Air-Fried Pizza Pockets: A Quick, Easy, And Tasty Treat!

Pizza pockets are a fun and easy dish to make with kids, and they're perfect for a quick snack or a hearty meal. You can make them in an air fryer in less than 30 minutes, and they taste so much better than store-bought pizza pockets. The key to getting that crispy crust is not to preheat the air fryer, as you want the temperature to rise gently to bake the dough rather than fry it. In this article, we'll guide you through the simple steps to make delicious pizza pockets in your air fryer, with tips on ingredients, cooking times, and more.

Choosing your dough

The type of dough you use for your pizza pockets will determine the texture and flavour of your final product. You can use frozen bread dough, pre-made pizza dough, biscuit dough, puff pastry, crescent roll dough, or even make your own dough from scratch. Here are some things to consider when choosing your dough:

• Time and convenience: If you're short on time or don't want to spend too much time preparing the dough, consider using pre-made options like frozen bread dough, pre-made pizza dough, or biscuit dough. These options are readily available in most supermarkets and can save you a lot of time.
• Flavour and texture: Each type of dough will give your pizza pockets a different flavour and texture. For example, biscuit dough or crescent roll dough may result in a flakier and more buttery texture, while pre-made pizza dough or homemade dough might give you a more traditional pizza-like texture.
• Customisation: If you want to customise your dough to suit your taste preferences or dietary restrictions, making your own dough from scratch is the best option. You can control the ingredients, adjust the thickness, and even make it ahead of time to enhance the flavour.
• Cooking time and temperature: Keep in mind that different types of dough may require slight adjustments in cooking time and temperature. Frozen dough, for example, may need a little longer to cook through, while thinner doughs like puff pastry will cook faster.
• Experimentation: Don't be afraid to experiment with different types of dough to find the one that works best for you. Pizza pockets are versatile, so you can have fun trying out various options and even combining different types of dough to create unique flavours and textures.

Selecting fillings

Pizza pockets are extremely versatile, and the fillings can be fully customised based on your preference and dietary restrictions. Here are some tips for selecting fillings:

Cheese

Cheese is a key ingredient in pizza pockets, providing that classic stretchy melt and flavour. Mozzarella is the most popular choice, but you can also use a pizza cheese blend, or even shredded cheddar or parmesan. For the best results, shred your own cheese to avoid any anti-caking agents found in pre-shredded varieties.

Sauce

Pizza sauce is the traditional choice, but you can also experiment with pesto or another sauce of your choice. If you're short on time, you can use a store-bought sauce, or make your own ahead of time and store it in the fridge.

Meat

Meat lovers can fill their pizza pockets with pepperoni, shredded ham, pork, chicken, beef, sausage, or bacon. If you prefer a meatless option, simply omit the meat and add extra veggies or cheese.

Vegetables

When it comes to veggies, the options are endless. You can use capsicum, spinach, leftover chicken, fresh herbs, or even pineapple. Just make sure to chop your fillings finely to ensure even cooking. If using wetter vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms, pineapple or tomato, press them onto a paper towel to remove excess liquid before adding to the filling. You should also lightly sauté these ingredients first to prevent the filling from making the dough soggy.

Seasoning

Add some extra flavour to your pizza pockets with seasonings like Italian seasoning, pizza seasoning, or garlic powder.

Remember not to overfill your pizza pockets, as this can cause them to leak while cooking. Enjoy experimenting with different combinations of fillings to find your favourite!

Shaping the pockets

First, roll out your chosen dough—whether it be pizza dough, biscuit dough, or pie crust—on a lightly floured surface. You want to roll it out to about 0.5 cm or 0.2 inches thick. Using a cutter or cup, cut the dough into circles. The size of the circles will depend on how big you want your pizza pockets to be. For smaller, bite-sized pockets, a 5-9 cm cutter will work. For larger pockets, you may want to go up to 15 cm.

Next, take your circles of dough and roll them out a little more to flatten them. This will make it easier to shape them into pockets. Add your desired fillings to the centre of each circle, being careful not to overfill. Leave some space around the edges so that you can seal the dough. You can fill your pizza pockets with pizza sauce, cheese, pepperoni, ham, vegetables, or any other toppings of your choice. Just make sure that any wet ingredients, like zucchini or mushrooms, are cooked beforehand to avoid making the dough soggy.

Now it's time to shape the pockets. Gently lift the sides of the dough over the fillings and pinch the edges together to form a seal. Make sure the seal is tight so that your fillings don't leak out during cooking. You can use a fork to crimp the edges together, which will also give your pockets a nice, decorative finish.

Place the sealed pizza pockets seam-side down on a baking tray or in an air fryer basket, ready for cooking. If you are baking them in the oven, brush or spray the tops with a little olive oil to help them crisp up.

Your pizza pockets are now shaped and ready for cooking! Remember to cook them in batches if they don't all fit in your air fryer at once, and always allow them to cool for a few minutes before serving to avoid burning yourself on the hot fillings.

Cooking methods

Pizza pockets are a great, easy snack to make in an air fryer. They are versatile, customisable, and can be made in under 30 minutes.

First, prepare your pizza dough. You can make your own dough from scratch, or use store-bought dough to save time. If you are making your own, you will need to combine yeast, olive oil, and flour. Roll the dough out to a thickness of about 0.5 cm. Use a 9 cm cutter or cup to cut circles in the dough. You will need two circles of dough for each pizza pocket.

Next, add your fillings. You can fill your pizza pockets with your favourite pizza toppings. Popular options include pepperoni, ham, cheese, spinach, and fresh herbs. Be careful not to overfill the dough circles, as this will make them difficult to seal. Add a small amount of pizza sauce, shredded cheese, and your chosen toppings to the centre of each circle.

Now, shape your pizza pockets. Gently lift the sides of the dough over the toppings and pinch the edges together to form a seal. Make sure the pockets are fully sealed to prevent the filling from leaking out during cooking. Place the pizza pockets seam-side down on a baking tray and brush or spray with olive oil.

Finally, cook your pizza pockets. You can cook them in an air fryer or oven. If using an air fryer, preheat it to between 300°F and 375°F. Place the pizza pockets in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 8-15 minutes, or until golden brown. If using an oven, preheat it to 350°F or 400°F and bake for 15-25 minutes.

Your pizza pockets are now ready to serve! They can be enjoyed hot or cold and are perfect for snacks, lunches, or parties.

Serving suggestions

Air fryer pizza pockets are a versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways, depending on your preferences and the occasion. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• As a snack or appetiser: Pizza pockets are perfect for parties or game days. They can be served as a tasty snack or appetiser, and you can provide extra pizza sauce or other complimentary sauces for dipping.
• With a side salad: For a more substantial meal, serve your pizza pockets with a simple green salad, or try something like a pumpkin and goat cheese salad.
• As part of a larger meal: Pizza pockets can also be a great side dish. Serve them with soup, pasta, or steamed vegetables for a well-rounded meal.
• In a lunchbox: Pizza pockets are an excellent sandwich substitute and can be enjoyed hot or cold. Pack them in a lunchbox with some chopped veggies and fruit for a balanced meal.
• With extra toppings: Don't be afraid to get creative with your toppings! Try serving your pizza pockets with some extra shredded cheese, bacon bits, or even a drizzle of honey.
• With a side of vegetables: If you want to add some extra nutrients, serve your pizza pockets with a side of roasted or steamed vegetables. This can also help to round out the meal and make it more filling.
• As a fun family activity: Making pizza pockets can be a fun activity to do with your family, especially if you have kids. Get everyone involved in the preparation and let them customise their own pockets with their favourite toppings.
• With a variety of sauces: In addition to the classic pizza sauce, offer a selection of other sauces such as ranch, Italian dressing, mustard, or jalapeno cheese sauce. This will allow everyone to customise their pockets to their own tastes.

Frequently asked questions