A healthier take on these beloved little treats on a stick.
Most people love football season because they love football. Well, me too: I do enjoy watching the games—especially when my team is winning!—but my favorite part of Sundays in front of the TV is eating delicious snacky foods that just seem made for Game Day. Enter mini corn dogs made in the air fryer, a healthier way to treat yourself to one of the greatest snack foods ever to be served on a stick!
Sure, you could just buy frozen mini corn dogs and pop them in the air fryer, but why would you when you can do them from scratch? After all, homemade is always better than store-bought, right? These mini corn dogs are easy to make; they’re salty, savory, and a bit sweet (just like the best cornbread) and a huge crowd-pleaser (which is why they’re so great to serve at a Game Day party). And you’ll experience that warm feeling of pride—the hallmark of the home cook, as far as I’m concerned—when these mini corn dogs come out of the air fryer with their wonderfully crisp and crunchy coating and that perfect hot dog snap on the inside.
And they’re a snap to make! It’s so easy to skewer the cut-up hot dogs, dip them in the batter and then roll them in the breadcrumbs. But the best thing is you have none of the mess or clean-up involved with frying things in big pots of oil (including the trouble of disposing of that cooking oil). Another great thing is that frying foods in an air fryer is healthier because you use less oil (there is actually no oil in this recipe) so you are cutting out a lot of calories and fat. It’s a win-win situation, even if your football team isn’t winning…
Mini corn dogs in the air fryer are so much fun to eat while you’re watching TV because you don’t need any utensils. For that reason, I always pair them on Game Day with Pizza Skewers, sliders (Meatball Sliders for the carnivores and Black Bean Sliders for the veggie lovers), and Antipasto Skewers.
Tips For Perfect Mini Corn Dogs In The Air Fryer
Our first tip is to make sure you soak your skewers for at least 10-15 minutes; you do not want them to burn in the air fryer! Next, aim for the consistency of pancake batter when you mix together the batter ingredients; when you dip the hot dogs in, let the excess batter drain off. The breadcrumbs not only bring additional crunch, but they help keep the batter from spreading in the air fryer. When you turn your mini corn dogs halfway through the cooking process, you may need to use a spatula to keep the coating from falling off (this can happen when you turn them with tongs). Finally, because these need to be air-fried in a single layer, you’ll probably have to make them in batches; while one batch is cooking, prepare the next one so that you can work quickly. Let the mini corn dogs cool a bit before serving because they will be hot hot hot when they come out of the air fryer!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup cornmeal
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 pinches kosher salt
- 6 hot dogs, cut into 3 pieces each
- 18 skewers, soaked in water for 15 minutes beforehand
- 3/4 cup fine breadcrumbs
- Ketchup, mustard, or other preferred sauce for dipping
How To Make Mini Corn Dogs In The Air Fryer
Step 1: In a large bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, milk, egg, baking powder, honey, sugar, and salt until smooth.
Step 2: Skewer each hot dog piece with a soaked skewer, leaving enough handle to hold.
Step 3: Dip each skewered hot dog into the batter, let excess drip off, then roll in breadcrumbs to coat evenly.
Step 4: Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Place coated corn dogs in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space in between them. Work in batches as needed.
Step 5: Air fry for 8-10 minutes or until golden and cooked, flipping the corn dogs halfway through.
Step 6: Serve with ketchup, mustard, or other preferred dipping sauce.
FAQs & Tips
How Do I Store Leftovers?
Cooked and cooled mini corn dogs can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator and up to 2 months in the freezer. Reheat them at 400 degrees in the air fryer: 3-5 minutes for those that have been in the fridge and 8-10 minutes if heating from frozen.
Any Seasoning Ideas For Mini Corn Dog Batter?
Many! My family likes a kick of heat, so I add about 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the batter. If you like to dip your corn dogs in mustard, you can add 1/2 teaspoon of mustard powder to the batter to enhance that flavor. Sometimes I add some grated Parmesan to the breadcrumbs for a burst of cheesiness (and extra crunch). Be creative!
Does This Recipe Work With Sausages?
Yes, it does. Choose small sausages and remember that you may have to adjust the cooking time to make sure the sausages are cooked through (most hot dogs come already fully cooked, but sausage usually does not).
Serving Suggestions
Just because mini corn dogs in the air fryer are perfect when you’re hosting Game Day, doesn’t mean they’re not also terrific for a really fun weeknight dinner. I love to serve them with hot-dog-friendly sides like Baked Beans and Coleslaw but the best part of this meal is the array of sauces I put out for dipping: Jalapeño Sauce, Queso, Spiced Maple Syrup (don’t knock it till you’ve tried it) and the absolute favorite for dunking corn dogs at my house, this Hot Corn Dip.
Do you know what else mini corn dogs are perfect for? A snack-themed kid’s birthday party! First, all the kids make these delicious Butterfly Snacks (a really fun and edible craft project) and then it’s on to the buffet, featuring the mini corn dogs, different kinds of popcorn (Caramel Popcorn, Cheese Popcorn, Taco Popcorn), Baby Carrots and Ranch Dressing, Rollo Pretzel Treats, and mini Funfetti Cupcakes!
Mini Corn Dogs in Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup cornmeal
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 pinches kosher salt
- 6 hot dogs cut into 3 pieces each
- 18 skewers soaked in water for 15 minutes beforehand
- 3/4 cup fine breadcrumbs
- Ketchup, mustard, or other preferred sauce for dipping
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, milk, egg, baking powder, honey, sugar, and salt until smooth.
- Skewer each hot dog piece with a soaked skewer, leaving enough handle to hold.
- Dip each skewered hot dog into the batter, let excess drip off, then roll in breadcrumbs to coat evenly.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Place coated corn dogs in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space in between them. Work in batches as needed.
- Air fry for 8-10 minutes or until golden and cooked, flipping the corn dogs halfway through.
- Serve with ketchup, mustard, or other preferred dipping sauce.
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