Air Fryer Copy Cat J. Dawg Recipe (2024)

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J. Dawgs are a Utah favorite! Sausage, or All Beef, Hot Dogs are grilled and topped with their famous sweet sauce. We’re replacing the grill with the Air Fryer…with the same tasty results thanks to a GREAT copy cat Sauce!

If you’re from Utah you’ve at least heard of “J. Dawgs” and if you’re truly a Utahan…you’ve had at least one, or 20, J. Dawgs! (I’m not saying which team I’m a long-standing member of! However, several were consumed in the making of this post. Lol.)

J. Dawgs were created by a college student. He used a recipe for a “special sauce” that his Grandmother had found in a publication years beforehand. That sauce became his signature specialty for his grilled sausage dogs…or “dawgs”, as he would say.

He opened his first J. Dawg stand by the B.Y.U. Campus, it was a huge hit, and the rest, as they say, is history!

List of Ingredients to make Copy Cat Air Fryer J. Dawgs

¾ Cup Ketchup
¾ Brown Sugar – You can use either light or dark. Dark will create a deeper depth of molasses flavor.
¼ Cup Honey
½ Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 Tablespoon barbeque sauce – I used Sweet Baby Ray’s, but you can use your favorite.
4 Polish Sausage, or all Beef Hot Dogs – I used Polish Dogs from Costco, again it’s about your favorite hot dog.
4 quality hot dog buns – it’s all about details when making a superb hot dog!
Additional favorite toppings – celery salt, sauerkraut, pepperoncini’s, diced tomatoes, caramelized onions, or chopped onions, cheddar cheese, green onions,

What is J. Dawg Special Sauce?

The best way, maybe the only way, to describe the sauce, is to say it’s a little sweet and a little tangy! It’s perfect!

It isn’t a barbecue sauce. This is not a Soy Sauce based sauce…so no to Teriyaki flavors! J. Dawg Sauce is truly unique and so delicious!

Without the sauce, it’s not a J. Dawg! The end! (Don’t you love how I leave it open for discussion? Lol)

How To Make Copy Cat J. Dawg Sauce

The sauce is made with standard pantry ingredients. It can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until ready to use. I recommend doubling it! (You’ve had fair warning!)

In a medium sauce pan, over medium heat, add ketchup, brown sugar, honey, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, and BBQ sauce.

Stir to combine ingredients. Continue stirring until the sauce comes to a boil. Cook until sugars dissolve and mixture thickens slightly.

Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Store in an airtight container and chill until ready to use.

This is a really fantastic sauce! Try it on other grilled meats like chicken or pork tenderloin! You can also bathe in it! No judgments from this gal. You do you my friend.

How To Make Air Fryer Hot Dogs!

Have you ever cooked your hot dogs in the Air Fryer?

First time I had them I was in love! This hot dog recipe is a game changer! Especially in the winter months when no one wants to stand out in the snow grilling their hot dogs!

Air fryer hot dogs are juicy on the inside and have that little bit of crisp around the edges you love on a golden brown hot dog!

Preparing Hot Dogs for Cooking

J. Dawgs are known for their crisscross cuts on the top of their hot dogs.

Cutting a “V” or making an “X” pattern allows the hot dogs to expand without the dog exploding open during cooking.

It also creates really great crevices for that sauce to nestle down into! (I’m a personal fan of nooks and crannies! I have several…with more appearing every day!)

Begin by cutting a “V” or “X” Pattern on the top and bottom of each Hot Dog or Polish Sausage.

Pro Tip: Be sure to cut the top and bottom of each dog, so they won’t curl during baking.

Preheat your air fryer for 5 minutes at 400°F.

After preheating, NEVER beforehand, lay down a parchment baking sheet for easy clean-up.

TIP: You ALWAYS want to have something to weigh down the parchment paper in your Air Fryer basket. If you don’t, the paper will be sucked up into the top of the air fryer and catch on fire!

Lay the prepared hot dogs down in the air fryer basket. Cook for 3 minutes.

Using tongs, rotate each hot dog to the other side. Both sides need to have a crisp to them. Cook for an additional 3 minutes.

Remove Hot Dogs from the Air Fryer and place on plate to cool slightly before building your J. Dawg!

How To Toast Hot Dog Buns

If you’re a fan of the “toasted bun”…this is the time to toast yer buns!

I like to use a clean sheet of parchment paper. It’s not necessary. Just a matter of preference for me personally.

Use tongs to remove dirty parchment paper and place a new sheet in the bottom of HOT air fryer basket!

Pop a couple of hot dog buns into the fryer and toast for 1-2 minutes. Carefully remove hot toasted buns and place on a platter.

Assembling J. Daws with Sauce

If you are a lover of mayonnaise you can spread a layer on each bun. Sprinkle with celery salt. Top with Cooked Air Fryer Sausage Dog or All-Beef Hot Dog.

Drizzle with a generous amount of sticky sweet J. Dawg Sauce. Top with your favorite toppings.

The Classic J. Dawg menu topping list consists of banana peppers, sauerkraut, diced white onions, pickles, relish, jalapeño’s, yellow mustard, or spicy brown mustard.

Frequently Asked Questions about Air Fryer Hot Dogs and J. Dawg Sauce

How are J. Dawgs generally cooked? J. Dawgs are always grilled! For this recipe we have switched out the grill for an Air Fryer method of cooking. You can do either.
What is the difference between a Polish Dog and an All-Beef Hot Dog? A Polish Dog is made with a combination of beef and pork and has stronger seasonings and spices than an all-beef hot dog.
Who started J. Dawgs? Jason Edwards. A broke college student who walked by a broken down food shack and thought “This would make a great hot dog stand”.
How long does it take to cook a hot dog in an Air Fryer? Generally 4-8 minutes at 400°F. It varies depending on the brand of air fryer you have and how well done you like your hot dogs.
Do you need to boil the hot dogs before cooking them in the Air Fryer? NO! I don’t recommend ever boiling hot dogs. It removes a lot of the flavor. Let’s not do that!

Other Favorite Sandwich Recipes

Loose Meat Tavern Sandwich
Copy Cat Disney Classic Deli Sandwich
Al’s Sunday Polish Sausage Dogs
Super Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe
Seattle Hot Dog Recipe
Baked Chili Cheese Dogs from Soulfully Made

Thanks so much for stopping by my Nest Today! If you make this J. Dawg recipe please share a photo and tag me on Instagram at Norinesnest.

Yield: 4 hot dogs

J. Dawgs are a Utah favorite! Sausage, or All Beef, Hot Dogs are grilled and topped with their famous sweet sauce. We're replacing the grill with the Air Fryer...with the same tasty results thanks to a GREAT copy cat Sauce!

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time10 minutes

Total Time20 minutes

Ingredients

¾ Cup Ketchup
¾ Brown Sugar - You can use either light or dark. Dark will create a deeper depth of molasses flavor.
¼ Cup Honey
½ Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 Tablespoon barbeque sauce
4 Polish Sausage, or all Beef Hot Dogs
4 quality hot dog buns
Optional Additional favorite toppings - celery salt, sauerkraut, pepperoncini's, diced tomatoes, caramelized onions, or chopped onions, cheddar cheese, green onions,

Instructions

In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, add ketchup, brown sugar, honey, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, and BBQ sauce. Mix to combine. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves, and sauce has thickened slightly. Cool. Pour into an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.
Using a sharp knife make crisscross cuts in "V's" or "X's" across the top, and bottom, of each hot dog or Polish sausage.
Preheat Air Fryer for 5 minutes at 400 °F. Place hot dogs on the bottom of the preheated Air Fryer basket. Set for timer 3 minutes, cook at 390 °F. Using tongs, turn each hot dog. Cook an additional 3 minutes, or until desired doneness is achieved. Remove hot dogs from the basket and place on a plate.
Toast buns for 1-2 minutes at 400 °F in Air Fryer. Carefully remove buns, place cooked hot dog in the center of each bun. Top with prepared Sticky Copy Cat J. Dawg Sauce. Top with favorite toppings.