Sliced or Pickled) |
| Sriracha | Coleslaw |
| Honey Mustard | Bacon Bits |
| Horseradish Sauce | Avocado Slices |
| Buffalo Sauce | Pickles (Sliced or Spears) |
| Ranch Dressing | Tomato Slices |
| Salsa | Bell Peppers (Diced or Strips) |
| Cheese Sauce | Crumbled Feta or Blue Cheese Sauce |
| Bacon Aioli | Pineapple Salsa |
| Hot Pepper Relish | Sauteed Onions or Onion Rings |
| Peppers & Onions | Sport Peppers |
🔪 How To Make Air Fryer Hot Dogs
All you need is your air fryer. I'm including directions for a convection oven-style air fryer, like the Instant Pot Vortex Plus that I am using here, and for the basket-style air fryers. Luckily, the wattage is the same on my air fryer models, at 1500 watts.
I made 8 hotdogs, but you can easily scale up or down as needed and work in batches when necessary.
*If you use an air fryer with a different wattage, you may need to make minor changes to your cooking time.
Convection Oven Style Air Fryer
Preheat: Set to 400°F (205°C). Choose 'AIR FRY' and adjust the temperature if needed.
- Cooking Time: For smaller hot dogs (e.g., Oscar Mayer, Ballpark), set for 4 minutes; for larger ones (e.g., Johnsonville, Zweigle's), set for 6 minutes.
- Placement: Arrange 8 hot dogs on racks, spaced for even cooking.
- Cooking Process: When prompted to 'ADD FOOD', place trays inside. Monitor to prevent bursting. Optionally, puncture ends to release steam.
- Turning: At 'TURN FOOD' prompt, swap and rotate hot dogs between racks.
- Finish: Let the air fryer complete the cooking.
Basket Style Air Fryer
- Preheat: Heat to 400°F (205°C). Place hot dogs in the basket, spaced out.
- Cooking: Cook 8 hot dogs for 4 minutes (smaller) or 6 minutes (larger).
- Rotate: Turn hot dogs halfway through cooking.
Post-Cooking
- Toasting Buns (Optional): Toast buns separately or with hot dogs inside.
- Air-Frying Buns: Return buns or buns with hot dogs to the air fryer at 400°F (205°C) for 1-2 minutes.
- Serving: Enjoy with your favorite condiments.
Some of my favorite hot dog toppings are sauerkraut, chili, Tennessee onions, roasted bell peppers & onions. Nothing is wrong with keeping it classic with ketchup and mustard, though.
💭 Tips & Notes
- Single-Layer Air Frying: Always air fry in a single layer. This is crucial for almost any food, including hot dogs. Stacking can lead to steaming rather than frying, resulting in uneven cooking and a lack of crispiness.
- Versatile for Different Hot Dog Types: This recipe is great for all types of hot dogs – whether they're all beef, pork, a blend, or even veggie dogs. Feel free to use whatever you prefer or have on hand.
- Preventing Hot Dogs from Exploding: While exploding hot dogs in the air fryer is rare, if you're concerned, you can score the hot dogs a few times with a sharp knife. However, this is generally not necessary.
- Scoring for Flavor: If you choose to score the hot dogs, this can also be a great way to infuse more flavor. Add a light rub or sauce to the scores for an extra flavor boost.
- Preheating for Best Results: For the best results, preheat your air fryer before adding the hot dogs. This ensures a quick start to the cooking process and helps achieve a crispy exterior.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Keep leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 4 days. You can also put them in a heavy-duty freezer bag and freeze them for up to 3 months.
Reheating
Reheat leftover hot dogs in the microwave or in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3-5 minutes.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
Using your air fryer to cook frozen hot dogs is entirely doable! Score the top with a few slits, or puncture the ends for venting, then cook for two minutes more than the times given in the recipe card instructions.
I find the sweet spot is between 4 and 6 minutes at 400°F (205 °C) depending on how large the hot dogs are. Frozen hot dogs will take a few minutes longer.
For perfectly cooked hot dogs, I recommend preheating your air fryer. If your model does not have a preheat button, set it to the temperature you will be cooking at (400ºF (205ºC) in this case) and turn it on. For small air fryers, 2-3 minutes is sufficient; for large air fryers, you should let it run for 5 minutes. After the time is up, add your food and cook it as instructed.
😋 More Great Air Fryer Appetizers
- Frozen French Fries - Make perfectly cooked french fries with ease in your air fryer!
- Crispy Potato Skins - The ultimate game day appetizer complete with bacon, cheese, and sour cream!
- Fried Ham & Cheese Sandwich - Elevate your sandwich game by popping it in the air fryer!
- Fried Pickles - An easy appetizer for parties, movie nights, or any occasion!
- Tater Tots - These tater tots are wonderfully crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside!
- Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp - Easy coconut shrimp with the perfect amount of crunch!
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📖 Recipe Card
Air Fryer Hot Dogs
Ingredients
- 8 hot dogs
- 8 hot dog buns
- Condiments (ketchup mustard, etc.) (optional)
Instructions
- For a convection oven style air fryer: Preheat your air fryer by selecting 'AIR FRY' and setting the cooking temperature to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 4 minutes for smaller hot dogs like Oscar Mayer and Ball Park, or for 6 minutes for larger hot dogs like Johnsonville or Zweigle's.For a basket style air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
- Place the hot dogs on your convection oven style air fryer racks, or the basket of your air fryer. Leave spacing between the hot dogs for even cooking. Depending on the number of hot dogs you are cooking, this may need to be done in batches.
- For a convection oven style air fryer: Once your air fryer indicates to 'ADD FOOD' place the racks onto the guides in your air fryer. Close the door and start the cooking cycle.When the air fryer indicates to 'TURN FOOD' move the top rack to the bottom guides, and the bottom to the top. Turn the hot dogs, if needed, before closing the door again to finish the cooking cycle.*Watch the hot dogs closely toward the end of the cooking cycle to prevent them from bursting, or puncture the ends to allow steam to release (not my favorite option as you tend to lose the juices).
- For a basket style air fryer: Set the cooking time for 4 minutes for smaller hot dogs like Oscar Mayer and Ball Park, or for 6 minutes for larger hot dogs like Johnsonville or Zweigle's. Place the basket with your hot dogs into the air fryer and close the air fryer to start the cooking process.Turn and roll the hot dogs at the half way point during the cooking time.
- For a convection style air fryer: You can either place your cooked hot dogs in the buns to toast, or place the buns on your racks after removing the hot dogs. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes with the 'AIR FRY' setting.For a basket style air fryer: Place the cooked hot dogs into the buns and set back into your air fryer basket. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes to toast the buns.
- Remove cooked hot dogs and buns (or assemble hot dogs and buns) once cooked and toasted and serve with your favorite condiments.
Notes
- Always air fry in a single layer. This goes for just about anything. If you stack the hotdogs, it will steam them, and not only will they not cook evenly, but they won't get crispy on the outside.
- This recipe will work for all-beef hot dogs, pork hot dogs, blended hot dogs, and even veggie dogs!
- I've never had a problem with hot dogs exploding in the air fryer. If you are worried about it, you can certainly score them a few times with a sharp knife, though I don't think it is necessary.
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