Pizza night rules, and now it’s even easier because you can make the pizzas in your air fryer. This recipe is for pizzas made with fresh pre-made dough. Check out my easy no-yeast pizza dough if you need a quick and easy dough recipe, or these flatbread pizzas for a no-dough option.
There’s a simple trick to getting the crust crispy. Air frying means that the toppings cook extremely quickly, so you will need to precook the base for a few minutes before adding the toppings, or else it won’t be cooked by the time the toppings are done.
Also, depending on your air fryer you may need to cook the base on a pan or on parchment to start with. Mine has a fine mesh basket, and the dough would stick to it as it cooks without anything underneath. I find a small piece of baking parchment does the trick, then you remove it once the base is part-cooked.
Scroll down for the printable card for this air fryer pizza recipe, or read on for all the details.
What do you need
- Pizza dough – you can use pre-made refrigerated pizza dough (e.g., Pillsbury) or make your own. Try my quick 3 ingredient pizza dough for an easy homemade option.
- Pizza sauce – use your favorite pizza sauce or tomato puree/passata and a sprinkle of Italian herbs.
- Cheese – mozzarella is best. I like to use fresh mozzarella balls, but shredded also works.
- Toppings – add your favorite toppings, just remember to cut them thinly so that they cook quickly.
- Optional grill-pan, pizza pan, cookie sheet, or parchment – pizza dough is too soft to cook directly on a fine-meshed air fryer basket (see mine in the photo above) – it will end up getting stuck! If yours is similar you will need to place it on something for the first stage of cooking. If your air fryer has a grill pan or a more solid tray then you can probably skip this.
How to make pizza in the air fryer
1
Prepare the base.
Take a ball of dough around 4 oz/ 110g, and stretch or roll into an 8-inch/ 20 cm circle. Lightly brush or spray with oil.
2
Part-bake the base.
Place in the air fryer basket (as noted above, use a pan or piece of parchment if necessary). Air fry the base for 3 minutes at 400°F/ 200°C. Tip: If you like an extra crispy crust, part-bake the base for 1-2 minutes longer.
When the time is up, flip the base over, leaving it in the air fryer. Remove the parchment or cookie sheet (if using).
2
Add sauce toppings.
Spread the sauce onto the base using the back of a spoon to smooth it out, and add the cheese and other toppings.
3
Air fry pizza.
Lower the temperature to 360°F/ 180°C and air fry the pizza for 7-10 minutes. Air fry it until it is cooked through and the cheese is golden and bubbly, but keep an eye on it towards the end of the cooking time so that it doesn’t get over cooked!
Topping ideas
- Fresh mozzarella and sliced fresh tomato. Top with basil leaves when it is cooked.
- Ham and pineapple (my kids’ fave)
- Broccoli, blue cheese, and chopped walnuts – cut the florets up really small, or use leftover cooked broccoli (this one’s my fave, but the kid won’t touch it 🤭)
- Chicken, camembert (or brie), and a swirl of cranberry sauce
- Mozzarella and prosciutto, then top with rocket/arugula after cooking
- Spicy salami, capsicum, sliced jalapenos, onions, and a drizzle of hot sauce
Storing and reheating
Store any leftover pizza (is that a thing??) in an air-tight container in the fridge, and use it within three days. It’s ideal for kids’ lunchboxes, btw.
You can reheat the pizza in the air fryer – for details see How to Reheat Pizza in an Air Fryer
Air Fryer Pizza
Ingredients
Ingredients per person
- 16 oz / 450 g pizza dough [Note 1]
- ⅓ cup / 80 ml pizza sauce
- 6 oz / 170 g mozzarella
- Your choice of toppings
Directions
- Stretch or roll pizza dough into 4 equal-sized rounds approximately 8 inches / 20cm.
- Place pizza bases into air fryer and cook at 400°F/ 200°C for 3-5 minutes until firm [Note 2].
- Spread a layer of pizza sauce onto each pizza base, and add the cheese and other toppings.
- Place pizza in air fryer basket and air fry at 360°F/ 180°C for 7-10 minutes or until cooked through and the cheese is golden [Notes 2, 3].
- Top with fresh basil and serve.
Notes
- Try Pillsbury pizza crust, Pillsbury mini pizzas are ideal. Or make your own with this simple 3 ingredient pizza dough recipe.
- If cooking more than one (or more than will fit in the air fryer in one go), pre-bake all the bases first, then top and finish each pizza one at a time.
- Cooking times will vary depending on your make and model of air fryer, so check frequently after 7 minutes cooking to ensure they don’t get over-cooked.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
