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🌭 Crispy, juicy, and ready in minutes, these Air Fryer Hot Dogs are the easiest way to upgrade your weeknight dinner or BBQ 🍽️🔥
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Pin ItHot Dogs in the Air Fryer
If you’re wondering how to cook hot dogs in the air fryer, you’re in the right place. This air fryer hot dogs recipe is fast, easy, and gives you juicy hot dogs with a perfectly crispy outside. Whether you’re prepping a quick lunch or feeding a crowd, making hot dogs in the air fryer saves time without sacrificing flavor. You’ll never go back to boiling or grilling once you try this simple method.
Can you cook hotdogs in an air fryer? Absolutely. In fact, it’s one of the easiest ways to get that satisfying bite with minimal prep and cleanup. This air fryer hot dog recipe is great for busy weeknights, backyard BBQs, or game day snacks.
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and ready in just 13 minutes
- No boiling water or preheating the grill
- Kid-approved and totally customizable
- Crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside
- Great way to make hot dogs in the air fryer all year round
🛒 Ingredients & Substitutions
- hot dog sausages – use beef, pork, turkey, or even plant-based hot dogs. I like to use the 1/4 lb. beef hot dogs from Sam’s Club.
- hot dog buns – substitute with hoagie rolls, pretzel buns, or even lettuce wraps
- butter, room temperature – optional, but adds rich flavor to the buns
- toppings of your choice – ketchup, mustard, onions, sauerkraut, cheese, or pickles
✨ Variations
- Kid-friendly: Wrap the hot dog in crescent roll dough before air frying
- Breakfast style: Use breakfast sausages and serve with eggs
- Loaded: Add grilled onions, mushrooms, or jalapeños before the final air fry
- Low carb: Skip the bun and serve in lettuce wraps or sliced over salad
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🔥 Tips
- Always score the hot dogs 4-5 times to ensure even cooking
- Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches 140°F
- Buttering the outside of the buns gives them that golden, crispy finish
- Cooking times may vary depending on the size of your air fryer and sausages
❓ FAQs
Yes! It’s one of the easiest and fastest ways to cook hot dogs. The air fryer crisps the outside while keeping the inside juicy.
Score the hot dogs, air fry at 375°F for 6-8 minutes, then add them to buns and air fry for 3 more minutes for toasted perfection.
Yes, flipping helps the hot dogs cook evenly and keeps the skin from getting too tough.
Yes, just add 2-3 minutes to the initial cook time. Make sure they’re fully heated to a safe internal temp.
Wait until the last 3 minutes to add the bun. Cooking them together too early can dry out the bread.
🍽️ Other Recipes You May Enjoy
Quick and Easy
Sweet & Sour Hot Dogs
Main Dish
Smoked Hot Dog Burnt Ends
Appetizers
Easy Pretzel Dogs
Sandwich
Hawaiian Hot Dogs
Air Fryer Hot Dogs
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Ingredients
- 4 hot dog sausages, (I used beef hot dog sausage from Sam’s Club)
- 4 hot dog buns, (I used hoagie rolls for a crunchy crust and soft inside)
- 2 tablespoons butter, room temperature, optional but adds flavor
- toppings of your choice, (see notes for ideas)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.
- Pat dry the hot dog sausages and score each one 4-5 times (no more than ¼ inch deep).
- Air fry sausages at 375°F for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through. (I cooked mine for 8 minutes since they were large, reaching an internal temp of 140°F.)
- Butter the outside of the buns.
- Place the sausage in the bun and air fry for an additional 3 minutes at 375°F.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
📝 NOTES
- Cooking times vary based on the air fryer brand, size, wattage, and type of sausage used. A hot dog sausage is fully cooked once it reaches an internal temperature of 140°F.
- Lower cooking temperatures result in tender hot dogs with crispy but not tough skin.
- Scoring sausages ensures even cooking.
🌭 TOPPING IDEAS
- Mustard (yellow, stone-ground, or honey Dijon)
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise
- Sauerkraut
- Grilled or raw onions
- Tomatoes
- Pickles or chopped banana peppers
- Cheese (American, shredded mozzarella, or Colby Jack)
🥡 STORAGE
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days
- Wrap individually to prevent the buns from drying out
♨️ REHEATING
- Air fryer: 350°F for 3-4 minutes
- Microwave: 30-40 seconds
- Skillet: Medium heat until warmed through
- Oven: 350°F for 6-8 minutes
❄️ FREEZING
- Freeze cooked hot dogs separately from the buns
- Wrap tightly in foil and place in freezer bags for up to 2 months
💡 TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS
- Score the sausages lightly, not too deeply
- Toast the buns for the best texture
- Use quality sausages for more flavor
🍳 ALTERNATE COOKING METHODS
- Grill: 4-6 minutes, turning often
- Stovetop: Sear in a skillet over medium heat for 5-7 minutes
- Boil: Simmer for 5 minutes
♻️ LEFTOVERS
- Chop and add to mac and cheese
- Slice into scrambled eggs
- Use in baked beans for added flavor
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
