These delicious hot dog sliders are the perfect crowd-pleasing snack or meal option anytime! They’re perfect for kids at your summer cookout or pool party, but they’re equally great on game day for a hearty snack that the adults love, too! Toast them perfectly in your air fryer for an easy recipe sure to please.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Hot dog sliders combine the nostalgic flavor of classic hot dogs with the fun, snackable size of sliders – what’s not to love? They’re also budget friendly, easy to eat, and super customizable!
Their smaller portions make them perfect for parties, cookouts, and kid-friendly meals, allowing guests to try multiple flavors or toppings without committing to a full-size dog.
Plus, their versatility—from gourmet toppings to regional twists—makes them a creative and crowd-pleasing favorite for casual backyard parties, game day spreads, or any appetizer anytime.
Katie’s tip
Looking for more great ways to prepare this cookout favorite? Check out all of my unique Air Fryer Hot Dog Recipes for some ideas!
Even better, you can cook them quickly and easily in your air fryer, so there’s no need to turn on the oven and heat up the whole house in the summer!
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Ingredients List
- 12 mini cocktail franks
- 12-count package Hawaiian rolls (such as King’s Hawaiian)
- 4 Tbsp butter, melted
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard (or yellow)
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp dried minced onion
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp poppy seeds (optional)
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
- Mini cocktail franks are just small hot dogs! While they are distinctly different from cocktail sausages (lil smokies), the two work interchangeably well here (or you can cut regular bun-length hot dogs into 2” pieces as well). Depending what you use and the size of your pack, you can make leftovers into my Air Fryer Little Smokies or Air Fryer Cocktail Franks for another great game day option!
- Hawaiian rolls add a fun sweetness to this recipe! However, you can also use slider pretzel buns, dinner rolls, mini hot dog buns, or anything similar if preferred (you can add a little brown sugar into your glaze if you want to replace the sweetness)
- Feel free to add any other toppings you like, such as condiments, canned chili (yummy chili dog sliders) or chili sauce, cheese, jalapeno slices for a kick of heat, diced onions, sport peppers and slice of small tomato (Chicago dogs style), or whatever else you like on your hot dogs!
Step By Step Instructions
- Use a serrated bread knife (or similar) to cut through the tops of each Hawaiian roll horizontally (do not cut all the way through)
- Place the mini hot dogs in your air fryer in a single layer with air space between them
- Cook on the air fry setting at 400°F for 3-4 minutes, shaking the basket halfway, until they start to sizzle
- Place the hot dogs into the cuts on the slider buns. In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, mustard, Worcestershire, onion, and poppy seeds. Brush the tops and sides of the slider rolls with the mixture
- Place the coated buns into the air fryer (separate them into sections if need be to fit in your air fryer)
- Cook at 350°F for an additional 3-5 minutes, until the hot dogs are browned and the buns are lightly toasted
- Serve with your favorite condiments and sides. Enjoy!
What to Serve With Hot Dog Sliders?
Topping Ideas
- Classic: Ketchup, mustard, relish, diced onions
- Chili Cheese: Beef chili, shredded cheddar, jalapeños
- BBQ Style: BBQ sauce, crispy onions, coleslaw
- Tex-Mex: Salsa, avocado, shredded cheese, sour cream
- Gourmet: Caramelized onions, spicy aioli, arugula, pickled veggies
Condiments
- Dijon or spicy mustard
- Sriracha mayo or chipotle aioli
- Sweet relish or dill pickles
- Sauerkraut
- Hot sauce
Side Dishes
- French fries or tater tots. Try my Air Fryer Sonic Tater Tots for a quick and easy option!
- Potato salad or coleslaw. Make creamy Air Fryer Potato Salad for the perfect compliment!
- Macaroni and cheese
- Baked beans
- Corn on the cob
- Pickle spears or pickle chips
Drink Pairings
- Lemonade or iced tea for a picnic feel. For a boozy twist, try a summery Crown Royal Peach Tea!
- Craft beer or hard seltzers for adult gatherings
- Root beer floats or soda for a nostalgic touch
Desserts
- Mini cupcakes or cookies
- Ice cream sandwiches
- Fruit skewers or watermelon slices (or some Red White and Blue Strawberries for those patriotic parties)!
Recipe FAQs
How Many Sliders To Make Per Person?
Plan on serving 2–3 hot dog sliders per adult and 1–2 per child, depending on the size of your sides and whether other main dishes are being served. If sliders are the main event, it’s better to err on the generous side, especially for hungry guests!
What Is A Hot Dog Slider?
A hot dog slider is a miniature version of a classic hot dog, served in small buns or dinner rolls and topped just like a regular hot dog. They’re bite-sized, easy to customize, and perfect for parties, potlucks, or casual family meals.
How Do You Keep Hot Dogs Warm For A Party?
To keep hot dog sliders warm, place them in a covered baking dish or slow cooker on the “warm” setting. You can also wrap them in foil and keep them in a low oven (around 200°F) until serving time. For outdoor events, an insulated food carrier or chafing dish works well too.
Tips For the Best Hot Dog Sliders
- You can easily double this recipe (or more) if you’re feeding a larger crowd! Just cook in batches and keep warm with foil until ready to serve
- Make sure to check on the buns frequently in the last minute or two of cooking so they don’t get too brown
- Depending on the size and brand of both your mini franks and slider buns, the dogs may not fill the whole bun. In this case, you could trim the buns down, or use 1 ½ dogs per bun to fill up the space!
Storage and Reheating Tips
Storage
Store leftover hot dog sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It’s best to separate the buns from the hot dogs and toppings if possible to avoid sogginess. They’ll keep well for up to 3–4 days.
Reheating
To reheat, place sliders in the oven at 325°F for about 10–12 minutes, wrapped in foil to prevent the buns from drying out. You can also reheat just the hot dogs in the microwave or a skillet and then assemble fresh sliders with new buns for the best texture.
For reheating in the air fryer, place the sliders in the basket (you can wrap them loosely in foil if you’re worried about the buns drying out). Heat for 3–5 minutes, checking halfway through to avoid over-crisping. If you’re reheating just the hot dogs, you can go a bit higher—350°F for 2–3 minutes—then reassemble.
Final Thoughts
This fun hot dog sliders recipe is perfect for an appetizer, snack, or light meal anytime! With simple ingredients, they’re easy to make and kid friendly, and allow for lots of different topping combinations, so even the adults love them.
I like to serve them up at summer cookouts, and the air fryer is a great choice so you don’t need to heat up the house to make them! Of course, you could still grill or bake them too if the air fryer isn’t an option for you.
Katie’s tip
Looking for more great finger foods for your game day spread? Check out all my tasty Air Fryer Slider Recipes for more inspiration!
Hot Dog Sliders (Air Fryer)
Equipment
- Basting brush (or similar)
- Small bowl
Ingredients
- 12 mini cocktail franks (or lil smokies)
- 12 count package Hawaiian rolls (such as King’s Hawaiian)
- 4 Tbsp butter (melted)
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard (or yellow)
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp dried minced onion
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp poppy seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Use a serrated bread knife (or similar) to cut through the tops of each Hawaiian roll horizontally (do not cut all the way through)12 count package Hawaiian rolls
- Place the mini hot dogs in your air fryer in a single layer with air space between them12 mini cocktail franks
- Cook on the air fry setting at 400°F for 3-4 minutes, shaking the basket halfway, until they plump and start to sizzle
- Place the hot dogs into the cuts on the slider buns. In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, mustard, Worcestershire, onion, and poppy seeds. Brush the tops and sides of the slider rolls with the mixture4 Tbsp butter, 2 tsp Dijon mustard, 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp dried minced onion, ½ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp poppy seeds
- Place the coated buns into the air fryer (separate them into sections if need be to fit in your air fryer)
- Air fry at 350°F for an additional 3-5 minutes, until the hot dogs are browned and the buns are toasted to your liking
- Serve with your favorite condiments and sides. Enjoy!
Notes
- Mini cocktail franks are just small hot dogs! While they are distinctly different from cocktail sausages (lil smokies), the two work interchangeably well here (or you can cut regular bun-length hot dogs into 2” pieces as well)
- Hawaiian rolls add a fun sweetness to this recipe! However, you can also use slider pretzel buns, dinner rolls, mini hot dog buns, or anything similar. Depending on the brand of both your mini franks and slider buns, the dogs may not fill the whole bun. In this case, you could trim the buns down, or use 1 ½ dogs per bun to fill up the space!
- Feel free to add any other toppings you like, such as condiments, chili or chili sauce, cheese, jalapenos, diced onions, sport peppers and a slice of tomato (Chicago style), or whatever else you like on your hot dogs!
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any sauces or sides added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
