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.
Hot Dogs, But Better – My Air Fryer Twist
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!
How to Prep Hot Dogs Before Air Frying (And Why You Should)
Want your hot dogs to look like they just came off the grill? Try scoring them with small diagonal slits before cooking. Not only does this help keep them from splitting, it also gives them that nice charred look and a little extra crisp around the edges. And…the little slits allow all the yummy toppings to kind of sink into the hot dog! Who doesn’t love that?
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!
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.
How to Cook Hot Dogs in the Air Fryer: Time + Temp Made Easy
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
- Don’t crowd the basket—give the hot dogs space so they crisp evenly.
- Add buns at the end so they toast without drying out.
- Cooking from frozen? Just lower the temp slightly and give them a couple more minutes.
- For cheesy dogs, add a little shredded cheese in the bun during the last minute.
- 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 a Carolina Slaw Dog! 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, Fried Squash 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!
Air Fryer Hot Dog Questions, Answered
You sure can — and honestly, it might be the best way to make them! The air fryer gives hot dogs that perfectly crispy, slightly charred outside while keeping the inside tender and juicy. No grill, no pot of boiling water. Just pop them in and you’re done in minutes.
Set your air fryer to 400 degrees and cook for 6 minutes. That’s it! If you want to toast the buns — and I really recommend it — place them open-side down in the basket for the last 2 minutes. They come out perfectly golden every time.
No preheat needed, and no oil either. Just place the hot dogs straight in the basket and let the air fryer do its thing. One little tip I love: score the hot dogs with a few small diagonal slits before cooking. It gives them that grilled look and helps all your favorite toppings sink right in.
You can freeze cooked hot dogs in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. To reheat, put them back in the air fryer at 350 degrees for about 3 minutes and they come out just as good. You can also warm them in the microwave if you’re in a hurry.
Craving More? You’ll Love These Air Fryer Recipes
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
If you tried this Air Fryer Hot Dog Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
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This was the best hot dog I’ve ever eaten, and I made them this way for Baseball’s Opening Day!
Thank you for the awesome review! So glad you enjoyed these!! ~Donya
The best indoor hot dogs I’ve ever had! Would never fix them any other way.
I love Hot Dogs. Since 1957. This is the BEST recipe ever! Today I used Ball Park all beef. Those were better than HN or FN’s which I have also made this way.
Do you rotate as it cooks or just leave them?
Just tried this, and I tell yo it works like an absolute charm! Thank you so much for this, it worked perfectly.
I made some garlic and chicken dogs and made them in my COSORI LE, I buttered the inside and outside of the buns, and these were so good. The Eli’s on the dogs is a game changer. Will definitely make again. Thanks!
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but what are you referring to when you said Eli’s?
This is a classic “ripper”. Awesome way to make a ‘dog. Some of the fat gets rendered and the skin gets crispy. What’s not to like here?!?!
Adding little slits truly brings an ordinary dog to a whole new level of mouth-watering. Great tip! Thanks!
Best hot dog/bun combo that I have had. Thanks!
Excellent and fast way to make hot dogs