Can you air fry corn dogs? You sure can! Learn how to make homemade corn dogs in the air fryer. It’s easier than you might think! If you like the corn dogs at the carnival or state fair, you’ll love this air fryer corn dog recipe. When you make air fryer corn dogs from scratch, you can skip the deep frying without compromising on flavor.
Healthy corn dogs? Consider it done.
Unlike the frozen corn dogs you can find in the store, these air fryer corn dogs are not frozen. Instead, we’re making a simple dough and whipping these treats up from scratch.
It’s more work, but making your own corn dogs comes with some serious nutritional benefits which I’ll cover below. Plus, IMVHO these taste better because they have that homemade thing going on.
I’ve noticed that most homemade corn dog recipes use a very wet, drippy batter. That may work well for deep frying, but it can make a mess in the air fryer. Additionally, your finished corn dogs might not look as appealing as they could.
For these air fryer corn dogs with cornmeal, we’re going to make a thick dough that gets wrapped around the hot dogs. The dough doesn’t lose it shape when air frying, so you get perfect-looking corn dogs, every time.
If you’re a believer that food that looks better is also more delicious, you’ll love these. They’re a treat for the eyes and the stomach! I hope you enjoy this healthy weenie roast upgrade.
Jump to:
📋 What are the calories, net carbs, and protein?
Each serving of air fryer corn dogs (2 corn dogs) provides 313 calories, 32.2 grams net carbs, and 14.5 grams of protein. Those numbers don’t include any corn dog toppings or side dishes you add on.
⭐ Benefits
Why make corn dogs in air fryer? It’s true that it takes more time to make corn dogs from scratch compared to getting them store-bought. However, your effort comes with some nutritional benefits!
- Portion control: Hot dogs on sticks or skewers are automatically portion-controlled (whether homemade or from a store). That little pause where you are deciding whether to take another can help you be more mindful in your eating. The small portion of each corn dog is great for kids too.
- No added sugar: Many of the store-bought frozen corn dogs contain added sugar. However, you don’t need it! The natural milk sugar in this recipe is enough to feed the yeast to get it the cornmeal dough to rise.
- Made with whole grains: Nearly all corn dogs from the store have refined grains, typically white flour, as a main ingredient. When you make your own corn dogs, you can use 100% whole grains. (I used a mix of spelt flour and whole grain corn meal here.)
- Not an ultra-processed food: Store-bought corn dogs typically have an insanely long ingredients list with various food additives. This recipe will help you move away from ultra-processed foods without eliminating corn dogs from your diet. That, my friends, is a good thing!
- Kids love them: If you have kids, get them involved in making this recipe! Preparing the dough to wrap around the hot dogs is just like playing with Play-Doh. They’ll love that they will get to eat their creations after air frying!
- Tasty and nostalgic childhood snack: I don’t know about you, but I haven’t had a corn dog in years! Eating these brought me back to my younger years and some simpler times.
🥘 Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make corn dogs in the air fryer:
- Hot dogs (go for a brand that’s 100% beef with no fillers)
- 2% milk
- Active dry yeast
- Olive oil
- Fine ground cornmeal
- Whole grain spelt flour (whole wheat flour is a fine substitute, but spelt is tastier IMO)
- Salt
- Baking soda
- Paprika
- Beaten egg
- Oil spray
I used Applegate Organics Grassfed Beef Hot Dogs for this recipe. The only ingredients are beef, water, spices and seasonings, plus celery powder (for curing).
I’m not usually a huge fan of hot dogs, but these were really yummy. They’re seriously the BEST hot dogs for corn dogs in my book!
You can use pretty much any hot dog brand you’d prefer here and it should work. Picking one you like the taste of helps ensure you’ll like how your corn dogs turn out.
Another thing you’ll probably want to have on hand for this recipe is condiments! Use ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, or whatever you like to put on corndogs!
🍽 Equipment
The most important thing you need for this corn dog recipe is an air fryer! I used a 10-Quart Kalorik Digital Air Fryer Oven for this recipe. This recipe makes a lot of corn dogs, so I had to cook them in two batches.
You can use whatever air fryer or air fryer oven you have for this recipe. Your Ninja Foodi, Philips, Power Air Fryer, Cosori, Nuwave, Breville, or whatever brand you have can make corn dogs.
That said, cooking times are generally shorter if you are using an air fryer basket or only one air fryer tray. With two air fryer trays (as I’m using here) one tray spends time farther away from the heating element. You can cook a larger amount of food on two trays, but it will take a bit longer to cook.
Some other things I recommend having to make air fried corn dogs include:
- Kitchen thermometer
- Small wooden skewers
- Fast food baskets with paper liners
The thermometer is needed to check the corn dogs for doneness. It is also used to make sure the milk reaches the right temperature for the yeast. If you heat the milk too much, you’ll kill the yeast and your dough won’t rise.
Small wooden skewers are essential to make corn dogs! Since these are mini corn dogs, you don’t want the skewers to be too long. You also want a skewer that is thick enough to hold the weight of the hot dog and the dough.
I purchased these candy apple sticks on Amazon for this recipe. They are 5.5-inches long and about 0.25-inch (5 mm) thick. They were the perfect size!
Something that’s nice but not critical are these food baskets for serving. They’re reusable, saving us a lot of money compared to paper plates.
🔪 How to Make Air Fryer Corn Dogs
Let’s make corn dogs in an air fryer! This recipe is an adaptation from one I saw on the Food Network.
Start by putting the milk in a medium saucepan and heating it to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a kitchen thermometer to make sure it reaches the correct temperature.
Gently stir the yeast into the warmed milk and let it sit for 5 minutes. (The milk has enough natural sugar so no added sugar is needed!) Next, stir the olive oil and cornmeal into the milk mixture.
Add the spelt flour, salt, baking soda, and paprika to the mixture. Stir until the ingredients are well incorporated. Then knead the dough with clean hands for five minutes. This step is messy! Oiling or wetting your hands helps prevent the dough from sticking so much.
Cover the dough with a clean dish towel and let it rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour. The dough will get nice and puffy as the yeast does its thing.
While you wait, cut the hot dogs in half widthwise. Push the pointy end of a skewer into the cut ends of the hot dogs. Push the skewer through almost to the other end of each hot dog. (Watch the video in the recipe card if you need visuals!)
After the dough has risen, divide it into 14 pieces. Roll each piece into a thin 12-inch-long rope.
Spiral each rope of dough around one of the cut hot dogs, trying to cover each frankfurter as much as possible. Spritz your air fryer trays or air fryer basket with cooking oil spray.
Lay the uncooked corn dogs out in a non-touching single layer on the trays. (I needed to cook them in two batches.) Brush each corn dog with the egg.
⏲️ Cooking Time and Temperature
How long do corn dogs go in the air fryer? If you’re using two air fryer trays, air fry wieners for a total of 12 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’re using only one air fryer tray, air fry on the top rack (closest to the heating element) for 8-10 minutes at 400F.
I was able to fit five corn dogs on each air fryer tray. I air fried them for five minutes at 400F, switched the position of the air fryer trays, then air fried an additional five minutes. Finally, I switched the position of the trays one more time, and air fried at 400F for two minutes. There is no need to flip the corn dogs as they cook.
Corn dogs that are properly cooked should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. I recommend using a meat thermometer to be sure.
Let the corn dogs cool for 3-5 minutes before eating. They are very hot!
If they are sticking a bit to the air fryer trays, use a spatula to help release them. Add your favorite condiments for corn dogs, and enjoy!
Tip: Are your corn dogs sticks getting too dark in the air fryer? Soaking the sticks in water before air frying should solve this problem. I never bother with this step because I have not had this issue.
️👪 What goes with air fryer corn dogs?
If you’re looking for side dishes for corn dogs, you’ve come to the right place. A popular choice would be air fryer corn dogs and fries. Here are some of my favorite foods to serve with corn dogs:
- Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
- Air Fryer Frozen Sweet Potato Fries
- Jicama Fries in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Maduros
- Air Fryer Popcorn
💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). Covering our protein source (the hot dogs) with dough really increases the calories without adding a lot of volume. As always, recipes with flour get the bump to level three.
I’m going to let you in on a secret. If you are trying to lose weight, it is easier (and possibly healthier) to eat plain hot dogs. Though I enjoy corn dogs once in a very great while, I typically like hot dogs better plain.
If you want to incorporate hot dogs into a meal that is more supportive of weight loss, try soup! I used to make a fabulous soup with sliced hot dogs, kale, seasonings, and potatoes. I always mashed some of the potatoes into the broth to make a creamier soup without having to add cream.
The soup idea may sound weird, but it was a family favorite around here when my son was younger. It gives you a high protein, high volume, low calorie meal. It’s the perfect combination when you want to feel full while maintaining the calorie deficit you need for weight loss.
Another option to make corn dogs a lower calorie but filling meal is to add some large side salads. The non-starchy veggies with a light dressing will add in more fiber and fluid volume, components lacking in the corn dogs alone.
On the other hand, what if you’re looking to gain weight, or having trouble maintaining a healthy weight? In that case, these energy-dense whole grain corn dogs might align well with your goals. I know I find it difficult to stick to eating just a couple!
FAQs
I don’t recommend reheating frozen corn dogs cooked from this recipe. I tried it and was not happy with the results! To reheat cooked and refrigerated corn dogs, air fry on the top rack of the air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-5 minutes. (Freshly made is definitely best, though.)
Yes, you can air fry store-bought corn dogs. Try air frying them for 8-12 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, flipping them over halfway through cooking time. Ensure they reach a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before enjoying.
Yes, you can air fry mini corn dogs! This recipe counts as air fryer mini corn dogs, since we’re using hot dog halves. So, make this recipe, and you’ll have yourself some air fried mini corn dogs!
You can make this recipe for air fryer corn dogs vegan with simple swaps. Try using soy milk in place of dairy, vegan “hot dogs” instead of beef hot dogs, and spray with oil instead of the egg wash. Alternatively, try the Field Roast mini vegan corn dogs (wheat gluten-based) or MorningStar Farms corn dogs. The downside to these alternatives is that they are ultra-processed.
To make gluten free corn dogs in the air fryer, you will need to substitute the spelt flour for a gluten free flour. Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour may be a good flour to try, though I have not tested it here. The hot dogs and cornmeal will need to be gluten-free as well.
👩🏻🍳 Other Air Fryer Recipes
Are you looking for more recipes to make in an air fryer? I’ve got you! You need to check these out:
- Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
- Air Fryer Eggplant Fries
- Meatloaf in Air Fryer
- Frozen Fish in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken
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The Disclaimer…
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be wildly inaccurate, so please don't sweat the numbers too much.
For more information on how the three recipe levels may help with a weight management goal, refer to my overnight oats no sugar post. Let's get cooking!
📖 Recipe
Corn Dogs in Air Fryer (Recipe + Video!)
Ingredients
- 7 hot dogs
- 1 cup milk, 2%
- 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup fine-ground cornmeal
- 1½ cups whole grain spelt flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 large egg
- cooking oil spray of choice
- condiments for topping (if desired)
Instructions
- Put the milk in a saucepan and heat it to 110°F (43°C). Use a kitchen thermometer to ensure it reaches the correct temperature.
- Gently stir the yeast into the warmed milk and let it sit for 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes is up, stir the olive oil and cornmeal into the milk mixture. Then add the spelt flour, salt, baking soda, and paprika.
- Stir until the ingredients are well-incorporated. Then knead the dough with clean hands for five minutes. Oil or wet your hands to prevent the dough from sticking so much.
- Cover the dough with a clean dish towel and let it rise for 45-60 minutes. The dough will get puffy from the action of the yeast.
- Cut the hot dogs in half widthwise. Insert the pointy end of a skewer into the cut ends of the hot dogs. Push the skewer through almost to the other end of each hot dog. (Watch the video in the recipe card if you need visuals!)
- After the dough has risen, divide it into 14 pieces. Roll each piece into a thin 12-inch-long rope (30.5 cm). Feel free to use a ruler if it helps you get the right length- I did!
- Spiral each rope of dough around one of the cut hot dogs, trying to cover each frankfurter as much as possible.
- Mist your air fryer trays or air fryer basket with cooking oil spray.
- Lay the uncooked corn dogs out in a non-touching single layer on the trays. (I needed to cook them in two batches.)
- Whisk the egg in a small bowl. Brush the tops of the corn dogs with the egg wash.
Air frying with two air fryer trays:
- (Total cooking time is 12 minutes.) Air fry for 5 minutes at 400°F (200°C), switch the position of the air fryer trays, and air fry an additional 5 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
- Switch the position of the trays one more time, and air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 2 minutes. There's no need to flip the corn dogs as they cook.
- Use a kitchen thermometer to check that the corn dogs reached the safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Let the corn dogs cool for 3-5 minutes before eating. Serve with your favorite condiments.
Air frying with one tray or an air fryer basket:
- (Total cooking time is 8-10 minutes.) Air fry for 8-10 minutes at 400°F (200°C) in the top rack position (closest to the heating element). There's no need to flip the corn dogs as they cook.
- Use a kitchen thermometer to check that the corn dogs reached the safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Let the corn dogs cool for 3-5 minutes before eating. Serve with your favorite condiments.
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