Creative Air Fryer Pizza Dough Creations

Air fryers are a great alternative to ovens when it comes to making pizza. They are faster, easier, and provide a crispier crust. You can use store-bought or homemade dough, and the pizza can be customised with a variety of toppings, including pepperoni, mushrooms, and vegetables. The pizza cooks in under 10 minutes, and the dough can be pre-cooked to ensure a crispier base.

Air Fryer Pizza with Pre-cooked Crust

Ingredients:

• Pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
• Pizza sauce (store-bought or homemade)
• Toppings of your choice (e.g. pepperoni, onion, jalapeno, bacon, basil, Parmesan, etc.)
• Cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, or a blend)
• Olive oil
• Air fryer rack (optional)

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 375-400°F (190-200°C).
• Prepare your pizza dough by rolling it out to fit the size of your air fryer basket.
• Place the dough in the air fryer and cook for 3 minutes to pre-cook the crust.
• Remove the crust from the air fryer and add your desired toppings, starting with the sauce and cheese.
• Place an air fryer rack on top of the pizza to prevent toppings from blowing away, if needed.
• Return the pizza to the air fryer and cook for an additional 6-7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown.
• Remove the pizza from the air fryer and let it cool slightly before serving.

Tips:

• To save time, you can use pre-cooked pizza dough or naan bread as your crust.
• If using raw meat toppings, be sure to pre-cook them before adding them to the pizza.
• The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of your crust and the model of your air fryer, so adjust as needed.
• If making multiple pizzas, keep the first one warm in the oven at a low temperature while cooking the others.

Air Fryer Pizza with Raw Pizza Dough

Ingredients:

• Raw pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
• Pizza sauce (store-bought or homemade)
• Cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan, or a mix)
• Toppings of your choice (e.g. pepperoni, vegetables, basil)
• Olive oil
• Cornmeal (optional)

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 380°F/190°C-390°F/193°C for 4-5 minutes.
• On a floured surface, roll out your dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. You can also stretch the dough with your hands, but be careful not to tear it.
• Spray your air fryer basket with oil or line it with parchment paper.
• Place the dough in the basket and poke a few holes in it with a fork.
• Air fry the dough for 2-4 minutes, then flip it over and cook for another 2-4 minutes until lightly golden. You may need to cook it a little longer for an extra crispy crust.
• Remove the basket and add your sauce, cheese, and desired toppings. Spray the top of the pizza with a light coating of oil to help it brown.
• Place an air fryer rack over the pizza to prevent toppings from flying off, if needed.
• Air fry the pizza for 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the toppings are heated through.
• Remove the pizza from the air fryer and let it cool for a couple of minutes before serving.

Tips:

• Pre-cooking the dough is essential to avoid sogginess and ensure a crispy crust.
• The thickness of your dough will impact the cooking time. Thinner crusts cook faster and crisp up nicely.
• If using meat toppings, pre-cook them before adding to the pizza.
• Get creative with sauces and toppings to make your pizza unique.
• If making multiple pizzas, pre-cook the dough first, then add toppings and cook in batches.

Air Fryer Pizza Bombs

Ingredients:

• 1 can 8-count refrigerated biscuits
• 32 pieces of pepperoni
• 8 ounces of mozzarella cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 cup of melted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
• 1/2 cup of pizza sauce

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F.
• Open the can of biscuits and separate each biscuit in half to form 16 thin biscuit pieces.
• Cut the pepperoni slices into quarters and place eight bits of pepperoni in the centre of each biscuit.
• Chop the mozzarella into 16 cubes. Place one cube in the centre of each biscuit.
• Fold up the edges of the biscuit to enclose the pepperoni and cheese. Roll into a ball, sealing the edges so the cheese does not leak out.
• Place the biscuits in an air fryer basket in an even layer, leaving space between each for air to flow.
• Add the butter, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
• Brush the butter mixture over the dough.
• Air fry at 350 degrees F for 5-6 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown and cooked through.
• Warm the pizza sauce in the microwave and serve with the pizza bombs for dipping.

Tips:

• Grand's Flaky Layers work best in this recipe as the biscuits are larger than most and are easier to stuff.
• If your cheese is cold when you fill the biscuits, it may not melt all the way in the air fryer.
• You can also make the dough from scratch by combining self-rising flour and Fage total 0 yoghurt.

Air Fryer French Bread Pizza

Ingredients:

• French bread
• Pizza sauce
• Mozzarella cheese
• Olive oil
• Italian seasoning
• Your choice of toppings (pepperoni, mushrooms, bell pepper, olives, ham, onions, sausage, etc.)

Instructions:

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
• Slice the French bread in half lengthwise, then slice each half into two pieces, giving you four pieces in total.
• Combine olive oil with Italian seasoning and brush the mixture over the cut sides of the bread.
• Place the bread, cut side up, in the air fryer and toast for about 3 minutes.
• Remove the bread from the air fryer and spread pizza sauce over the toasted sides.
• Layer on the mozzarella cheese and add your desired toppings.
• Place the bread back into the air fryer and cook for about 4-7 minutes, until the cheese is melted and golden.
• Remove the pizza from the air fryer and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Tips:

• You can use store-bought or homemade pizza sauce.
• Experiment with different types of cheese such as parmesan or cheddar.
• If you want to freeze the pizza for later, freeze it unbaked and uncooked. When ready to eat, air fry the frozen pizza straight from the freezer, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.

Air Fryer Mexican Pizza

Ingredients

• 2 flour tortillas, burrito-sized
• 1/4 cup refried beans
• 3 tablespoons taco sauce
• 1/3 cup shredded cheese (4-cheese Mexican blend or similar)
• Leftover taco meat (optional)
• Garnishes: shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, sour cream (optional)

Method

• Lightly oil the tortillas with cooking spray and place them flat in the air fryer. Air fry at 350°F for 5 minutes, flipping halfway. You might need to do one at a time, depending on the size of your air fryer and tortillas.
• Take one crisped tortilla and spread it with a thin layer of refried beans. Place the other tortilla on top of the beans.
• Sprinkle a little cheese (about 2 to 3 tablespoons) on the surface of the tortilla.
• Add the cooked taco meat, spreading evenly to cover the tortilla.
• Drizzle the taco sauce over the meat.
• Top with the remaining cheese, evenly distributing it to the tortilla edges.
• Air fry the assembled pizza for 5 minutes at 350°F, or until warmed through and the cheese is melted.
• Garnish the pizza with shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, and/or sour cream as desired. Cut into wedges and enjoy!

Tips

• You can substitute enchilada sauce for the taco sauce.
• Try different tortillas! The timing is the same, but keep a close watch for variations in brands and in your air fryer.
• If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Reheat in the air fryer or oven for the best results.

Frequently asked questions