Air Fryer Totino's Pizza: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Totino's Party Pizza is a convenient and tasty snack that can be made in an air fryer with minimal clean-up. The air fryer's rapid circulation of hot air reduces cooking time by almost half compared to a conventional oven, making it a quick and easy option for those craving a crispy and delicious pizza.

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in ensuring your Totino's pizza cooks evenly and achieves the desired crispy crust. Here's a detailed guide on preheating your air fryer for the best results:

Temperature Setting:

Set your air fryer to the right temperature to preheat. The ideal temperature for cooking Totino's pizza is around 390°F to 400°F (193°C to 200°C). This higher temperature ensures a crispy crust and melted cheese.

Preheat Duration:

Allow your air fryer to preheat for a sufficient duration. While the exact time may vary depending on your air fryer model, aim for around 4 minutes. This duration ensures the appliance reaches the desired temperature and gives a head start for even cooking.

Tray Preheating:

If your air fryer has a removable tray, consider preheating it as well. A preheated tray helps maintain consistent heat and promotes even cooking of the pizza. This is especially beneficial if you're aiming for an extra crispy crust.

Benefits of Preheating:

Preheating your air fryer offers several advantages. Firstly, it ensures the appliance is at the optimal temperature for cooking when you're ready to place the pizza inside. This saves time and prevents undercooked or soggy pizza. Secondly, preheating helps achieve the desired texture, especially for the crust. A preheated air fryer can deliver that golden-brown, crispy crust Totino's pizzas are known for.

No Preheat Option:

While preheating is recommended, some air fryer models may not require it. Modern air fryers often have efficient heating systems that can reach the desired temperature quickly, even without preheating. If your air fryer manual suggests it's not necessary to preheat, you can proceed without it. However, always ensure your appliance is at the right temperature before adding the pizza.

In summary, preheating your air fryer is a crucial step in achieving the best results for cooking Totino's pizza. By following the recommended temperature and duration guidelines, you'll be well on your way to enjoying a delicious, crispy, and evenly cooked pizza straight from your air fryer!

Prepare the pizza

Preparing Totino's Pizza in an air fryer is a quick and easy process. Here is a step-by-step guide:

First, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Preheating ensures that your pizza cooks evenly and achieves a desirable crispy crust. While the air fryer is preheating, take the Totino's Party Pizza out of its packaging. There is no need to thaw the pizza; you can cook it straight from frozen. If desired, you can add extra toppings, such as shredded mozzarella cheese, to enhance the flavour.

Next, arrange the pizza in the air fryer basket or tray. Place the frozen pizza, with or without added toppings, in a single layer. Ensure there is only one pizza in the basket to allow proper air circulation. You can use parchment paper or aluminium foil to prevent sticking if needed.

Cooking the Pizza:

Once the air fryer is preheated, it's time to cook the pizza. Set the temperature to 390-400°F and cook for approximately 5 to 10 minutes. The exact cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer model, so keep a close eye on it after 5 minutes to avoid overcooking.

Checking for Doneness:

To check if the pizza is done, carefully open the air fryer basket and use tongs to lift the pizza slightly. Examine the crust; it should be golden brown and crispy when fully cooked.

Serving the Pizza:

Once the pizza is cooked to your desired level of doneness, remove it from the air fryer, being cautious as it will be hot. Allow the pizza to cool slightly before slicing and serving. Serve with your favourite dipping sauce, such as marinara sauce, on the side.

Tips for Best Results:

• Avoid using too much oil, as Totino's Party Pizza already has a thin layer of oil on its crust. A light spritz of cooking spray or a small amount of oil should suffice.
• If cooking multiple pizzas, cook them in batches to maintain proper air circulation and ensure even cooking.
• Experiment with cooking times to find the perfect balance between a crispy crust and avoiding burning.
• Get creative with toppings and add your favourite ingredients to personalise your pizza.
• If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Cook at 390-400°F for 5-10 minutes

Once you've preheated your air fryer to 400°F (200°C), removed the Totino's pizza from its packaging, and placed it in the fryer basket, it's time to cook your pizza.

Cooking your Totino's pizza at 390-400°F for 5-10 minutes will give it a crispy crust and ensure that the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned. It's important to keep an eye on your pizza after the 5-minute mark to make sure it's cooking evenly and not burning. The exact cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer model, so it's a good idea to check the pizza's progress after 5 minutes and adjust accordingly.

If you're using a Ninja Air Fryer, like in one source, you may want to cook your pizza for the full 10 minutes at 390°F. However, it's always a good idea to check on your pizza to ensure it doesn't overcook.

Once your pizza is cooked to your liking, carefully remove it from the air fryer using tongs or a spatula, as it will be hot. Allow it to cool slightly before slicing and serving.

Enjoy your freshly cooked Totino's pizza!

Check for doneness

Checking for doneness is an important step in ensuring your Totino's pizza is cooked to perfection in the air fryer. Here are some detailed instructions to help you determine when your pizza is ready:

After the specified cooking time, which can range from 5 to 11 minutes depending on your air fryer model, carefully open the air fryer basket. Using tongs or a spatula, lift the pizza slightly from the basket to inspect the crust. The crust should be golden brown and crispy when done. This visual inspection is crucial as it gives you an indication of the pizza's overall doneness.

For a more thorough check, you can also assess the cheese melt and bubble. The cheese should be completely melted and slightly browned, with a bubbly appearance. This indicates that the pizza has been in the air fryer long enough for the heat to penetrate and cook the toppings thoroughly.

Additionally, you can use your sense of smell to determine doneness. A freshly cooked pizza will emit a mouthwatering aroma, and you may even notice a slight browning or charring of the crust, indicating that it's reached its optimal crispiness.

It's important to note that air fryers can vary in terms of cooking time and temperature settings, so it's always a good idea to keep a close eye on your pizza after the initial 5 minutes of cooking time. This way, you can prevent overcooking or burning and achieve the perfect doneness for your Totino's pizza.

Once you've determined that the pizza is done, remove it from the air fryer with caution as the basket and pizza will be hot. Allow the pizza to cool slightly before slicing and serving. Enjoy the crispy, cheesy goodness of your freshly cooked Totino's pizza!

Serve and enjoy

Once your Totino's pizza is cooked to perfection, carefully remove it from the air fryer, as it will be hot. Allow the pizza to cool for a minute or two before slicing and serving. This will ensure that the cheese is not scorching hot and that the pizza maintains its crispy texture.

Totino's Party Pizza is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a quick snack or a full meal. For a more substantial meal, serve the pizza with a side of Air Fryer Frozen French Fries or Air Fryer Onion Rings. If you're serving a crowd, pair the pizza with some Air Fryer Mini Corn Dogs, Air Fryer Twinkies, or Grilled Cheese made in the air fryer.

Totino's pizza is also excellent for dipping. Serve it with your favourite dipping sauce, such as marinara, barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, or extra pizza sauce. For an extra cheesy touch, sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top of the pizza before serving.

If you have any leftovers, wrap the slices in plastic wrap or foil and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for up to three days. To reheat, simply pop the slices back into the air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes until they're hot and crispy again.

Frequently asked questions