Air Fryer Hot Dogs are easy and absolutely the best! Cooked in less than 10 minutes, these hot dogs are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and nestled in a toasted bun. This is a yummy, fast, easy way to serve up a family favorite.
Served with Deviled Egg Pasta Salad, Sweet Heat Pickles, and Crock Pot Baked Beans for an outrageously delicious meal that’s great to serve any time of the year!
In This Post
5-Star Reader Comment
“Outstanding! I won’t ever do dogs any other way! Thank you so much for this great recipe, it was “spot on”!
Karen H.
I have had a love affair with hot dogs for years. Whether they are served at a ballgame, at a backyard cookout, on a camping trip, or for a weeknight meal, I’ll be the first one in line to grab one.
But hold on, I don’t want just any hot dog. I want tender, juicy hotdogs, perfectly cooked with slightly crispy skin. And let’s not forget about the bun. I want it to be toasted and ready to hold all the yummy toppings like Hot Dog Chili, mustard, Creamy Cole Slaw, and chopped onions that go on a hot dog. So you know, I’ve tested this recipe dozens of times, and it’s a winner!
Recently, I found the ultimate way to enjoy the BEST hot dog, and it’s all about air frying! Cooking hot dogs in the air fryer takes just 6 minutes, and another 2 minutes are needed to toast the bun. These babies turn out perfectly whether you are cooking one for yourself or making a meal for your family.
Why You’ll Love Cooking Hot Dogs In The Air Fryer
Air Frying is easy and quick, and clean-up is almost nonexistent since the basket goes into the dishwasher. There are no coals to heat up or heading outside to fire up the grill. So now, you don’t have to wait for summer to enjoy a perfectly cooked hot dog in a toasted bun…just grab your air fryer and go for it!
What You Need For This Recipe
- Hot Dogs – choose your favorite brand of high-quality hot dogs. I prefer either Hebrew National or Nathans.
- Hot Dog Buns – select buns that are pre-cut and fit the length of the hot dog.
- Toppings – mustard, ketchup, chili, slaw, sauerkraut, and relish are a few of the favorites in my house.
Why Cut Slits In Hot Dogs Before Cooking?
- Even Cooking: Since hot dogs are cylindrical, and if you cook them without slits, they can sometimes burst open as they heat up. Cutting slits allows the heat to penetrate evenly, reducing the risk of them bursting.
- Faster Cooking: They help the heat reach the center of the hot dog more quickly.
- Texture and Flavor: I like to do this because it makes the hot dog a bit crispier on the outside.
- Toppings Holder: The little slits allow all the yummy toppings to kind of sink into the hot dog! Who doesn’t love that?
How Long And What Temperature To Cook Hot Dogs In The Air Fryer?
Place the hot dogs in the air fryer, set the temperature to 400 degrees, and set the timer to 6 minutes. After the hot dogs are done, take them out of the basket, place them in the butter bun, and then place them back in the air fryer for 2 minutes to toast.
Tips For Making The Best Air Fryer Hot Dogs
- Before cooking, make slits in each hot dog. You don’t need to do this, but I like to because those little edges get extra crispy and hold the delicious toppings.
- Brush the top of each bun with softened butter. This is totally optional, but I think it adds a bit of flavor and helps the bun toast to a beautiful golden color.
- There is no need to preheat the air fryer, and no oil is needed.
Storing And Reheating
Store any leftover hot dogs in an airtight container for up to 4 days. You can also freeze cooked air fryer hot dogs in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
To reheat, place the hot dogs in the air fryer set to 350 degrees, for 3 minutes. You can also heat them in the microwave.
What To Serve With The BEST Hot Dogs
Everyone has their favorite toppings to add to their hot dog, and I’m no different. For me, it’s yellow mustard, chopped onion, and creamy cole slaw. But, you can get creative and pile on all kinds of goodies.
After the toppings, you’ve got to have some side dishes. My favorites are Caprese Pasta Salad and Crock Pot Baked Beans. Whether serving these hot dogs for Memorial Day, Labor Day, a family cookout, or a simple weeknight meal, these dishes are ideal to serve alongside your perfectly cooked dogs!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4-8 hot dogs
- 4-8 hot dog buns
- softened butter
Instructions
- Take hot dogs out of package. Cut slits in each hot dog and place them in the basket of the air fryer.
- Set temperature to 400 degrees and timer to 6 minutes. Slide basket into the air fryer and press the start/power button. At the end of the cooking time, carefully remove the basket. Place one hot dog into each bun. Brush on softened butter (optional) and place hog dogs in buns back in the air fryer.
- Set the temperature to 400 degrees and the timer to 2 minutes. At the end of the cooking time, carefully remove hot dogs from the basket and serve with your favorite toppings.
Nutrition
Want To Know More About Air Frying?
If you are new to cooking with an Air Fryer or just don’t know where to start, I’ve got something to help. I’ve put together a helpful guide with tips and recipes to get you using the Air Fryer like a pro!
Donya's Top Ten Summer Recipes!
Steal my favorites for a done-for-you menu that packs in the flavor
This really is a game changer. I love to grill in the back yard but that is not a year round activity in the Colorado Rockies and it isn’t practical for just a couple of dogs. I have Nuwave 3.5 qt fryer. With skin on franks like Hofmann beef franks it took a couple of more minutes (8) to get a crisp outer. But this is my new go to for hot dogs.
Thanks, Jack!
I’m so mad at myself. Here I stand in front of the air fryer just wanting to know temp and time while toddlers scream in the background scrolling through the entire thing to find out not realizing you put a super convenient button right there at the top. Thank you they are now eating and the house is quiet if just for this one moment.
Donya, we only eat hot dogs a couple of times a year, but your recipe is the only one we use since finally getting an air fryer at Costco. As you said, put anything you want on it, but I combined it with a favorite Publix Seattle Piggy Tails recipe even adding the onion to the air fryer and it worked perfectly. Thanks!! I think I can remember your perfect timing of 6 min. At 400 for the “dogs” and onion rounds, then 2 minutes for dogs in bun.
I just bought an air fryer and was scared to death of it. I tried these hot dogs and WOW! they were crispy and the buns were perfect! Thanks so much.
Followed this recipe as written and found it to work out great! Would highly suggest it.
Making Hot Dogs, baked beans and dirty rice tomorrow evening for my twin daughters. Looking forward to using this recipe. Thanks again for offering it.
Delicious. It made the bun perfectly crisp!
WOW! You’ve made my day. Thanks for sharing.
I appreciate your terrific rating!
~Donya
Hi Donya. I have a Ninja 9n1 air fryer and have been steadily using it for a variety of different types of foods. Came across your hot dogs and had to give it a go. I have to let mine preheat first, if I put them in while it’s heating, they’re already half done when it finally comes to temperature. No biggie. I put the the finished hot dogs in the bun, in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds. That actually softened the buns while retaining their crispy toasted exterior. Thanks for your post!
These were delicious. Perfectly cooked as well as the buns!! Thank you
Thanks so much for the great comment and the terrific rating!
~Donya
Love it and thank you.