Calling all busy parents! Crave a fun twist on hot dogs the kids will love? These melty, cheesy Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs are ready in minutes, making weeknight meals a breeze.
Budget-friendly and ridiculously easy, they’re the perfect way to turn an ordinary hot dog into an extraordinary dinner. Whip up a batch tonight and watch them disappear!
Love Air Fryer Recipes? Try these Air Fryer French Fries, Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts or Air Fryer Cinnamon Apple Rings and Air Fryer Spicy Chicken Sandwiches.
Pairing kids favorites is often a win-win situation!
Recipe Highlights
- A great afternoon snack or fun weekend treat, even lots of picky eaters love them too!
- Literally takes less than 5 minutes from start to finish.
- Pairs two kids favorites together and makes them even easier in the air fryer!
And no I am not claiming this is a “good for you” meal – only budget friendly! Pair it with some fresh veggies and fruit and you have a decent meal. Suggestions below.
When you’re looking for a budget friendly meal idea mostly for the kids, this one is it.
These Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs are perfectly fried up in the air fryer and are absolutely delicious.
Even some grown ups love them too!
This is how we make grilled cheese in air fryer as well, we just don’t roll them up to cook them!
While we’ve only made hot dogs in the air fryer once, they were perfection. I definitely recommend!
Ingredients for Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs
- Bread
- Mayonnaise (or butter)
- Sliced Cheese
- Hot Dogs
- other additions: bacon, ketchup, mustard, relish, etc.
- Toothpicks
- Air Fryer (this is the one we use and ADORE)
How To Make Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs
An air fryer is the solution to getting always perfectly crispy, always gooey grilled cheese sandwiches. Definitely better than a griddle or a pan on the stove!
A simple recipe honestly. Not a lot to know, but a few tips and tricks that will make it easier.
You’re simply going to take a slice of bread and spread a thin layer of mayonnaise or butter on one side. On the other side you’re going to place a piece of cheese.
Then put a hot dog on the cheese side and roll the bread around it kind of hugging it.
Using two toothpicks (sometimes it needs three) to secure either end of the sandwich to the hotdogs.
Depending on the model of your air fryer and how it works, either preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F or set your air fryer to 375 degrees F if it doesn’t require preheating.
Gently place your Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs in your air fryer being very cautious to not over crowd.
My air fryer model can fit about 4 without touching, but I know our old one might have only been able to handle 2.
Set to air fry for about 3-4 minutes.
*Note: If they don’t look completely done after 3-4 minutes (because ALL air fryers differ from each other), add 1 more minute and only add 1 minute at a time until desired doneness.
You’re looking for melted gooey cheese and a beautifully golden crisp outside.
Remove from air fryer and serve immediately!
What To Serve with Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs
- Fresh Vegetable Sticks
- Vanilla Fruit Salad
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Avocado Fries
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Fried Onion Strings (external link)
Tips and Tricks (and Substitutions)
Bread – Change up your bread to be whatever you love best. Artisan bread is SO good! I also personally love these with sourdough.
Cheese Slices – For a spicier Grilled Cheese Hot Dog, use pepper jack cheese, or for a more mild outcome, use mozzarella. You can use whatever kind of cheese you love the most, or stack a few types together! There’s nothing better than good melted cheese surrounding a delicious beef hot dog sitting right snug in hot dog buns and then grilled to perfection in an air fryer.
Bacon – Yep, go ahead and add it. Either wrap the hot dog with the bacon, or place cooked strips inside the sandwich. This may require a longer cook time if you don’t use cooked slices for both methods.
Dips – Use whatever you want to serve with this recipe. Ketchup, mustard, aioli, fry sauce, yum yum sauce, bang bang sauce, buffalo sauce, ranch, you name it, it works!
Toothpicks: Even if you get the bread to kind of wrap around the hot dog well, you will definitely want to use something to secure them.
*Note: We’ve tried them without and the air circulating tends to open the sandwich up and makes everything go all over the place.
Recipe for Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs
Ingredients
- 2 slices bread
- 2 teaspoons mayonnaise
- 1 slices cheese
- 1 beef frank
Instructions
- A simple recipe honestly. Not a lot to know, but a few tips and tricks that will make it easier.
- You’re simply going to take a slice of bread and spread a thin layer of mayonnaise or butter on one side. On the other side you’re going to place a piece of cheese.
- Then put a hot dog on the cheese side and roll the bread around it kind of hugging it.
- Using two toothpicks (sometimes it needs three) to secure either end of the sandwich to the hotdogs.
- Depending on the model of your air fryer and how it works, either preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F or set your air fryer to 375 degrees F if it doesn’t require preheating.
- Gently place your Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs in your air fryer being very cautious to not over crowd.
- My air fryer model can fit about 4 without touching, but I know our old one might have only been able to handle 2.
- Set to air fry for about 3-4 minutes. If they aren't done at 4 minutes, add 1 minute increments until done.
- Remove and serve immediately. Serve with ketchup, mustard or any other dipping sauce.
