Name: The Best Air Fryer Hot Dogs
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 6 hot dogs (Your favorite brand); 6 Hot Dog buns.; your favorite toppings

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Making hot dogs in the fryer is one of the best ways to cook hot dogs and it only takes 5 minutes. These air fryer hot dogs are scored on the top to ensure perfectly even cooking and then cooked in the air fryer until lightly crisp on the outside and hot and juicy on the inside. These air-fried hotdogs are great any time of year or for a quick meal.

Why we love these air fryer hot dogs

We used to cook hot dogs either on the grill or on the stovetop when we wanted this classic all-American meal. When we tried out cooking hot dogs in the air fryer, it was really a game changer.

Not only do the hot dogs cook quickly in the air fryer, but the air fryer gives the hot dogs a beautiful cooked outside that you just cannot get anywhere else.

Air fried hot dogs are really the perfect hot dog!

What You Will Need

Hot Dogs- Your favorite brand of hot dogs! I love Hebrew National.
Hot Dog Buns- Preferably, hotdog buns that are pre-sliced with a cut down the top.
Your favorite toppings- Whatever you love. Ketchup, mustard, relish, sauerkraut or even chili.

How to make air fried hot dogs

Making air-fried hot dogs is so easy. No matter what style of air fryer you have, it will be the same for cooking time and cooking method.

Here are the steps to make these juicy and delicious hot dogs:

air fryer hot dogs before cooking — Scored hot dogs before going into the air fryer.

Cut four slits (score) into each hot dog on one side (more on why we do this below.)
Place hot dogs in an air fryer basket or on an air fryer tray (scored side up), depending on the type of air fryer you have.
Bake hot dogs at 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
Remove the hot dogs from the tray, place them in the buns, and put the hot dogs and buns back in the air fryer for one more minute.

That is it! This method of cooking hot dogs not only makes the most delicious hot dogs but you are also cooking the hot dog buns too.

You can serve them right away.

Why do you score hot dogs before cooking

Now I didn't always score hot dogs before I cooked them. A friend of mine cut these slits in the hot dogs when she made them for me and it produced the most amazing hot dogs. Here is why it is the best way to make hotdogs:

Even Cooking: When you score the hot dogs, you are allowing the heat to get all the way into the hot dogs when cooking. This produces a perfectly cooked hot dog.
Holds more condiments: You also end up with these little pockets on the hot dog holding in more of the condiments you use making it an added bonus.
Faster cooking: The slits that are cut into the hotdogs help cook the hotdogs faster, and give it a nice crisp edge.

Top Tips For The Perfect Hotdogs

Toast and butter the hotdog buns: If you have time, butter the buns and toast them for a classic hotdog experience.
Score the hotdogs before cooking: This helps get a nice crisp outside and even cooking. You only need to score about ¼ inches into the top of the hotdog.
Make a bunch: These air fryer hotdogs are addictive so plan to make a lot. They will go quickly.

What to serve with these amazing hot dogs

I love making these air fryer hot dogs as a quick meal which means I will either go all out with the toppings or make a side dish to go with them.

Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy these easy air fryer hot dogs:

I love making a batch of chili and making chili dogs.
I will sometimes make a gochujang mayo (what is pictured) or sriracha mayo as a spicy topping.
A favorite side dish I like serving with these hot dogs is my Italian potatoes with salsa verde or grilled potatoes.
I love making homemade hamburger patties on the grill to go along with these for a full BBQ experience.

There are so many ways to enjoy these air-fried hot dogs. You can also just eat them on their own and they would be perfect.

Storing

If you do have any leftover hotdogs, you can place them in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. To reheat them, wrap them in aluminum foil and cook them in a preheated 350-degree oven for 10 minutes or until warmed all the way through.

We hope you give these really easy air fryer hot dogs a try. When you do, you will not want to make hot dogs any other way.

Print Recipe

5 from 21 votes

The Best Air Fryer Hot Dogs

Cooking hot dogs in the air fryer is the best way to make hot dogs and it is ready in just 5 minutes!

Cook Time5

Total Time5

Servings:

Author: Melissa Oleary

Ingredients

6 hot dogs Your favorite brand
6 Hot Dog buns.
your favorite toppings

Instructions

Cut four slits in hot dogs on one side by cutting the hot dogs almost half way through.
6 hot dogs
Place hot dogs in air fryer basket or tray.
Cook at 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
Remove hot dogs from air fryer and place them in the hot dog buns.
6 Hot Dog buns.
Place hot dogs and buns back into the air fryer for 1 minute at 400 degrees.
Serve with your favorite toppings!
your favorite toppings

Notes

To store leftover hot dogs

Place in an air tight container and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Nutrition