Pizza in Air Fryer: How to Make it Crispy and Delicious

Want a hot, crispy pizza but don’t feel like turning on your oven? Wondering if your air fryer will do the trick? The answer is yes! Making pizza in your air fryer is not just possible-it’s a fast, easy way to get a crispy crust and gooey cheese in much less time than using your oven. It’s perfect for quick meals, making personal pizzas, or reheating leftovers.

An air fryer works by sending hot air quickly around your food, giving results similar to those from a pizza oven but with less time and effort. There’s no need for long preheats or dealing with unevenly cooked crusts. Using your air fryer can totally change how you make pizza at home. Here’s everything you need to get started and make great air fryer pizza.

How Is Air Fryer Pizza Different?

Air fryers cook food by moving hot air in a small space. For pizza, this means your crust gets crisp all over, almost like pizza baked in a much hotter, specialty oven. The main heating element is often right above the food, so you get a crust that’s crunchier and more even than a standard oven-without the long wait or extra energy use.

Air fryers also cook quickly, which keeps flavors strong. Fast cooking lets toppings caramelize and cheese melt just right, while sauce tastes more intense and fresh. If you like pizza with a snappy bottom and rich flavor, you’ll enjoy the way an air fryer cooks pizza.

Benefits of Making Pizza in an Air Fryer

• Fast Cooking: Many air fryer pizzas cook in 6-10 minutes, far less than what it takes to use a traditional oven. Great for busy nights when you want dinner quickly.
• Easy Prep: You only need a few minutes to prepare dough and toppings.
• Crispier Crust: The air circulation creates a golden, crunchy crust-sometimes even better than a home oven for small pizzas.
• Energy-Saving: No need to heat up a full-size oven for one or two pizzas. Your kitchen stays cooler, too.
• Custom Pizzas: It’s easy to let everyone make their own pizza with the toppings they like best.

Air Fryer Pizza vs. Oven Pizza

What’s different is how the heat works. Ovens heat from all sides, while air fryers force hot air mainly from above. For best results in the air fryer, par-bake (partially bake) and flip your crust so the bottom is crisp. This extra step is rarely needed with oven pizza but works great in an air fryer.

Common Myths About Air Fryer Pizza

• Soggy Crust? Not if you par-bake and flip your dough first. This keeps the bottom from being doughy.
• Toppings Fly Off? Small light toppings might move but putting cheese over them or using an air fryer rack easily solves the problem.
• Only Good for Reheating? No-fresh, homemade dough and toppings work very well, too.

What You Need to Make Air Fryer Pizza

Making pizza in an air fryer is simple. You don’t need special gadgets-just your air fryer, your favorite dough or crust, and some good toppings. Here’s what helps:

Pizza Dough Choices

• Homemade Dough: Make your own from scratch for the best flavor and control. Most recipes take just a few minutes or can be prepped in advance.
• Store-Bought Dough: Brands like Pillsbury work great. Let it sit at room temperature 15 minutes before shaping.
• Pre-Made Crusts: Try flatbreads, small Boboli, naan, or pita bread. You can skip pre-baking and go right to topping and cooking.
• Wraps and Tortillas: Ultra-thin crust, done in minutes.

Basic Toppings and Variations

• Sauce: Use your favorite pizza sauce, either store-bought or quick homemade.
• Cheese: Shredded mozzarella is classic. Try fresh mozzarella, parmesan, Gouda, or a mix.
• Toppings: Anything goes! Use sliced mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, olives, pepperoni, cooked sausage or chicken, or get creative with extras like hot peppers or pineapple. Slice toppings thin so they cook fast.

Air Fryer Tools and Tips

• Air Fryer Style: Basket or oven style both work. Basket models may need a pan or a piece of foil to hold the pizza.
• Parchment Paper: Cut to fit. Makes it easy to move the pizza and keeps things from sticking.
• Other Tools: Use oil spray for the crust, a fork to dock (poke holes in) dough to stop air bubbles, and a pizza cutter or scissors to slice.

Step-by-Step Guide to Air Fryer Pizza

Prepping the Dough

1. Preheat the air fryer to 375-380°F (190°C) for 5 minutes.
2. If using ready dough, let it warm up 15 minutes first. Divide into small balls for mini pizzas.
3. Shape the dough to fit your air fryer basket-roll it out thin. If your air fryer is not round, shape the dough to fit.

Pre-Cook and Flip the Crust

1. Move the dough (on parchment if using) to the hot air fryer basket.
2. Spray lightly with oil. Poke holes all over with a fork (docking) to prevent bubbles.
3. Cook for 3 minutes, then flip the dough over and cook for 2 minutes more to get both sides crispy.

Adding Toppings

1. With the crust still in the basket, add a thin layer of sauce (not too much to avoid sogginess).
2. Sprinkle cheese, then add your favorite toppings. Cover quick-light toppings (like pepperoni) with a little more cheese so they don’t blow around.

Air Fry and Serve

1. Return to the air fryer. Cook at 370-380°F for 4-9 minutes, depending on size and your air fryer’s power. Check often.
2. Pizza is ready when the crust is brown and cheese is bubbly with some browning at the edges.

Tips for Best Results

• Don’t overload with sauce or toppings-too much stops the crust from getting crispy.
• Cook one pizza at a time for best air flow.
• For extra crisp, make sure to par-bake and flip the dough.
• Watch near the end-air fryers cook fast!

Cooking Frozen Pizza in the Air Fryer

Frozen pizza comes out great in the air fryer-hot, crisp, and evenly cooked. Here’s how:

• Most air fryers won’t fit a large frozen pizza, so stick to small, personal-size pizzas or slice big ones while still frozen.
• Thin crusts and moderate toppings work best.
• Preheat to 375°F (190°C), bake for 7-10 minutes, checking after 7 minutes to avoid burning.
• For thick or deep-dish frozen pizzas, cook a little longer at a slightly lower temperature to avoid burning the edges before the center is hot.

Reheating Pizza in the Air Fryer

Air fryers bring leftover pizza back to life-crisp crust, melted cheese, and none of the sogginess you get from a microwave.

• Preheat to 325-370°F.
• Place slices in a single layer. Don’t overlap.
• Heat for 3-5 minutes. Watch closely in the last minute to avoid burning.
• For crispier crust, use a light spray of oil if you want, but the air fryer usually does the job well on its own.

Popular Air Fryer Pizza Variations

Vegetarian and Vegan Ideas

• Pick a vegan or dairy-free dough if you need to avoid animal products.
• Try toppings like peppers, onions, spinach, and mushrooms. For vegan cheese, use shreds that melt or sprinkle with nutritional yeast for flavor.
• Plant-based meats, marinated tofu, or black beans make good proteins, too.

Kid-Friendly Toppings

• Let kids make their own mini pizzas.
• Use simple favorites: lots of cheese, pepperoni, or half-and-half mixes.
• Add mild veggies, or cooked ham/chicken for extra protein.

Gluten-Free and Alternative Crusts

• Use cauliflower, gluten-free, or store-bought gluten-free naan or flatbreads for easy crust swaps.
• Pre-bake these crusts a couple of minutes longer if needed so they don’t get soggy.

Nutrition and Health

Pizza-no matter the cooking method-can be calorie-heavy or lighter, depending on your choices. The air fryer doesn’t change the nutrition of the ingredients, but because most air fryer pizzas are personal-sized, you may find it easier to control portions and toppings.

To make pizza lighter: use a thin or whole wheat crust, less cheese, more veggies, and lean protein. For gluten-free pizza, use cauliflower or ready gluten-free crusts. Always check the nutrition labels for store-bought items, as they can still be high in calories or fat.

Storing and Making Ahead

Storing Leftovers

• Cool pizza completely before storing to avoid sogginess.
• Use airtight containers or zip bags.
• Refrigerate up to 3-4 days.
• Always reheat leftovers in the air fryer for a crispy result.

Freezing Air Fryer Pizzas

• Freeze cooked slices: wrap in plastic and then in a freezer bag. Freeze up to 3 months.
• To reheat, cook in a hot air fryer (about 370°F) for 4-5 minutes straight from the freezer.
• For make-ahead: Par-bake crusts, add toppings, freeze until solid, then wrap in plastic and freeze. Air fry from frozen for 6-8 minutes at 370°F.

FAQs About Air Fryer Pizza

How long should pizza cook in the air fryer?

• Fresh dough (par-baked): 7-9 minutes at 375-380°F
• Pre-made crusts: 4-5 minutes
• Frozen pizza: 7-10 minutes
• Reheating: 3-5 minutes at 325-370°F

Can you use parchment paper in an air fryer?

Yes. Cut parchment to fit the basket or tray. This keeps pizza from sticking and makes cleanup simple. Don’t let extra parchment hang over the sides (it could block air flow or touch the heating element). Look for perforated air fryer parchment sheets if you want even better results.

Should you preheat the air fryer for pizza?

Yes. Always preheat your air fryer for 5 minutes at 375-400°F. This helps your pizza crust start crisping right away and gives the best texture.