Air fryer French Bread Pizza is a simple yet satisfyingly crispy meal perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends when you don’t feel like cooking an elaborate dinner. With just a few basic ingredients and minimal prep work, you can have a delicious homemade pizza on the table in under 15 minutes.
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As a busy mom, I’m always on the hunt for quick and easy meals that my kids will love. That’s why, when I discovered air fryer cooking, I was thrilled to find out how versatile and convenient it is. Some of our favorite air fryer meals are Cheesy Stuffed Jalapenos, Crunchy Mozzarella Sticks, and Crispy Air fried Hot Dogs with toasted buns. My kids learned to appreciate the crispy crust and gooey cheese from cooking it in the air fryer. And, on days when we want something even faster, we whip up some easy Biscuit Dough Mini Pizzas. They’re simple to make, but taste like they took hours! The air fryer has quickly become our go-to method of cooking, and I’m sure your family will love these tasty dishes, too.
Ingredients
Please refer to the measured ingredients and nutrition information at the bottom of this post. Gather the following ingredients for this cheesy delight:
You’ll need a loaf of French bread, pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, your favorite toppings (pepperoni (quartered), mushrooms, bell peppers – whatever you like), and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning and oregano for extra flavor.
How to Make French Bread Pizza in the Air Fryer
This simple dish takes all the flavors of traditional pizza and puts them on a crispy, perfectly toasted piece of French bread.
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 °F (180°C) for 3 minutes
- Pre-Toast. Cut the French bread in half and slice each half lengthwise. Place the french bread in the air fryer and toast for 3 minutes. Use air fry setting. By pre-toasting the bread in the air fryer, you’re essentially giving it a head start on getting crispy. And when it comes to pizza, this is key. Not only will you get a perfectly crispy crust, but pre-toasting will prevent your toppings from making your pizza soggy.
- Evenly spread the pizza sauce on each piece of French bread, and sprinkle the cheese evenly among each piece.
- Top with the pepperoni quarters and oregano.
- Carefully place in the air fryer and cook for 5-7 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly and just slightly golden brown. Or until the desired crispiness and caramelization of your choice.
Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them one at a time or both at once if they fit comfortably.
The beauty of making French bread pizza in an air fryer is that it cooks quickly and evenly, giving you that perfect combination of crispy crust and gooey cheese. Plus, there’s no need to preheat a conventional oven or wait for it to heat up – just pop your pizzas in the air fryer and dinner will be ready in no time.
Once your French bread pizzas are done cooking, carefully remove them from the air fryer basket using tongs or a spatula. Let them cool for a minute or two before slicing into individual servings. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning for an extra pop of flavor before serving.
How to Keep Pepperoni Still in Your Air Fryer Pizza?
Why do pepperoni or other toppings sometimes dance around like a spinning top when we just want it to sit still on our pizza?
The phenomenon of toppings flying around in the air fryer occurs due to the forced hot air that circulates inside the cooking chamber. These gusts of air are what create the crispy texture we love, but they can also wreak havoc on lighter toppings like pepperoni. Understanding this is the first step in learning how to counter it.
All air fryers are different and their fans run at different speeds, so this may not be the issue for all fryers. But if it does happen in your air fryer, may I suggest these fixes:
- Sprinkle a little cheese on TOP of pepperoni. By sprinkling a small amount of cheese on top of the pepperoni, it creates an adhesive effect that keeps everything in place.
- Cook your pizza for a minute on a “toast” or “bake” mode. This will ensure that the cheese melts enough to stick the toppings to the top of the pizza. Once the cheese begins to melt in the air fryer, it’s heavy enough to stay put and remain in place Then proceed with cooking pizza on air fry setting as per directions.
- Place a rack over your pizza to stop the toppings from flying around.
Toppings and Variations
Get creative with your sauces. Switch things up and add some Air Fryer Grilled chicken, Air Fryer Sautéed Mushrooms & Onions, and diced tomatoes for a savory twist. For a bit of spice, try jalapeños and red pepper flakes. Alternatively, a vegetarian option could be Air fryer Sliced Zucchini, Roasted Red Peppers, and feta cheese! The great thing about homemade pizza is you can customize it to your liking and experiment with new flavors.
Garlic bread pizza crust. Mix 4 oz softened butter and 2 garlic cloves, minced. Spread garlic butter and sprinkle dried oregano on each side of the toasted bread before adding pizza sauce.
Tips
- Make sure to preheat your air fryer before using it. This step helps to ensure even cooking and crispy crusts.
- Be mindful of the amount of toppings you use. Too many toppings can make the pizza soggy.
- Placing the pizza directly on the air fryer basket can cause the bread to become too crispy underneath. To avoid this, place the pizza on a piece of parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Lastly, keep an eye on the pizza as it cooks to avoid over-browning.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
Air Fryer French Bread Pizza
Air fryer French Bread Pizza is a simple yet satisfyingly crispy meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends when you don’t feel like cooking an elaborate dinner. With just a few basic ingredients and minimal prep work, you can have a delicious homemade pizza on the table in under 15 minutes.
