How to Make Air-Fryer Corn Dogs

It’s not hard to find corn dogs at the state fair or on the boardwalk. But making corn dogs at home is easy, too, thanks to air fryers and frozen corn dogs. Your dogs will come out of the air fryer tasting exactly like they do at the fair. Read on to learn how to make air-fryer corn dogs in less than 10 minutes!

Find the best air fryer for your cooking style.

Fresh vs. Frozen Corn Dogs

A corn dog is a hot dog on a stick that’s dipped in a thick layer of cornmeal batter and deep-fried to golden perfection. While there’s truly nothing like a freshly-fried homemade corn dog, when preparing air-fryer corn dogs, you’ll want to stick with a frozen corn dog that has been battered and fried previously. While air fryers can do a lot of amazing things, they can’t fry uncooked corn dog batter without making a huge gloopy mess.

For best results, choose your favorite brand of store-bought frozen corn dogs.

Sauces to Serve with Corn Dogs

Keep things classic with ketchup or mustard, or try dipping into homemade Chick-fil-A sauce or copycat McDonald’s sweet and sour sauce for an unexpected twist. A sweet or spicy barbecue sauce recipe would also taste divine.

How to Make Corn Dogs in an Air Fryer

You’ll Need

• 1 package frozen corn dogs

Directions

For oven-style air fryers:

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.

Gently spray the air fryer racks with cooking spray. Place the frozen corn dogs in a single layer, leaving at least 1/2-inch of space between them; since air fryers cook by rushing hot air down onto the food, leaving space allows the hot air to circulate. This means you won’t have to flip the corn dogs over while they’re air frying.

Air-fry the corn dogs for 8 minutes. Allow them to cool for about 2 minutes before serving.

For basket-style air fryers:

Preheat your air fryer to 400°. Then load the basket with frozen corn dogs in a single layer and cook for 8 minutes.

Don’t forget to clean your air fryer after cooking up these delicious corn dogs.

Tips for Making Air-Fryer Corn Dogs

Matt Robicelli for Taste of Home

Should you preheat your air fryer to make corn dogs?

Yes! For the same reasons you should preheat your oven or skillet, preheating your air fryer ensures foods will cook completely and evenly.

Do you need to thaw frozen corn dogs before putting them into an air fryer?

No. While some foods benefit from thawing before cooking, corn dogs are one of the frozen foods you can air-fry straight from the freezer. That said, you can cook thawed corn dogs in an air fryer. Just note that you will need to experiment with the timing and temperature since they will cook faster than frozen corn dogs.

Should you trim the sticks before putting corn dogs into an air fryer?

Depending on the brand of frozen corn dogs you buy and the size of your air fryer, you may need to trim the corn dog sticks so they fit properly in your air fryer with the suggested spacing.

Can you make other kinds of corn dogs in an air fryer?

Yes! Air fryers can cook more than just traditional corn dogs. You can also air-fry mini corn dogs or vegan corn dogs! Keep in mind that the time and temperature will likely need to be reduced for mini corn dogs since they will cook faster than full-size corn dogs. For best results, refer to the package directions. Many brands include directions and cooking times for air frying.

Why didn’t my corn dogs cook evenly?

If your corn dogs are not perfectly crisp on all sides or have cold spots inside, here’s how to troubleshoot.

First, ensure your air fryer is set to the proper temperature and preheated before adding the corn dogs to its tray or basket. Second, ensure there is enough space between the corn dogs to allow the air to circulate inside the fryer.

Still struggling? Increase your cook time. Some brands of frozen corn dogs, particularly those labeled “jumbo,” may require a few extra minutes of cooking to get heated through.

How do you store air-fryer corn dogs?

Leftover air-fryer corn dogs can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container and eaten within two to three days. Reheat in a 350° oven or reheat in your air fryer until crisp and heated through. You may also reheat in a microwave, but the corn dogs will not be crispy.

Need side suggestions? Serve with air-fryer sweet potato fries!