Air-Fryer Pizza: A Quick, Crispy Oven Alternative

Making pizza in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get your pizza fix without having to heat up your oven. Air fryer pizzas are usually personal-sized and cook in under 10 minutes, making them perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a pizza night with friends. You can use store-bought or homemade pizza dough, and get creative with your choice of toppings. The air fryer is also great for reheating leftover pizza, making it crispy again in just a few minutes.

Choosing the right pizza dough

When it comes to making pizza in an air fryer, you can use either store-bought or homemade pizza dough. If you're short on time, pre-made dough from the store is a convenient option, and you can often find it in the refrigerated section. Alternatively, if you're feeling adventurous, you can make your own dough from scratch using a trusted recipe or try a quick and easy one-hour pizza dough recipe.

For store-bought dough, look for a 12-inch piece of dough, which is a suitable size for most air fryer baskets and will yield two personal pizzas. If you're using homemade dough, you'll want to divide it accordingly to get the desired size and thickness for your pizzas.

When shaping the dough, stretch it to fit the pan or basket of your air fryer. Most air fryer ovens come with a baking pan, but if you have a basket-style air fryer, you may need to find a suitable pan that fits inside. Let the dough rest at room temperature before stretching it, as this will make it easier to work with.

If your dough recipe requires pre-baking or par-baking the crust, place the dough in the air fryer and cook it for about 3-4 minutes before adding any toppings. This step ensures that the crust gets cooked through without overcooking the toppings.

Additionally, poking holes in the dough with a fork before baking helps prevent it from bubbling up during cooking. Brushing the dough with olive oil will give it a golden colour and a crispy texture.

Preparing the dough

If you're making your own dough, it's important to let it rest and be at room temperature before shaping it. This will ensure that it stretches easily and doesn't shrink back. Once you've prepared your dough, work it into a round shape that's slightly smaller than your air fryer basket. If you're using a basket-style air fryer, you can create an aluminium foil sling to help you put the pan into and take it out of the air fryer.

Before placing the dough in the air fryer, poke some holes in the centre with a fork to prevent it from ballooning while cooking. You can also brush the dough with olive oil and sprinkle on some garlic salt and Italian herbs for extra flavour.

To cook the dough, preheat your air fryer to 375-400°F and place the dough inside for about 3 minutes. This will give you a nice golden crust. After this initial cook, you can flip the dough over and add your sauce, cheese, and toppings.

Adding toppings

First, pre-cook your pizza crust for about 3 minutes. This is an important step as it ensures the crust gets crispy without overcooking the toppings. Then, add your sauce, cheese, and toppings. You can add any toppings you like, such as:

• Pepperoni
• Sausage
• Chicken
• Bacon
• Mushrooms
• Tomatoes
• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Olives
• Onions
• Peppers
• Basil
• Oregano
• Parmesan
• Red pepper flakes

If you're using pepperoni, be aware that the fan in the air fryer can blow it around. You can prevent this by using toothpicks to secure the pepperoni or by placing a rack over the pizza while it cooks.

Once you've added your toppings, cook the pizza for about 7-12 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

Cooking the pizza

Now that you have your pizza assembled, it's time to cook it in the air fryer. Here are some detailed instructions on how to do that:

First, preheat your air fryer. Most recipes recommend preheating to around 375-400°F (190-200°C). This will ensure your pizza cooks evenly. While the air fryer is preheating, you can prepare your pizza by placing the crust on a piece of air fryer parchment paper. This makes it easier to transfer the pizza in and out of the air fryer.

Once the air fryer is preheated, it's time to cook the crust. Place the crust in the air fryer basket and cook it for 3-4 minutes. This step is crucial as it ensures the crust gets crispy without overcooking the toppings. After the initial cook, remember to flip the crust over to prevent the bottom from being raw.

After the crust is par-baked, it's time to add your toppings. Keep the pre-cooked crust in the air fryer and add your desired toppings. Be careful not to overload the pizza with too many toppings as this can affect cooking time and make it difficult for the air fryer to cook the pizza evenly.

Once your toppings are on, it's time to cook the pizza. Air fry your pizza at 375°F (190°C) for about 7-12 minutes, depending on the recipe and your air fryer model. You'll know the pizza is done when the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted. Remember to let the pizza cool down a bit before digging in!

Some additional tips for cooking pizza in an air fryer:

• Use a rack or toothpicks to secure lightweight toppings like pepperoni, which can blow around due to the strong fan in the air fryer.
• If you want to keep the pizza warm while cooking another one, place it in the oven at the lowest temperature.
• To reheat leftover pizza in the air fryer, set the temperature to 320-325°F (165°C) and cook for 4-6 minutes.

Reheating and storing pizza

Leftover pizza is best reheated in an air fryer. Compared to a conventional oven, it takes much less time, and you don't have to heat up the whole oven for a few slices of pizza. The air fryer also keeps food moist without drying it out. Compared to a microwave, the air fryer gives a better texture—no more soggy crust or limp, oily pizza!

To reheat pizza in an air fryer, preheat your air fryer to 350°F (176°C). Place your leftover pizza slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer, with a little space between slices to ensure air can circulate. You can place the pizza directly into the basket or line the basket with a disposable parchment paper liner or a reusable silicone liner for easy cleanup. This is especially helpful for extra-cheesy or greasy pizza. If using parchment paper, punch a few small holes in the paper directly under the crust to allow air to circulate.

Air fry for 3-4 minutes for thin-crust pizza, and 4 minutes for thick-crust pizza. Open the basket and check the pizza occasionally to see if it's warmed to your liking. If it's browning too quickly, lower the temperature by 25°F. If it's not done after 4 minutes, you can add more time as needed. Carefully remove the hot pizza from the air fryer with a spatula or tongs and repeat with any remaining slices.

Storing Pizza

Because of the size of an air fryer, you can only reheat a few slices at a time. It's best to only reheat what you think you will eat, as pizza tends to get less tasty the more times it is reheated.

Frequently asked questions