Air Fryer Mini Pizzas: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Air fryers are a convenient way to cook frozen mini pizzas, and they can be ready in as little as 4 to 10 minutes. The pizzas turn out crispy and tasty, with bubbly cheese, and are perfect for a quick snack or light meal. You can also make mini pizzas from scratch using store-bought or homemade dough, sauce, and toppings, which can be cooked in the air fryer in just 5 to 10 minutes.

Pre-baking the dough

Firstly, prepare your pizza dough by mixing the dry ingredients, including flour, yeast, and salt. Then, gradually add water and olive oil while kneading the dough until it's smooth and elastic. This should take around 7 minutes. You can do this by hand or using a stand mixer with a dough hook.

Next, let the dough rise. Transfer it to a greased bowl, cover it, and keep it in a warm place for about an hour or until it doubles in size. This step is essential for a soft and airy crust. After the dough has risen, divide it into equal portions, depending on how many mini pizzas you plan to make.

Now, it's time to roll out the dough. Lightly flour your work surface and use a rolling pin or your hands to roll and stretch the dough to your desired thickness. Remember, a thinner crust will cook faster and result in a crispier pizza.

Before placing the dough in the air fryer, preheat the air fryer to around 360-375°F. This step is crucial, as it ensures the pizza cooks evenly. Brush the air fryer basket or tray lightly with olive oil or cooking spray to prevent sticking. You can also sprinkle a little cornmeal on top of the oil for extra protection.

Place the rolled-out dough in the air fryer and pre-bake for 3-5 minutes. This step ensures the crust cooks through and becomes crisp on the outside while remaining soft and airy in the middle. After pre-baking, remove the dough from the air fryer, and it's now ready for toppings!

Remember, when pre-baking, keep an eye on the dough, as you don't want it to burn. Additionally, if you're making multiple batches, the subsequent batches may cook faster since the air fryer will already be hot. Adjust the timing accordingly.

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for mini pizzas in an air fryer depend on the type of pizza you are cooking and the type of air fryer you are using.

If you are cooking frozen mini pizzas, you should preheat your air fryer to 360ºF for at least 3 minutes. Then, cook the pizzas for 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is cooked through, the edges are crisp, and the toppings are bubbly. If you are cooking small frozen pizzas that are 7-8" in size, you will need to increase the cooking time to 6-10 minutes.

If you are making mini pizzas from biscuit dough, the cooking time and temperature will differ slightly. First, cut each biscuit into two layers and roll each piece out into a circle of dough. Then, preheat your air fryer to 400ºF and pre-bake the dough in batches for 3 minutes. After adding your toppings, bake the pizzas for another 3 minutes.

If you are using an oven-style air fryer, you may need to add 1-2 minutes to the total cooking time. It is also important to note that air fryers can vary, so you may need to adjust the cooking time and temperature depending on your specific brand of air fryer.

Reheating mini pizzas

Mini pizzas are a great snack, but what happens when you have leftovers? Well, you can always reheat them in your air fryer, of course! Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Prepare the Air Fryer

First, make sure your air fryer is clean and ready to use. If you've just cooked a batch of fresh mini pizzas, let the air fryer cool down a bit before reheating.

Step 2: Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 300-350°F. Most sources recommend heating it up for about 3-5 minutes, but you can follow the instructions in your air fryer's manual for the best results.

Step 3: Place the Mini Pizzas in the Air Fryer

Carefully place the mini pizzas in the air fryer basket. If you're reheating a large batch, you might need to do this in several batches to avoid overcrowding. Leave some space between each pizza to ensure even heating.

Step 4: Reheat the Mini Pizzas

The time it takes to reheat your mini pizzas will depend on the size and power of your air fryer, as well as the number of pizzas you're reheating. As a general guideline, reheat the pizzas for about 2-5 minutes at 300-350°F. Keep an eye on them to make sure they don't overcook or burn.

Step 5: Remove and Serve

Once the cheese is melted and the pizzas are heated through, carefully remove them from the air fryer using a spatula or tongs. Let them cool down for a minute or two, and then they're ready to serve!

Tips:

• If you're reheating frozen mini pizzas, you might need to add a minute or two to the reheating time.
• You can spritz the pizzas with a bit of water before reheating to help them retain moisture and prevent them from drying out.
• If you're reheating from frozen, you can also let the pizzas thaw slightly at room temperature before placing them in the air fryer. This will help ensure even heating.

Choosing toppings

The fun part about making mini pizzas is that you can get creative and choose your favourite toppings. You can also experiment with different combinations of toppings and cheeses to find your perfect pizza.

• Sausage and pepperoni
• Fresh veggies
• Buffalo chicken and blue cheese
• Broccoli and arugula
• Feta cheese
• Pesto instead of classic pizza sauce
• Tomato and fresh basil
• Spinach
• Olives
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Red bell pepper
• Ham
• Chicken
• Beef
• Sirloin steak
• Red peppers
• Hot honey drizzle

You can also sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top for an easy garnish.

Remember, less is more when it comes to mini pizzas, so don't overload your pizza with too many toppings.

Storing and reheating

If you want to freeze your mini pizzas, wrap them in aluminium foil and they will last for up to six months. To reheat, put them directly into the air fryer for four to five minutes, or until warmed through.

It's worth noting that the more times you reheat pizza, the less tasty it becomes. So, it's best to only reheat what you think you will eat.

Frequently asked questions