Imagine perfectly golden, bubbling pizza ready in less than 15 minutes, all with minimal mess—no oven required! Air Fryer Pizza delivers a crispy crust, stretchy cheese, and all the satisfaction of classic pizzeria taste, right from your kitchen counter.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Lightning-Quick Pizza Night: Forget waiting for your oven to preheat—this Air Fryer Pizza is ready in under 15 minutes from start to finish!
- Pizzeria-Style Crispiness: The air fryer gives you that irresistible chew and crunch everyone craves, without a pizza stone or blazing hot oven.
- Endless Customization: Make everyone their own personal pizza with their favorite toppings, or try inventive combos with whatever you have on hand.
- Fuss-Free & Minimal Cleanup: No pizza peel, no flour all over the kitchen, and the parchment liner means no stuck-on cheese to scrape off later!
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll be amazed by how a handful of well-chosen ingredients create such pizza magic! Each element brings its own special something—texture, creaminess, or a pop of herby freshness—to make this Air Fryer Pizza totally irresistible.
- Homemade or store-bought pizza dough: The base of your pizza—soft and chewy inside, crisp on the edges! Store-bought works great for speed, but homemade always feels extra special.
- Semolina or cornmeal: A light dusting when rolling out dough ensures zero sticking, and adds subtle crunch to the finished crust.
- Pizza sauce (homemade or store-bought): Rich, tangy tomato goodness that ties everything together. Go classic, or try spicy arrabbiata if you like extra kick!
- Buffalo mozzarella (sliced) or shredded mozzarella: For those glorious melt-puddles of cheese—choose buffalo for ultimate creaminess, or shredded for easy melting.
- Olive oil: Brushing the edges delivers gorgeous golden color and just the right touch of luxury.
- Fresh basil leaves: Chopped and scattered over the hot pizza, they add the best herby pop and that authentic pizzeria finish.
Variations
The beauty of Air Fryer Pizza is how customizable it is—one basic method, but infinite ways to top and tailor it for anyone at your table. Let your imagination (and your fridge contents) run wild!
- Gluten-Free Base: Swap in your favorite gluten-free pizza dough to make this recipe completely celiac-friendly, without losing that crispy finish.
- Dairy-Free Delight: Use plant-based mozzarella and a drizzle of vegan pesto for a pizza everyone can enjoy—no cheese required.
- Ultimate Meat Lovers: Pile on pepperoni, cooked sausage, or shredded rotisserie chicken for a protein-packed twist.
- Garden Veggie: Add a handful of sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, or olives—Air Fryer Pizza makes it easy to sneak in extra veggies for everyone.
How to Make Air Fryer Pizza
Step 1: Prep Your Air Fryer and Dough
Set your air fryer to 350°F (180°C) and let it preheat—it only takes a couple of minutes, but that bit of head start helps your crust cook evenly! Line the basket with parchment paper liners or give it a light coat of non-stick cooking spray that’s safe for air fryers—this makes removing your finished pizza a total breeze. While the machine warms up, divide your dough into 4 for personal pizzas (or 2 for larger ones, if your air fryer is roomy!).
Step 2: Shape and Stretch the Dough
Sprinkle your surface (and your hands!) lightly with semolina or cornmeal to keep things smooth and to add a little crunch. Gently press and stretch each dough ball into a round that will fit comfortably in your air fryer basket—about ½ inch thick is perfect for personal pan pizza style. No need to fuss about perfect circles; rustic shapes are totally part of the fun.
Step 3: Assemble Right in the Basket
Set one dough round in the air fryer basket. Spread a generous spoonful of pizza sauce from edge to edge, then add enough mozzarella to make your pizza dreams come true. I love brushing the crust edge with olive oil—it gives that gorgeous golden finish (and tastes amazing). Add any favorite toppings now, like pepperoni, more cheese, or a sprinkle of cracked black pepper or Parmesan.
Step 4: Air Fry to Crispy, Bubbly Glory
Slide the basket into your air fryer and cook for 10-12 minutes. If you’re new to air frying pizza, start checking after 8 minutes (every air fryer is a little different). You’re looking for bubbling cheese and golden edges—trust your eyes (and nose)! Carefully remove the hot pizza with tongs or a spatula, and repeat for the next pizza.
Step 5: Finish and Serve
Once your Air Fryer Pizza is out, sprinkle the surface with fresh chopped basil while it’s piping hot—the herbal aroma is everything! Slice, watch the cheese stretch, and serve immediately for ultimate satisfaction.
Pro Tips for Making Air Fryer Pizza
- Don’t Overload on Toppings: A thinner layer of sauce and cheese ensures your Air Fryer Pizza crust cooks through and stays crisp—less is (deliciously) more!
- Oil Up Those Edges: Brushing olive oil on the outer crust gives pro-level browning and a mouthwatering finish, so don’t skip this easy step.
- Liner Placement: Always use parchment or a compatible liner, but trim it to fit so it doesn’t blow into the heating element—safety first!
- Check for Doneness Early: Every air fryer cooks a little differently, so peek at 8 minutes to avoid over-baking—even if the aroma makes you want to snooze your timer!
How to Serve Air Fryer Pizza
Garnishes
No pizza is complete without a flourish of something fresh! Try scattering torn basil or a dusting of grated Parmesan right after baking, or drizzle with chili oil for a little heat—the finishing touch makes every slice feel extra-special.
Side Dishes
Pair your Air Fryer Pizza with a zippy arugula salad, crunchy garlic bread, or even a refreshing cucumber-tomato salad for a homemade pizzeria-style spread. Slices alongside a big bowl of homemade soup make a surprisingly hearty combo, too!
Creative Ways to Present
Make it a DIY pizza bar and let everyone build their own before popping them in the air fryer, or slice into strips and serve with warm marinara for dippable party bites. For family movie night, serve personal pies on wooden cutting boards lined with parchment—so fun and casual!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Place any Air Fryer Pizza slices in an airtight container or zip-top bag and tuck them into the fridge—this keeps them fresh and chewy for up to 2–3 days (if they last that long!).
Freezing
Want a freezer stash? Let pizzas cool, then wrap each slice tightly in foil or plastic wrap. Store in a freezer bag for up to 2 months—easy homemade pizza anytime the craving hits!
Reheating
The magic of Air Fryer Pizza is you can reheat it right in the air fryer! Just set to 350°F/180°C and warm slices for 2–3 minutes—crisp, gooey, and never soggy. For frozen pizza, tack on an extra minute or two.
FAQs
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Can I use store-bought pizza dough for Air Fryer Pizza?
Absolutely! Store-bought dough works beautifully and saves time. Just let it come to room temperature before stretching—it’ll be much easier to shape (and less likely to snap back on you).
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Can I make Air Fryer Pizza ahead of time?
You can prep your dough rounds and toppings in advance, then assemble and air fry when ready! Fully baked pizzas reheat incredibly well in the air fryer, so they make great leftovers or even meal prep.
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What size should I make the pizza for my air fryer?
Size really depends on your air fryer basket—most accommodate 6 to 8-inch rounds comfortably. Aim for crusts about ½ inch thick and just enough room on the sides to lift out easily when baked.
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Why is my pizza crust doughy in the middle?
If your Air Fryer Pizza crust is undercooked in the center, reduce the amount of sauce or moisture-heavy toppings, make sure your crust isn’t too thick, and don’t crowd the basket so air circulates well for even baking.
Final Thoughts
If you love pizza (who doesn’t?), you simply have to try Air Fryer Pizza for your next easy dinner, lazy Sunday, or kitchen adventure with family. It’s playful, adaptable, and so satisfyingly quick—may your crust be crispy, your cheese perfectly melted, and your slices never, ever boring!
Print
Air Fryer Pizza Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 4 personal pizzas
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Fry
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Enjoy a delicious and crispy homemade Air Fryer Pizza in no time! Perfect for a quick and easy meal that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Pizza Dough:
- ▢ 1 pound (450 grams) homemade pizza dough or store bought
Semolina or Cornmeal:
- ▢ Semolina or Cornmeal to stretch the dough
Pizza Sauce:
- ▢ 1 cup (225 grams) pizza sauce homemade or store bought
Mozzarella:
- ▢ 2 balls (2 250-gram balls) buffalo mozzarella sliced, or 2-3 cups shredded mozzarella
Olive Oil:
- ▢ Olive oil
Additional Toppings:
- ▢ Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat the Air Fryer to 350°F/180°C and prepare the basket.
- Divide and Roll Dough: Divide the dough, roll out into personal-sized pizzas.
- Add Toppings: Place dough in the air fryer, top with sauce, cheese, olive oil, and desired toppings.
- Air Fry: Air fry for 10-12 minutes, checking for desired crispiness.
- Finish and Serve: Top with basil, slice, and serve hot.
Notes
- Store leftover pizzas in the fridge for 2-3 days.
- To reheat, place pizzas back in the air fryer at 350°F/180°C for 2-3 minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 personal pizza
- Calories: Approximately 300 calories
- Sugar: Varies based on sauce and toppings
- Sodium: Varies based on ingredients
- Fat: Varies based on cheese and olive oil
- Saturated Fat: Varies based on cheese
- Unsaturated Fat: Varies based on olive oil
- Trans Fat: Negligible
- Carbohydrates: Varies based on dough and toppings
- Fiber: Dependent on ingredients
- Protein: Dependent on cheese and toppings
- Cholesterol: Varies based on cheese
