Crunchy Air Fryer Hot Dogs

Perfectly crispy air fryer hot dogs and toasted buns ready in just a few minutes! These are the best hot dogs that you will ever make, simple, easy and delicious!

And the obsession with the air fryer continues. In our house, we literally use the air fryer every day. It’s just much easier and healthier than other cooking methods. Plus the air fryer cooks the food much quicker than the oven, and there’s no mess left after the cooking since it’s just the air fryer basket that you need to use.

Did you know that you can make crispy fried chicken in the air fryer but using just a fraction of the oil? Try my air fryer chicken breast recipe, so many LSK readers have been making it and loving it so you gotta try it as well!

We all get days when we just don’t feel like cooking, don’t we? On such days, I stick to super easy recipes like this one. Air fryer hot dogs – a family favorite.

All my life I cooked hot dogs in boiling water, which meant that I had to get a pot, fill it with water, let the water boil, throw in the hot dogs, wait until they’ are cooked, drain and eat. But since I got the air fryer this cooking process got even easier! Now all I do is get my air fryer basket, throw in the hot dogs, cook for 8 minutes and they’re ready!

Now here’s my favorite part. You know how I was just saying that I used to cook hot dogs by boiling them? I never toasted the buns! Because that meant that I had to do that in a pan or in the oven, and who has time for that?

Since I’ve started cooking hot dogs in the air fryer, I started toasting the buns in the air fryer as well! Takes just 2 minutes and the result is glorious!

Tools You will Need

An Air Fryer. This is my favorite air fryer.

Stainless steel locking tongs

I can’t live without this non-stick grill pan accessory, I use it all the time!

I love these stainless steel measuring cups and use them every time I cook, as well as those measuring spoons.

These are the mixing bowls that you see in all of my pictures, they’re honestly the best!

This air fryer magnetic cheat sheet is very handy, it contains cooking times and temperatures to cook 66 most common ingredients which I find very useful.

I also really like these air fryer parchment liners, they’re not just for steaming and you can use them for cooking things like fries or chicken without worrying that the food will stick to the basket. They’re also quite cheap and there are 100 pcs in a package.

And for a full set of air fryer accessories, I recommend this set.

How to Air Fry Hot Dogs

Step 1.

You have 2 options, you either cook the hot dogs as they are or make a few small cuts (or prick the hot dogs) before cooking. The reason why some people like to make the cuts is to prevent the hot dogs from inflating/exploding while they’re being cooked and potentially ending up with a wrinkly dry exterior.

Arrange the hot dogs in your air fryer.

Step 2.

Air fry or cook at 390°F/200°C for 6 minutes.

Step 3.

Take the hot dogs out. Put the bread buns in the air fryer now and air fry for 2 more minutes for toasted and crunchy buns!

Vegetarian Hot Dogs

You could also air fry veggie hot dogs in the air fryer, and these take just 3 minutes to cook in the air fryer since they’re not meaty. Depending on what kind of veggie hot dog you are cooking, most of them need just 3 minutes at 390°F/200°C degrees.

Veggie hot dogs tend to be softer though and won’t inflate, so you don’t need to slit little cuts across the hot dogs. Leave them as they are and just throw them in the air fryer for a few minutes to cook.

How to Slice a Hot Dog Bun

You know how perfect hot dog buns look in commercials? I always wondered how did they stay together.

First of all, the slicing needs to be done partway! So do not slice up till the end!

But also, you need to slice the bun vertically through the smooth top of the bun rather than across the bun (see picture below).

Topping Ideas

And now, my favorite part… The toppings! The possibilities are endless, and the kids in our house love it when we do a hot dog bar with so many toppings to choose from. It’s a great summer activity that adults and kids can enjoy. 

• Classic mustard and ketchup
• Roasted garlic, tomatoes, basil leaves
• Mango relish, sweet corn, and chopped peppadew peppers
• Guacamole and watercress
• Jalapenos, bacon and cilantro leaves
• Crumbled blue cheese and buffalo sauce
• Fried onion rings and buffalo sauce
• Nacho cheese sauce, broken tortilla chips, fresh salsa, and sour cream
• Pitted olives, sundried tomatoes, crumbled feta cheese, and arugula leaves
• Shredded cheddar cheese and mini pepperoni 
• Mustard, sauerkraut and onion sauce

Want more Air Fryer Recipes?

Check out:

Air fryer chicken breast

Air fryer fish

Air fryer asparagus and mushrooms

If you make this recipe, please don’t forget to rate it and share a picture on social media. Tag #LittleSunnyKitchen in your posts as I would really love to see what you make! Thank you for supporting Little Sunny Kitchen, so I can keep sharing my family recipes with you for free.

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