How Long to Cook Hot Dogs in an Air Fryer?

Grilling hot dogs outside of BBQ season is a hassle and a half. Ain’t nobody got time for that. Cooking in a pot of boiling water or popping in the microwave? I mean, sure, but not super appetizing. Good news: Air fryer hot dogs are the perfect solution.

Air fryer hot dogs are juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Better yet, they can go from packet to plate in just a few minutes. Exactly how long to cook hot dogs in an air fryer? We’re talking about 3 minutes when they’re fresh from the fridge or 8 minutes from frozen.

Fetch knows hot dogs. Our grocery app can help you earn points on high-quality organic Applegate hot dogs and traditional Ball Park Buns, plus an ice-cold Coca-Cola or Coors to wash those dogs down. Our quick and easy guide to air fryer hot dogs can tell you everything you need to know.

How to Cook Hot Dogs in an Air Fryer

Air fryers offer a hands-off, easy clean-up, and completely foolproof method for toasting your buns and cooking your dogs. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F.
2. Place buns evenly in a single layer in the basket, then toast until nice and crisp. Should take about 2 minutes, after which you can remove them to a plate.
3. Place hot dogs evenly in a single layer in the basket (most air fryers easily take four), then cook for about 3 minutes. Thicker hot dogs may require a little longer.
4. Serve in toasted buns and either eat immediately or store in a shallow, airtight container for up to four days.

How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs in the Air Fryer

Add bacon to just about anything and your tastebuds will end up happy. Air fryer bacon wrapped hot dogs sure are no exception. We’re pairing traditional buns and hot dogs with regular or center cut bacon – avoid using thick cuts since they won’t cook as nicely.

1. Wrap each hot dog in a single slice of bacon.
2. Arrange hot dogs in the air fryer basket with space enough for air to flow between them, then cook for 10 minutes at 380 degrees F. Placing the bacon seam side down helps maintain a tight wrap, but you can always use toothpicks to keep things secure.
3. Use tongs to remove your hot dogs, then place them in buns, add your go-to toppings, and dig in.

Can You Cook Frozen Hot Dogs in an Air Fryer?

Absolutely, and straight from the freezer at that! They’ll only need a little longer to emerge equally crisp, juicy, and ready for your favorite toppings. Follow these steps to go from frozen to table in less than 15 minutes:

1. Take your hot dogs from the freezer and use a sharp knife to cut slits every inch or so along one side of each. This gives the dog space to expand as it thaws and cooks.
2. Place hot dogs in the air fryer basket, just as you would when they’re fresh from the fridge.
3. Set the air fryer to 330 degrees F and cook for 7 to 9 minutes.
4. Use tongs to carefully pluck the dogs from the air fryer and place them into the waiting buns, then place the dog-stuffed-buns back in the basket for another 2 minutes at 350 degrees F to get everything warm and toasty.

What Are the Best Hot Dog Toppings?

The hot dog scene is one of fierce debate. Is a hot dog a sandwich? Is putting on ketchup instead of mustard little short of a war crime? Are New York dogs superior to Chicago dogs? All hot button hot dog issues, but we adopt a more laissez faire attitude: Whatever hits your taste buds best, we’re down.

You’ve almost certainly sampled the most popular hot dog toppings, such as mustard, ketchup, BBQ sauce, hot sauce, and mayonnaise, but why not step outside your comfort zone with some of these less conventional accompaniments?

• Sriracha-Mayo
• Chipotle-Mayo
• Jalapeño-Mayo
• Teriyaki-Mayo
• Buffalo-Mayo
• Litehouse Thousand Island Dressing
• Litehouse Ranch Dressing

Classic veggie toppings for hot dogs include:

• Tomatoes
• Raw or caramelized onions
• Pickles
• Jalapeños
• Pepperoncini
• Avocado

If you’re yearning for a more substantial set of toppings, here are just a few of our favorites:

• Bacon
• Sauerkraut
• Coleslaw
• Cheese
• Nacho cheese dip
• Chili
• Salsa
• Mac and cheese

Use Fetch to Turn Your Hot Dogs Into Hot Rewards

Be you a mustard-only hot dog fan or a brave soul experimenting with sauerkraut, the Fetch grocery app lets you earn reward points with every dollar spent – we’ll even help you rack up rewards purchasing anything from charcoal to ground beef when it’s finally time to break out the grill. Download the free app for your Android or Apple device and snap pictures of all your receipts to start earning points today.