Air fried hot dogs are quick, easy, and mess-free. There's no hassle in firing up the grill or waiting for a pot of water to boil. They make a quick weekday lunch or weeknight meal, and are a delicious alternative to grilling when your barbecue gets rained out. And yes- they taste just like a grilled hot dog!
Are you wondering, can you air fry hot dogs and still get that lightly charred greatness that comes with grilling? Is it worth skipping the grill? Will they look and taste like a grilled hot dog?
It's fair to assume that some foods are enjoyed best when cooked with a certain technique, and hot dogs are one of those. There is something nostalgic about a perfectly grilled, juicy hot dog drizzled with relish, ketchup, mustard and a side of this keto coleslaw recipe. Maybe it reminds you of summer evenings at the ballpark or family barbecues spent by the pool as a child. A backyard barbecue isn't the same without hot dogs.
Will you really enjoy hot dogs cooked in the air fryer as much as their traditionally grilled counterpart? Really, you will! Air fryer hot dogs taste just like grilled hot dogs. And if you love corn dogs too, you can air fry frozen corn dogs the same way!
They turn out evenly cooked all the way through and still have that perfect lightly browned, juicy taste. The best part- you can use frozen hot dogs too! Take your pick from beef, pork, chicken, or turkey, or a combination hot dog. Cured or uncured, the recipe remains the same. My favorite are classic Nathan's hot dogs.
Use your basket style air fryer or a tray type. I use both my Instant Pot Duo Crisp and my Omni Plus toaster.
I hope that you enjoy making hot dogs in the air fryer as much as I do. Before you go make sure to check out other air fryer recipes that I'm sure you'll enjoy:
How To Air Fry Hot Dogs
There are no tricks to cooking hot dogs in the air fryer.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit (if yours has a preheating stage). Cut 3-4 slits in the hot dogs and place them in the basket or on the tray without touching.
- Cook for 6-8 minutes, depending on how done you like your hot dogs. Remove and transfer to buns. Serve with ketchup, mustard, and relish.
Tips from the Chef
- You can slice a few slits in each hot dog before cooking like I do, or skip this step. Doing so does not affect the cooking time nor taste of hot dogs.
- Most air fryers will prompt you to turn them about half way through cooking. You can skip this and still get evenly cooked hot dogs.
- If you'd like to toast the buns, remove the hot dogs when there are 2 minutes of cook time left. Put them into the buns and transfer back to the air fryer. You can also brush the buns with a little oil and sprinkle on some sesame seeds.
What To Serve With Hot Dogs
Serve your juicy air fried hot dogs with:
- baked beans or black beans
- french fries or sweet potato french fries
- green beans
- peanuts or pistachios
- baby potatoes
- pickle chips or fried pickles
- macaroni and cheese
- mashed potatoes
- coleslaw
FAQs
The answer to this varies slightly based on how well done you like your hot dogs. In the air fryer they will take between 5 and 8 minutes. Check them at the 5 minute mark and continue cooking until they are done to your preference. For me, 8 minutes produced an air fried hot dog that looked and tasted just like a grilled one.
When cooking hot dogs from frozen, it's important to cut slits in them to prevent them from bursting. Then follow the directions for cooking fresh hot dogs but change the time to 10 minutes.
Recipe
Air Fryer Hot Dogs
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 8 fresh or frozen hot dogs
- 8 hot dog buns
- ketchup, mustard, relish for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit (if yours has a preheating stage). Cut 3-4 slits in each hot dog and place them in the basket or on the tray without touching.
- Cook fresh hot dogs for 8 minutes and frozen for 10 minutes, depending on how done you like your hot dogs (see notes). Remove and transfer to buns. If toasting buns, remove hot dogs with 2 minutes of cook time left. Put into buns and place back into the air fryer for the remaining time. *It's not necessary to turn the hot dogs halfway through.
- Serve with relish, ketchup, and mustard.
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