There’s just something magical about the classic combination of hot dogs and salty bacon. You don’t need to fire up the grill to make these barbecue favorites, though! My recipe for crispy air fryer bacon wrapped hot dogs makes everything quick and easy to prepare inside.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I stand by the sentiment that everything tastes better with bacon! So, why not upgrade your regular hot dog to a new level by wrapping it in the salty, meaty strips?
You can still top them up any way you like, with ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, or even chili! Bacon wrapped hot dogs are delicious on their own so they’re great for a low carb diet, or you can pop them on a bun for a more traditional serving.
Add some cheese prior to wrapping and you’ve got a cheese-stuffed bacon wrapped hot dog! Really, you can customize the ingredients and flavors any way you like.
Did I mention that it only takes 10-15 minutes to cook (depending how crispy you like them)? They’re perfect for an easy weeknight meal, and kid friendly too! If you’re looking for a classic preparation method though, my Air Fryer Hot Dogs are equally as delicious – just minus the bacon!
Katie’s Tip
If you love bacon recipes, then you might also enjoy trying my Bacon Cheeseburger Biscuit Bombs made in the air fryer! You get all your favorite flavors in one bite!
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Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs Ingredients
- 4 hot dogs
- 4 slices bacon (or more to taste)
- 4 hot dog buns (optional)
- 4 slices cheese (optional)
- Seasonings or toppings as desired
Ingredient Notes and Tips
- Any brand of hot dog works fine. I’ve got Nathan’s bun length skinless beef franks, but you can use your favorite kind of hot dogs
- I recommend regular thin-sliced bacon instead of the thicker bacon, as I feel it cooks more evenly and crisps better. However, if you like a fattier bacon, you can use thick-cut too
- If you prefer less browned ends on your hot dog, you’ll need additional bacon to wrap the entire dog including the ends. In this case, you’d need approximately 6 slices of bacon and use an additional ½ a slice per dog
- Feel free to season your bacon before cooking. A nice rub of your favorite barbecue, Cajun, maple garlic, brown sugar, and other seasonings go great if you want some additional flavor
- Toppings are optional, but sliced avocado, jalapeño slices, green bell peppers, cilantro, queso fresco, tomato, BBQ sauce, yellow mustard, and mayonnaise are all great options!
Texas Tommy Variation
A bacon wrapped hot dog stuffed with cheese is known as a Texas Tommy dog. Just split the dog (not all the way through) and stuff it with cheese before wrapping. Cheddar or American are my top choices, but you can use your favorites.
How much cheese you need really depends on the thickness of your hot dogs, but ½ to 1 full slice is average.
I find that cheese slices work best to stay put, and recommend capping the end of the hot dog with bacon to lessen how much melts out (cover the end before wrapping the rest of the dog – you may need extra bacon for this).
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs in the Air Fryer
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (or the closest setting your specific air fryer has)
- If you are stuffing with cheese (Texas Tommy style), make a cut lengthwise across the hot dog going about halfway through. Break a slice of cheese into quarters lengthwise, and then stuff them into the gap
- Start with the larger end of the bacon, and tightly wrap each hot dog in a slice with just a slight amount of overlap to hold the bacon in place. You can tuck the end under, or use a toothpick to secure (just don’t forget to remove them before eating)
- Place the bacon wrapped hot dogs into your preheated air fryer basket in a single layer, allowing some air space between each one to promote even browning
- Cook on the air fry setting at 380°F for 10-15 minutes, pausing halfway through to flip or gently shake the basket. Use the lower end of the time range if you like soft bacon, and the higher end for crispy bacon
- Place hot dogs in buns if desired, and serve with your favorite toppings and sides
What to Serve With Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs
- Potato chips
- French fries
- Onion rings
- Macaroni salad
- Mac and cheese
- Potato salad
- Coleslaw
- Baked beans
- Corn on the cob
- Chili
- Cornbread
- Diced onions
- Cheese sauce
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Relish
- Pickles
- Sauerkraut
- Grilled fruit
There are many great sides and toppings to serve with bacon wrapped hot dogs to complete your meal!
Try bacon wrapped hot dogs in the air fryer with my easy side dish recipes, including Air Fryer Ore Ida Fries, crispy Frozen Onion Rings in the Air Fryer, barbecue classic Air Fryer Jiffy Cornbread, easy Air Fryer Baked Beans, or some Ninja Air Fryer Potato Chips.
Recipe FAQs
What Is a Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog?
A bacon-wrapped dog is a traditional hot dog that’s had a strip or two of bacon wrapped in a spiral around the outside. It’s then cooked on the grill, or in the oven, air fryer, or deep frying to brown the bacon.
The bacon dog may come with or without cheese inside, and may be eaten on its own, or on a bun.
Depending on where you live, you may even hear these bacon wrapped hot dogs stuffed with cheese called a Texas Tommy.
Can You Cook Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs in an Air Fryer?
Yes, you can cook bacon wrapped hot dogs in an air fryer. The air fryer will cook and brown the bacon, while heating the hot dog inside.
Note that you may need to tip the grease out once during cooking to prevent smoking.
How Long to Cook Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs in an Air Fryer?
You should cook bacon wrapped hot dogs in an air fryer for 10-15 minutes on average.
The interior of the hot dog should reach 140°F for food safety. Beyond that, it’s just a preference of how crispy you want your bacon.
What Temperature Should I Cook Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs in the Air Fryer?
The typical cooking temperature for bacon wrapped hot dogs in the air fryer is 380°F (193°C).
For extra browning and crispiness, however, they may be cooked at 400°F (200°C) instead.
Tips For the Best Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs
- For extra crispy bacon, feel free to cook the bacon for 5 minutes before wrapping the hot dogs to give it a head start
- Feel free to scale the recipe based on how many people you’re feeding. It’s easy to adjust and requires no additional cooking time so long as you have room in your air fryer (or just batch cook them)
- This recipe was tested in a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer, which can hold up to 8 hot dogs at a time between both baskets. Cooking times may vary slightly for other air fryers and brands of dogs
- If you’d like a toasted bun you can throw them in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes to get them warm and lightly crisped
- You may also top with cheese instead of stuffing if preferred. The cheese does tend to ooze out in the air fryer and make a mess as it melts during cooking
Storage and Reheating
- Store leftover bacon wrapped hot dogs in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 6 months
- Reheat bacon wrapped hot dogs in the air fryer for 5-6 minutes at 350°F, in the oven for about 10 minutes at 400°F, in the microwave on high for 1 minute, or in a skillet on the stove until warmed through
More Hot Dog Recipes
Final Thoughts
This crispy air fryer bacon wrapped hot dog recipe is a must have for summertime, but even all year round! No more worrying about the weather when you can cook everything in your air fryer quickly and easily.
Choose a cheese stuffed bacon wrapped hot dog or go just go with the classic combination. Add a bun if you want and your favorite toppings to personalize to your tastes!
Since cooking time is 15 minutes or less, this makes for an easy weeknight meal. It’s a crowd pleaser that’s perfect for lunch, dinner, backyard barbecues, or the tailgate.
Now that you’ve practiced on hot dogs, elevate your dinner game by trying out my Bacon Wrapped Filet in the Air Fryer topped with a garlic herb butter!
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs (Cheese Stuffed Optional)
Equipment
- Toothpicks (optional)
- Sharp knife (optional)
Ingredients
- 4 Hot dogs any brand
- 4 slices bacon (or more to taste)
- 4 Hot dog buns (optional)
- 4 slices cheese (optional)
- Condiments or toppings as desired
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (or the closest setting your specific air fryer has)
- If you are stuffing with cheese (optional), make a cut with a sharp knife lengthwise across the hot dog going about halfway through. Break a slice of cheese into quarters lengthwise, and then stuff them into the gap4 Hot dogs, 4 slices cheese
- Start with the larger end of the bacon, and tightly wrap each hot dog in a slice with just a slight amount of overlap to hold the bacon in place. You can tuck the end under, or use a toothpick to secure (just don’t forget to remove them before eating)4 slices bacon
- Place the bacon wrapped hot dogs into your preheated air fryer basket in a single layer, allowing some air space between each one to promote even browning
- Cook on the air fry setting at 380°F for 10-15 minutes, pausing halfway through to flip or gently shake the basket. Use the lower end of the time range if you like soft bacon, and the higher end for crispy bacon
- Place hot dogs in buns if desired, and serve with your favorite toppings and sides4 Hot dog buns, Condiments or toppings as desired
Notes
- Any brand of hot dog works fine. I’ve got Nathan’s bun length skinless beef franks, but you can use your favorite
- If you prefer less browned ends on your hot dog, you’ll need additional bacon to wrap the entire dog including the ends. In this case, you’d need approximately 6 slices of bacon and use an additional ½ a slice per dog
- Want to add cheese? Cheddar or American are my top choices, but you can use your favorites. I find that slices work best to stay put, and recommend capping the ends with bacon to lessen how much melts out. How much cheese you need really depends on the thickness of your hot dogs, but ½ to 1 full slice is average. You may also top with cheese instead of stuffing if preferred. The cheese does tend to ooze out in the air fryer and make a mess as it melts during cooking, though
- Feel free to season your bacon before cooking. Try barbecue, Cajun, maple garlic, brown sugar, and other seasonings for additional flavor
- For extra crispy bacon, feel free to cook the bacon for 5 minutes before wrapping the hot dogs to give it a head start
- If you’d like a toasted bun you can throw them in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes to get them warm and lightly crisped
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any condiments, cheese, or sides added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
