Air Fryer Hot Dogs – Much Faster & Easier Than Grilling!

Although it is grilling season, there are some times that cooking hot dogs in an air fryer make more sense than cooking them on a hot grill.

For instance, I pull out the air fryer when the weather isn’t ideal for grilling. This can be because it is too hot and humid outside or when it is too cold or rainy.

But I also like use the air fryer when I am only making a couple of hot dogs and need to do so in a short amount of time. This is perfect when the kids are hungry and there are busy schedules to follow.

The hot dogs are cooked and ready to eat in less than 6 minutes! Which seems to be a life saver on certain days.

In addition, when you have picky eaters in the family that prefer not to have grill marks, the air fryer is the way to go!

What You Need When Making Air Fryer Hot Dogs

Ingredients

1. Hot dogs

For this recipe we used standard size, all beef hot dogs. They typically come 8 to a pack and can be found in the refrigerated section at the grocery store.

However, you can also use larger or foot-long hot dogs if you prefer. Although, you may need to extend the cooking time if the diameter of the hot dog is larger than the standard size.

2. Hot dog buns

There is nothing like eating an air fryer hot dog that is nestled inside a hot dog bun topped with your favorite condiments.

You can cook your hot dogs and place them in soft hot dog buns and eat them right away. However, There is another way that you can make them even more delicious.

I prefer to cook the hot dogs, put them in the hot dog buns, and finish them off in the air fryer while still in the bun. This added step gives a nice little toast to the bun which gives the hot dog extra flavor. But the choice is up to you!

3. Condiments/Toppings

Now comes the big debate. What condiments do you put on your hot dogs? Although I prefer a mixture of mustard and onions, my husband sticks with the classic toppings of ketchup and mustard.

However, we also like to serve our hot dogs with a variety of other condiments such as Coney Sauce and cheese, Hot Pepper Mustard, Homemade Sweet Dill Pickle Relish and even Cowboy Candy!

The options are endless when it comes to topping a hot dog. And the best part is that you can mix it up whenever you feel the urge for something different!

Air Fryer Hot Dogs Instructions

Instructions

Cooking hot dogs in an air fryer doesn’t require any special instructions. Simply place the hot dogs in the basket and cook at 400°F for 4-6 minutes.

However, if you do have an air fryer oven that requires preheating, I do recommend that you preheat it completely before setting the cook timer.

I have cooked hot dogs in my Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker/Air Crisper and my Power 360 Air Fryer oven. Both cooked the hot dogs to my liking within the 4-6 minute time frame.

However, the Power 360 did require a few extra minutes of preheating before I could add the hot dogs to the basket.

Once the hot dogs are cooked, carefully remove them with tongs and place them in the buns, if using. Then decide if you want to complete the optional step of toasting the buns.

If so, place the hot dogs and buns back into the basket and continue to cook for 1-2 minutes. This will allow the bun to get nice and warm, and just a little bit toasted.

Remove the hot dogs from the air fryer and top with your favorite toppings!

Famous Topping Combinations For Hot Dogs

Classic American Style: Mustard, ketchup, and relish are the traditional trio of condiments for a simple yet flavorful hot dog.

Chicago-style: Why not run your cooked air fryer hot dog ‘through the garden’? This is commonly known as a Chicago-style and includes toppings of yellow mustard, chopped onions, sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, pickled sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt. However instead of it being served on a standard hot dog bun all served on a poppy seed bun.

New York-style: In New York, a hot dog is typically served with sauerkraut and spicy brown mustard.

Coney Island: Originating in Michigan, a Coney Island hot dog is topped with chili, diced onions, and mustard.

Sonoran: This style comes from Arizona and includes pinto beans, diced tomatoes, onions, mustard, mayonnaise, and jalapeño sauce, all served on a bacon-wrapped hot dog.

Kansas City: Topped with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing, the Kansas City hot dog offers a unique and tangy flavor combination.

Texas-style: A Texas dog is typically topped with chili, shredded cheese, and chopped onions.

Seattle-style: Often served with cream cheese and grilled onions, a Seattle-style hot dog offers a creamy and savory experience.

Detroit-style: This hot dog is topped with chili, mustard, and diced onions, all served on a steamed bun.

Suggested Side Dishes To Serve With Hot Dogs

Although you can serve just about any side dish with hot dogs, here are some of our favorites:

• Instant Pot Potato Salad
• Macaroni Salad
• Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
• Doritos Taco Salad
• Cold Ramen Noodle Salad
• All American Fruit Salad
• Grilled Corn on the Cob

Be sure to browse through our Side Dishes page to find more recipe inspiration!

Enjoy! Mary

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