How to Cook Hot Pockets in an Air Fryer

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Air fryer hot pockets make a great snack or light lunch when your short on time. Cooking hot pockets in the air fryer is quick and easy and they come out perfect every time!

Air fryer hot pockets on a wooden board. — Air fryer hot pockets.

How to cook hot pockets in an air fryer

Cooking hot pockets in an air fryer is perfect for a quick lunch or snack. Zero prep time, and perfectly cooked in around 15 minutes.

Air frying is the best way to make a perfect hot pocket or pizza pocket – a crispy crust on the outside with perfectly melted cheese in the center.

They are much quicker than oven baking, but much tastier than microwaving. This is one of the reasons why my air fryer is my favorite kitchen appliance! You just can’t get the same level crispiness in the microwave, even using the crisper sleeve but the cook time and preheat times are so much quicker than using your oven.

Air frying is great for cooking frozen food, it always comes out crispy. Here are some of my favorite frozen foods to air fry: air fryer frozen pizza, air fryer pizza rolls, air fryer spring rolls, and air fryer mac and cheese bites.

Scroll down for the hot pocket air fryer recipe card, or read on for all the details.

What do you need to cook hot pockets in your air fryer?

Frozen pizza pockets. The instructions below are for any brand of frozen pizza pocket snack: Hot Pockets, McCain pizza pockets, Pizza Pops, or Amy’s Pizza Pocket Sandwich are our favorites.

Optional – oil. The secret to getting an extra crispy crust is to give the pizza pocket a light brush or spray with cooking oil. This helps the dough to crisp up more quickly (and makes them taste more like they were cooked in a deep fryer 😋).

How long to cook hot pockets in an air fryer?

Hot pockets take around 15 minutes to cook in an air fryer. However, the exact cooking time needed depends on a few factors, including how powerful your brand of air fryer is.

The internal temperature of the hot pockets needs to reach 165°F or above for them to be safely cooked. Use an instant-read thermometer to check if you are unsure about whether your hot pocket is cooked properly.

FAQs & Tips

Can you cook hot pockets in an air fryer?

Yes you can, air frying is a great way to cook hot pockets, and many other types of frozen foods.

Can you air fry frozen hot pockets?

Yes, you should always cook hot pockets from frozen. Do not defrost before cooking or they will end up soggy.

Are hot pockets better in the oven or microwave?

Forget the microwave, forget the oven – once you try air fryer hot pockets you will never cook them any other way!

Air fryer pizza pockets recipe card

2 servings

Air Fryer Hot Pockets

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

How to cook hot pockets in an air fryer.

Ingredients

2 frozen hot pockets
Cooking oil (optional)

Instructions

Preheat air fryer to 350°F.
Unwrap, and place hot pockets in air fryer basket [Note 1]. For best results ensure the pockets are not touching.
Optional step: lightly brush or spray hot pockets with cooking oil.
Cook hot pockets in air fryer for 12-18 minutes until they are golden brown and the internal temperature is at or above 165° F (test with an instant-read thermometer).
Carefully remove hot pockets from air fryer, and enjoy (remember they will be super hot inside so consume with care!).