Air-Fried French Bread Pizza: A Quick, Crispy Treat

French bread pizza is a quick, easy, and delicious meal that can be made in an air fryer. It is a convenient option for those busy weeknights, after-school snacks, or a fun family pizza night. The best part is that it can be made from scratch or frozen, and it's ready in just 10-15 minutes!

To make French bread pizza in an air fryer, simply slice a French baguette in half lengthwise, add your favourite pizza sauce, toppings, and cheese, and air fry for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and the crust is crispy. You can also toast the bread in the air fryer with some olive oil and Italian seasoning before adding the toppings to make it extra crispy.

So, if you're looking for a quick and tasty meal that the whole family will love, give French bread pizza in the air fryer a try!

How to make French bread pizza in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• French bread
• Pizza sauce (red sauce, white sauce, or homemade)
• Mozzarella cheese
• Olive oil
• Italian seasoning
• Toppings of your choice (e.g., pepperoni, bell peppers, red onions, etc.)

Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the Air Fryer and French Bread:

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Slice the French bread in half lengthwise, then cut each half into portions that will fit into your air fryer.

Step 2: Toast the Bread:

Combine olive oil with Italian seasoning and brush it onto the cut sides of the French bread. Place the bread, cut side up, in the air fryer and toast for about 3 minutes.

Step 3: Add Toppings:

Remove the toasted bread from the air fryer. Spread pizza sauce over the bread, then add mozzarella cheese and your desired toppings.

Step 4: Air Fry the Pizza:

Place the loaded French bread pizzas into the preheated air fryer. Cook for about 4-8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Keep an eye on the pizzas to prevent overcooking.

Step 5: Cool and Serve:

Allow the pizzas to cool for a couple of minutes before slicing and serving. This helps the cheese set, making it easier to cut and enjoy!

Tips:

• Use an air fryer rack to prevent toppings from flying off during cooking.
• You can add extra toppings halfway through cooking.
• For an extra crispy crust, spray the bread with a light coat of oil before air frying.
• You can also make garlic toast by adding garlic powder to the bread before toasting.

Frozen French Bread Pizza:

If using frozen French bread pizza, there is no need to defrost. Simply preheat the air fryer to 400°F, add the frozen pizzas, and cook for about 5-8 minutes.

Enjoy your delicious, crispy, and cheesy French bread pizza!

Tips for making French bread pizza in an air fryer

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating the air fryer is an important step as it ensures the French bread pizza cooks evenly and achieves a crispy crust. Preheat to 400°F for 3-4 minutes.

Prepare the French bread

Slice the French bread in half lengthwise, then slice each half into 6" pieces. This creates the perfect base for your toppings and ensures the pizza fits into the air fryer.

Toast the bread

Combine olive oil with Italian seasoning and brush onto the cut sides of the French bread. Place the bread, cut-side up, in the air fryer and toast for 3 minutes. This step helps create a crispy crust and prevents the pizza from becoming soggy.

Choose your toppings

The beauty of homemade pizza is the freedom to choose your toppings. Prepare your toppings before adding them to the pizza to ensure the process is seamless. You can opt for a classic combination of pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese, or experiment with different sauces, cheeses, and toppings.

Add the toppings

Spread your chosen sauce over the toasted French bread and layer on your desired toppings. Don't forget to sprinkle some Italian seasoning over the toppings for extra flavor.

Air fry the pizza

Place the loaded French bread into the preheated air fryer and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Keep an eye on the pizza halfway through to prevent overcooking.

Let it cool

Allow the pizza to cool for a couple of minutes before slicing and serving. This helps the cheese set slightly, making it easier to cut and ensuring the perfect texture.

Storage and reheating

It is best to cook only the amount you need to avoid leftovers. However, if you do have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer for 2-5 minutes to maintain the crispy crust.

Customize your pizza

Feel free to experiment with different toppings, sauces, and types of bread. You can also cut the loaf into smaller pieces to create individualized pizzas, which is especially useful for snacks or if you have a smaller air fryer.

Avoid overcrowding

When cooking the pizza, place the pieces in a single layer and avoid adding more than two pizzas into the air fryer basket at once. This ensures the pizzas cook evenly and the hot air circulates effectively.

No need to defrost

If you're using frozen French bread pizza, there's no need to defrost it before air frying. Cook it directly from frozen for the best results.

Make it extra crispy

For an extra crispy crust, spray the French bread with a light coat of oil before air frying. You can also lightly spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray before placing the pizzas inside.

Frozen vs. fresh French bread pizza in an air fryer

French bread pizza is a quick, easy, and tasty meal that can be made in an air fryer. You can either make it from scratch or buy a frozen one, and both methods are simple and convenient. Here is a detailed comparison of the two approaches.

Frozen French Bread Pizza in an Air Fryer

Frozen French bread pizzas are convenient and easy to cook in an air fryer. You can find them in the freezer aisle of most grocery stores, and they come in a variety of brands and toppings to suit different tastes. The best part is that they can be cooked straight from frozen, with no need for defrosting.

To cook a frozen French bread pizza in an air fryer, start by preheating your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3-4 minutes. Then, place the frozen pizza(s) in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer and not overcrowded. Set the temperature to 350-400°F (depending on your air fryer model) and cook for 5-8 minutes. Finally, let the pizza cool for a minute or two before serving.

Fresh French Bread Pizza in an Air Fryer

Making French bread pizza from scratch in an air fryer is also a simple process and allows for more customisation in terms of toppings and sauce. To make fresh French bread pizza, you will need a loaf of French bread, mozzarella cheese, tomato/marinara sauce, and your choice of toppings.

Start by slicing the loaf of French bread in half and then into 6" pieces. Add a thin layer of sauce and your desired toppings. If you want to make the crust extra crispy, spray it with a light coat of oil before cooking. Place the pizzas in the preheated air fryer at 400°F (200°C) and cook for 4-5 minutes. As with frozen pizzas, allow the fresh pizzas to cool for a minute or two before serving.

Both frozen and fresh French bread pizzas are delicious options that can be easily cooked in an air fryer. Frozen pizzas offer convenience and variety, while making fresh pizzas allows for customisation and the use of fresh ingredients. Ultimately, the choice between the two comes down to personal preference and the amount of time and effort you want to spend preparing the meal.

Topping ideas for French bread pizza in an air fryer

French bread pizza cooked in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and delicious meal. While you can use frozen French bread pizzas, you can also make them from scratch with your own toppings.

Topping Ideas

• Mozzarella cheese
• Tomato sauce
• Marinara sauce
• Pepperoni slices
• Italian seasoning
• Bell peppers
• Parmesan cheese
• Diced onions
• Sliced mushrooms
• Sausage
• Bacon bits
• Shredded cheese
• Ham
• Pineapple
• Pesto
• White sauce
• BBQ sauce
• Salsa
• Spinach
• Olives
• Jalapenos
• Chicken
• Salami

Tips

When making French bread pizza in an air fryer, it is recommended to preheat the air fryer to ensure even cooking. Additionally, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket by cooking no more than two pizzas at a time. If you are adding extra toppings, it is best to do so in the last 2-3 minutes of cooking.

Storing and reheating French bread pizza

When it comes to reheating, you have a few options. For the best results, use an oven or an air fryer set to 350ºF for 4-10 minutes. Alternatively, you can use a microwave, reheating in 30-second intervals until the pizza is warmed through.

If you're using an air fryer, there's no need to preheat the appliance or defrost the pizza beforehand. Simply place the pizza in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are spaced out and in a single layer. Reheat for 3-5 minutes, or until heated through.

Frequently asked questions