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

French bread pizza is a quick and easy meal to make in an air fryer. It can be made from scratch or store-bought frozen, and it only takes around 10 minutes to cook. You can use a variety of toppings, sauces, and cheeses to make it your own, and it's a great way to use up leftover bread.

How to make French bread pizza in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• French bread
• Pizza sauce (marinara or tomato sauce)
• Mozzarella cheese
• Olive oil
• Italian seasoning
• Toppings of your choice (pepperoni, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, etc.)

Instructions:

First, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. This step is important to ensure the crust cooks evenly and becomes crispy.

While the air fryer is preheating, prepare your French bread by slicing it in half lengthwise, so it opens like a book. If your loaf is too long, you may need to cut each half into smaller pieces to fit your air fryer.

Next, take your pieces of bread and spread a thin layer of pizza sauce on top. Sprinkle some shredded mozzarella cheese, followed by your desired toppings. Remember to add only half the amount of cheese at this stage, as you will need the rest to weigh down your toppings.

Now, place the pizzas into the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not overcrowded. Set the temperature to 350-400°F and air fry for 5-8 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly.

Once done, carefully remove the pizzas from the air fryer and let them cool for a couple of minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Tips:

• You can add a variety of toppings to your pizza, such as mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, pepperoni, sausage, and more.
• If you want to make the crust extra crispy, spray it with a light coat of oil before air frying.
• For a garlic bread flavor, mix olive oil, crushed garlic, and Italian seasoning, and brush it on the bread before air frying.
• If you are using frozen French bread pizza, there is no need to defrost it first. Cook it directly from frozen for the best results.

Tips for making the best French bread pizza in an air fryer

French bread pizza is a quick, easy, and delicious meal that can be made in an air fryer with minimal preparation. Here are some tips to help you make the best French bread pizza:

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating the air fryer is an important step to ensure even cooking and a crispy crust. Preheat your air fryer for at least 3-4 minutes at around 400°F (200°C). This will help to ensure your pizza cooks evenly and gives you that coveted crispy crust.

Prepare the French bread

Choose a high-quality French bread or baguette that is slightly crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. Slice the bread in half lengthwise, then cut each half into pieces that will fit into your air fryer. This creates the perfect base for your toppings.

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 3 minutes. This step helps to create a super crispy crust and prevents the pizza from becoming soggy. You may need to do this in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.

Choose your toppings

The beauty of homemade pizza is that you can customize it to your taste. Classic toppings include pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni, but feel free to experiment with different sauces, cheeses, and toppings such as bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, or Italian sausage. Just remember to cover your toppings with cheese to weigh them down and prevent them from blowing around in the air fryer.

Cook the pizza

Place the loaded French bread into the preheated air fryer and cook for about 4-8 minutes, depending on your air fryer model. Keep an eye on it to prevent overcooking, and remove it from the air fryer when the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Let it cool

Allow the pizza to cool for a couple of minutes before slicing and serving. This helps the cheese to set slightly, making it easier to cut and ensuring that you don't burn your mouth!

Store leftovers properly

If you have any leftovers (which is rare!), store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To maintain the crispy crust, reheat any leftovers in the air fryer for a few minutes.

How to make French bread pizza from scratch in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• French bread
• Mozzarella cheese
• Pizza sauce (marinara or tomato sauce)
• Olive oil
• Italian seasoning
• Toppings of your choice (co: 2,5>pepperoni, bell peppers, red onions, etc.)

Instructions:

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. This step is important to ensure the crust cooks evenly and becomes crispy.

Slice the French bread in half lengthwise, creating a base for your toppings.

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

Remove the bread from the air fryer and add your desired toppings. Spread pizza sauce over the toasted bread, then layer on mozzarella cheese and your favorite toppings. Don't forget to sprinkle some Italian seasoning for extra flavor.

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

Remove the pizza from the air fryer and let it cool for a couple of minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the cheese to set slightly, making it easier to cut and serve.

Tips:

• You can customize your pizza by changing up the toppings, trying different sauces, or making smaller, individualized pizzas.
• If you're short on time, you can use frozen French bread pizza and cook it directly from frozen in the air fryer. Simply preheat the air fryer, add the frozen pizza, and cook for about 5 minutes.
• For extra crispy crust, spray the crust lightly with oil before air frying.
• If you don't have an air fryer, you can also make this recipe in the oven by following the same steps and baking the pizza at 400°F for 5-10 minutes.

How to reheat French bread pizza in an air fryer

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer

Turn on your air fryer and let it preheat for about 2-3 minutes. This is an important step to ensure your pizza heats evenly and quickly.

Step 2: Prepare the Pizza

Place your leftover French bread pizza slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not overlapping. If you have a smaller air fryer, you may need to heat the slices in batches. You can also place a piece of parchment paper under the slices to prevent any cheese from sticking to the basket and make cleanup easier, especially if your pizza is extra cheesy or greasy. However, this is not necessary.

Step 3: Air Fry

Close the basket and set the temperature to between 350°F and 400°F, depending on the thickness of your crust. For thin crust, set the timer for 2-3 minutes. For thick crust, set it for 4-5 minutes. Check on your pizza after the recommended time and add an extra minute if needed.

Step 4: Serve

Using tongs, carefully remove your newly crisped pizza from the air fryer and enjoy! Allow the pizza to cool for a minute or two before serving to avoid burning your mouth.

Tips:

• If you want to add another layer of flavor, brush the crust with a mixture of olive oil, crushed garlic, and Italian seasoning before adding your toppings.
• To prevent toppings from burning, you can lightly spray the top of the pizza with oil.
• Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure proper air circulation and even cooking.
• If your crust is heating too quickly compared to the middle of the pizza, you can use a small piece of aluminum foil to lightly cover the top for the remaining cooking time.
• For frozen French bread pizza, cook at 350°F for 8-12 minutes, checking on it at the 8-minute mark.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Skipping the preheat: Always preheat your air fryer to ensure even and quick heating.
• Overcrowding the basket: Allow each slice enough space to ensure optimal crispiness.
• Using the wrong temperature: Reheating at too high a temperature can scorch your pizza, while too low a temperature may leave it soggy and under-heated.
• Ignoring pizza thickness: Adjust the temperature and timing based on the thickness of your crust.
• Not checking for doneness: Don't assume the pizza is ready just because the timer goes off. Peek in frequently to avoid overcooking.

Reheating French bread pizza in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to enjoy crispy and delicious leftovers!

How to make French bread pizza in an oven

French bread pizza is a simple, quick, and delicious take on pizza. It's easy to make, faster than delivery, and you can choose your favourite toppings. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make French bread pizza in an oven.

Ingredients:

• French bread
• Butter (about 6 tablespoons, melted) or olive oil
• Fresh parsley (finely chopped)
• Garlic powder (about 1 teaspoon) or garlic butter
• Pizza sauce (use your favourite bottled sauce, homemade sauce, or other marinara sauce)
• Pepperoni (as much as you like)
• Mozzarella cheese (about 2 cups or more)
• Optional toppings: peppers, olives, onions, pineapple, sausage, parmesan cheese, mushrooms, red peppers, spinach, red pepper flakes, ham, fresh basil, artichokes, or ground beef

Method:

• Preheat your oven to 400-450°F.
• In a small bowl, melt the butter and add the garlic powder and fresh parsley. You can also use garlic butter instead of mixing these ingredients.
• Cut the French bread in half lengthwise.
• Brush the garlic butter mixture onto the bread or spread garlic butter on the cut sides of the bread.
• Place the bread on a large baking sheet, open-side up, and bake for 5-8 minutes or until the bread is golden brown.
• Remove the bread from the oven and spread pizza sauce over each piece. You can add more sauce to taste.
• Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top of the sauce. You can also add other types of cheese, such as parmesan.
• Add your desired toppings. Get creative and choose your favourites! Just make sure that any meat toppings are pre-cooked.
• Place the bread back in the oven and bake for another 8-13 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
• For an extra crispy topping, you can place the bread under the broiler for the last 1-2 minutes of baking. Keep a close eye on it to avoid burning.
• Remove the French bread pizza from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Tips:

• To avoid a soggy crust, layer some toppings, such as pepperoni, on the bread before adding the sauce.
• Pre-baking the bread also helps to prevent it from getting soggy.
• If you don't have garlic butter, you can brush the bread with olive oil or melted butter and sprinkle with garlic powder or minced garlic.
• If your toppings have a lot of moisture, cook them first (like mushrooms) or lightly squeeze them dry (like pineapple).

Frequently asked questions