Description
This recipe for Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs combines the ultimate comfort foods—melty grilled cheese and juicy hot dogs—into one delicious, easy-to-make sandwich. Utilizing an air fryer, it achieves a perfectly crispy golden exterior and gooey cheese inside in just 20 minutes, making it a quick and satisfying snack or meal for any time of day.
Ingredients
Scale
Hot Dogs and Cheese
- 4 hot dog sausages
- 4 slices of cheese (cheddar, American, or your favorite melting cheese)
Bread and Butter
- 4 slices of bread (white, whole wheat, or sourdough)
- 2 tablespoons of butter (softened)
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon of dried herbs (oregano or basil, optional)
Other
- Cooking spray (for the air fryer basket)
Instructions
- Prepare Hot Dogs: Remove hot dogs from packaging and ensure they are fully thawed if previously frozen. Make shallow diagonal slashes on each hot dog with a sharp knife to help even cooking and flavor penetration.
- Season Hot Dogs: Optionally sprinkle garlic powder and dried herbs over the hot dogs for extra flavor, ensuring an aromatic and tasty bite.
- Prepare Bread: Lay out the bread slices on a clean surface, ready for assembly, so the process is streamlined.
- Butter Bread: Spread softened butter generously on one side of each slice. This will create a golden, crispy crust when air fried.
- Assemble Sandwiches: Place a slice of cheese on the unbuttered side of two bread slices. Then, place one prepared hot dog on top of the cheese on each slice. Optionally, add another slice of cheese on top of the hot dog for extra cheesiness.
- Close Sandwich: Top each hot dog with the remaining bread slices, buttered side facing out, forming two sandwiches.
- Preheat Air Fryer: Set the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) and preheat for 3-5 minutes depending on your model.
- Prepare Air Fryer Basket: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Sandwiches – Part 1: Place sandwiches in the air fryer basket without overcrowding. Cook for about 5 minutes to begin crisping and melting the cheese.
- Flip Sandwiches: Using tongs or a spatula, carefully flip the sandwiches to ensure even cooking.
- Cook Sandwiches – Part 2: Continue cooking for an additional 3-5 minutes until bread is golden brown and cheese is fully melted. Monitor closely to avoid burning.
- Cool and Slice: Remove sandwiches from the air fryer and let cool for a minute before cutting each sandwich diagonally in half with a sharp knife.
- Garnish and Serve: Optionally sprinkle additional herbs or add a dash of hot sauce for extra flavor and visual appeal. Serve with favorite dipping sauces like ketchup, mustard, or spicy aioli for a perfect snack or meal.
Notes
- Thaw frozen hot dogs completely before cooking for even results.
- Optional seasonings like garlic powder and dried herbs enhance the flavor but can be omitted for a simpler taste.
- Butter the bread generously to achieve the signature golden crispiness.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking and crisping.
- Keep an eye on cooking times as air fryer models vary in heat distribution.
- Adding an extra slice of cheese on top of the hot dog gives an extra cheesy experience.
- Use sharp knives for clean sandwich cuts and safer handling.
