More and more frozen foods that used to take forever to cook in the oven can now be whipped up rather quickly with your air fryer. One of my favorite snacks as a kid was frozen corn dogs. However, with their larger size and cumbersome stick, they don't fit too well in the air fryer. But the frozen mini corn dogs are a whole different story.
There are plenty of reasons to try air frying mini corn dogs instead of cooking them in the oven. They're the perfect choice for those hectic weeknights when time is sparse.
Their smaller size helps them cook more quickly. Air fryer corn dogs are super easy so there's no need for extensive meal planning and long shopping lists.
Mini corn dogs are also super fast to cook providing you with a meal for the whole family in as little as ten minutes. They can also be the perfect game-changer for your next Super Bowl party.
Your air fryer can make crispy corn dogs that are delicious and golden brown to perfection, and it requires hardly any time or labor at all.
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Ingredients
- Frozen mini corn dogs or hot dogs and Pilsbury corn dog wraps
- Favorite dipping sauces
Kitchen Tools and Equipment Needed
- Air fryer
- Tongs
- Plate for Serving
- Ramekins for dipping sauce
Instructions
Spray your air fryer basket with olive or avocado oil to prevent sticking. Alternatively, use an air basket silicone or paper liner.
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (177°C).
You can simply buy the premade frozen mini corn dogs and place them in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Make sure none of them are touching or overlapping.
Return your air fryer basket to the air fryer to begin your cooking process. Heat the premade frozen mini corn dogs for 3-5 minutes, or until they reach your desired crispiness.
Flip your corn dogs at the halfway point for even cooking and the best crispiness. Once your mini corn dogs are done, use a pair of tongs to remove them from your air fryer and place them on a serving plate.
Let them cool for a minute or two while you collect your favorite dipping sauce. You can enjoy these air fryer mini corn dogs with your favorite sauce, or you can explore new experiences.
Alternatively, you can also make your corn dogs using premade corndog wraps and regular hot dogs. The corndog-wrapped hot dogs take a bit longer and need to cook for approximately 15-20 minutes depending on the power of your air fryer.
Popular dipping sauces include BBQ sauce, honey mustard, and ketchup.
Variations
If you're looking for something with a little more gusto than just plain frozen corn dogs, try some of these jazzed-up dipping sauces.
- Honey and sesame seeds: Drizzle a light layer of honey over your mini corn dogs and then roll them in sesame seeds for a sweet and savory twist.
- Marinara sauce with red pepper flakes: If you like your corn dogs with ketchup, add a little kick with some marinara sauce mixed with red pepper flakes.
- Cream cheese and hot pepper jelly: Swirl some cream cheese and jalapeno jelly together for this creamy and spicy dipping sauce.
- Ketchup, mayo, and minced garlic: Try your mini corn dogs dipped in this fry sauce for garlic lovers.
- Chili cheese corn dogs: After your frozen corn dogs have cooked, smother them in chili, grated cheese, and some fried crispy onions just like you would a hot dog.
- Sriracha dip: A combination of Sriracha sauce, fresh lime juice, sour cream, and sugar gives this sauce a sweet and tangy Thai flavor.
- Melted four-cheese sauce: If you prefer a deliciously warm dipping sauce for your mini corn dogs, try this combination of melted cheddar, Monterey, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses mixed with cream.
Top Tips For Success
- If you want to give your frozen mini corn dogs more of a corn dog appeal, jab them with toothpicks or cut skewers once they're done cooking in the air fryer.
- If you're using an air fryer toaster oven combo, expect your mini corn dogs to take a little longer to cook because of the larger cooking chamber.
- If you're cooking in batches, after removing your frozen mini corn dogs from your air fryer, add extra oil to your basket to prevent the second batch from sticking.
- When cooking in batches, you may need to reduce your cooking time with the second batch.
- Keep an eye on your air-frying corn dogs throughout the cooking process. They can go from golden brown to burnt rather quickly.
- Use silicone-coated tongs for removing your mini corn dogs so you don't scratch your air fryer basket.
- Don't overcrowd your air fryer basket. It will impede the cooking process.
FAQs on Air Fryer Mini Corn Dogs
Absolutely! If your regular corn dogs have sticks that are too long for your air fryer basket, you can remove them or shorten their length. You can even cut the corn dog into bite-sized pieces to lessen the cooking time.
If you end up cooking more air fryer mini corn dogs than you can eat, don't worry. You can simply put them in an air-tight container and store them in the fridge for a few days. Alternatively, you can wrap them in aluminum foil and place them in a zip lock bag.
To reheat mini corn dogs, set your air fryer to 350°F (177°C) and air fry your refrigerated corn dog bites for just a few minutes until the centers are warm.
You can also reheat your mini corn dogs in the microwave, but they'll have a soggy texture and aren't nearly as good as reheating them in your air fryer oven.
When time is short, I don't always have time to make my own corn dogs in the air fryer. My favorite brand is Foster Farms because they remind me of the corn dogs that you can get at the state fair every year.
Different brands offer unique flavors though, and occasionally I enjoy the State Fair mini corn dogs made with turkey.
Even better. The air fryer's area of expertise is crisping foods. The benefit of air frying your mini corn dogs is that you don't have all the added grease from deep frying. Not only does this make them taste better, but it's a little better on the health spectrum as well.
Mini corn dogs are not considered healthy by any stretch of the imagination. They are nothing more than a self-indulgent comfort food just like most processed food. They are high in carbohydrates, fat, and sodium.
Not only are the hot dogs themselves made from the worst parts of chicken, pork, beef, and lamb, but they are also chocked full of antibiotics, nitrites, MSG, and corn syrup. And more often than not, the batter is made from bioengineered food ingredients.
But when you love corn dogs, none of that seems to matter.
Yes, actually, you can. Many easy air fryer recipes are available that you can cook up in no time at all. Air fryers are a great way to make your mini corn dogs and are a tad bit healthier than deep-fried corn dogs.
Simply put your batter in a glass, dip your dogs, and place them in your basket much the same way you would cook frozen corn dogs. Of course, since your batter is raw, your air fryer cook time will be longer.
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Recipe
How to Cook Mini Corn Dogs in Air Fryer
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Tongs
- Plate for serving
- Ramikins for dipping sauce
Ingredients
- Frozen mini corn dogs or hot dogs and Pilsbury corn dog wraps
- Favorite dipping sauces
Instructions
- Line your basket with a liner or spray with oil to prevent sticking.
- Preheat your air fryer oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Prepare hot dogs and corn dog wraps as mentioned above, or use frozen mini corn dogs. Place your mini corn dogs in an air fryer in a single layer.
- Cook your frozen corn dogs in the air fryer for 5-10 minutes, or cook corndog-wrapped hot dogs in the air fryer for 15-20 minutes. Be sure to flip your snack cuisine at the halfway point.
- Once done, use tongs to remove your mini corn dogs from the air fryer. Plate and serve using your favorite sauce or try one of our variations for some added flavor.
Notes
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