Name: Air Fryer Corn Dogs | How To Make Perfectly Crispy Corndogs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 13 min
Ingredients: 4 hot dogs; 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal; 1/4 cup all purpose flour; 2 tsp granulated sugar; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1 tsp baking powder; 1/2 cup buttermilk; cooking spray

Jump to Recipe - -

Whether you're new to air frying, or just love an indulgent meal or snack, Air Fryer Corn Dogs are the perfect easy to make treat. With only a few minutes and a few ingredients you can satisfy that deep-fried craving without all of the extra oil and calories.

If you're new to air frying, some of the first foods you'll attempt making are likely going to be of the frozen variety.

They're easy, they're generally just as good (if not better) made in the air fryer than they are when they're deep fried, and it's a way for your older kids to gain some independence in the kitchen without too much supervision.

Why The Whole Family Will Love These

Fast. You can have a tasty snack or meal in less than 30 minutes, even if you're making them from scratch.
Easy. Mix up the batter, skewer the hotdogs, dip, air fry, and enjoy!
Inexpensive. With just a few pantry staples and a package of hotdogs, you can satisfy everyone for less than a trip through your favorite drive thru.
Family-Friendly. There's a reason we see corn dogs on the children's menu at most restaurants--kids love them! And we promise not to tell anyone that you still love them, too.

What You'll Need

No matter if you're attempting to make your own homemade corn dogs in the air fryer, or if you're just popping a few frozen ones in for a quick meal, you'll only need a few things to get started.

For Frozen Corn Dogs

An Air Fryer- Any variety of air fryer will work, but I prefer one with a square basket so you can cook more at a time.
Frozen Corn Dogs- Pick your favorite brand--cooking times will not vary significantly.

Homemade Air Fryer Corn Dogs

An Air Fryer- The Instant Vortex or Cosori are my favorite for making big batches in my air fryer, but any air fryer will work.
Bamboo Skewers- Cheap bamboo skewers you would use to make kebabs work perfectly.
A Tall Glass- Something tall enough to place the batter in so it will cover the entire length of the hot dog.
Hot Dogs- Brand and ingredients aren't important with the success of this recipe. Just use what your family normally buys (or what's on sale).
Cornmeal- This is what give the corn dogs their traditional texture and is the bulk of the batter.
Flour- This will help the cornmeal batter stick to the hot dogs.
Sugar (optional)- If you prefer them to have more of a street food or fair food taste.
Salt- Just a pinch.
Baking Powder- Works as a levening agent for a fluffy batter.
Buttermilk- Creates a thick batter for a classic bite.
Cooking Spray- Helps crisp up the outside of the corn dog batter for that deep-fried taste with a fraction of the oil.

Can You Air Fry A Frozen Corn Dog?

You sure can, and they come out perfectly crispy every time. Here's how to do it:

Turn on your air fryer.
Place the frozen corn dogs in the air fryer basket.
Cook, turning half way through the cooking cycle.
Serve and enjoy!

Can You Make Homemade Corn Dogs In The Air Fryer?

Turn on your air fryer and allow it to preheat. Since we're a fans of efficiency, most of our air fryer recipes don't include a preheating step, but to keep the batter from sliding off of the corn dogs, you don't want to skip it for this recipe.
Prepare the batter. Place the cornmeal, eggs, buttermilk, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a tall glass and mix until smooth.
Place the skewers in the hot dogs. Starting from one end, push the skewer into the middle of the hot dog lengthwise 3/4 of the way.
Roll the hot dogs in a shallow bowl or pie plate of flour. Roll the skewered hot dog in the flour until well coated.
Dunk the flour-covered hot dogs into the batter. While holding the skewer, carefully dip the flour coated hot dog into the tall glass of batter.
Place the corn dogs in the air fryer basket. Add the battered corn dogs to the preheated air fryer basket, ensuring you leave plenty of room between them.
Spray with cooking spray. Cover the corn dogs with a light layer of cooking spray to help them crisp.
Air Fry. Air fry for 8 minutes, flipping half way through and coating the other side with cooking oil.
Serve and enjoy!

How Long Do You Cook Corn Dogs In The Air Fryer?

Frozen corn dogs are ready in a flash when made in your air fryer. Make them in as little as 8 minutes from start to finish.

Tips And Tricks

For a thicker batter, you dip the corn dogs, freeze them for 20-30 minutes, and then dip a second time before cooking.
No bamboo skewers? Make air fryer corn dog nuggets. Cut the hotdogs into 2 or 3 pieces and dip. Use a fork to transfer from the batter to the air fryer basket.
Give them space. Just like with any other air fryer recipe, layering will not allow the food to cook evenly. Make sure you leave around 1/2" to 1" of space between each corndog for adequate air flow.

How Long Do They Last?

These corn dogs are best enjoyed right when you make them. If stored in the refrigerator they can have a tendency to become soggy to the point an air fryer even has a hard time saving the texture.

If you're planning on making homemade corn dogs to air fry in the future, they can last up to 3 months stored in parchment paper inside of a freezer safe container.

What To Serve With Them

Ketchup. Ketchup with corn dogs is my perfect dip. Salty, slightly sweet, and tangy.
Honey Mustard. The classic choice for corn dogs, and arguably the most popular.
Honey. A favorite with kids, and anyone with a sweet tooth.
Mayo. Makes a tasty dipper and is great with air fryer french fries, too!
Raspberry Preserves. Ok, I know this one sounds a little weird, but hear me out. It's meat with a sweet, deepfried coating. You would eat a Monte Cristo with preserves, so why not a corn dog?

Other Easy Air Fryer Recipes

Keto Chicken Tenders- Low carb and taste just like traditional chicken tenders.
Air Fryer Shrimp Fried Rice- Believe it or not, you can make this amazing dish in your air fryer!
Korean Chicken Wings- Packed with flavor and keto.
Air Fryer Scotch Eggs- Just like your favorite Scotch egg recipe, but without being deep fried.
Fennel Chicken- A blog favorite, and for great reason. This chicken is incredibly flavorsome and easy to make.

If you love Air Fryer Corn Dogs as a quick and easy meal or snack, make sure you share how to make them on Facebook and Instagram so your friends can try it too. Don't forget to Pin it so you can try it again soon!