This Air Fryer Pizza is made from scratch, from the dough to the sauce! Topped with pepperoni, mozzarella and gouda cheese, this pizza bakes in half the time it takes in the oven.
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Why This Recipe Works
Pull out the air fryer because we are making pizza for dinner today! If you ever wondered if you can cook pizza in the air fryer, with dough from scratch, the answer is a big and exciting YES! I used my trusted homemade pizza dough recipe and adjusted it to bake it in the air fryer.
I always make my own pizza sauce with crushed tomatoes and spices. It's so much better! For toppings, you can go with the classic cheese and pepperoni combo or choose your own for individual pizzas. They are so fun to make and eat!
So next time you are craving pizza or have Pizza Friday on the schedule, try this air fryer recipe. Have fun and get the family involved!
Ingredients:
- flour: all-purpose, fluffed before measuring;
- yeast: active dry; needed for the pizza dough;
- sugar: to sweeten the water in which the yeast blooms; you can use honey;
- water: very warm (not hot), from tap is just fine;
- olive oil: makes the dough fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside;
- salt: I used kosher salt; necessary to flavor the dough;
- sauce: I use crushed tomatoes but any pizza sauce works;
- cheese: I use mozzarella and gouda (not smoked);
- seasoning: Italian seasoning, dried oregano; add flavor to the sauce;
- pepperoni: a classic pizza topping.
How to make air fryer pizza from scratch?
- Combine warm water and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
- Add yeast and stir in a few times. Let it sit until the yeast foams.
- Add 1/2 cup of flour at a time to the yeast mixture, stirring until smooth after each addition.
- Once the dough is coming together, place it on a lightly floured counter surface and knead 5 to 6 times.
- Place the dough into an oiled bowl, cover with saran wrap or a kitchen towel (flour the side that will be facing the dough), and place in a warm draft-free place until doubled in size. See my tip below!
- Divide the dough into 2 (for fluffy crust) or 3 (for thin crust) parts. Roll each out about 8" in diameter (I found this size to fit great into my air fryer; it helps to cut a piece of parchment paper that fits into your air fryer and use it as a guide).
- Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees F. Pre-bake the first crust for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Spread about 1/4 cup of sauce over crust, top with cheese, then pepperoni. Season with dried herbs if desired. Make sure to press the pepperoni down so it sticks to the sauce and cheese. This will prevent it from flying around in the air fryer.
- Finish baking the pizza for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Remove pizza from air fryer and let sit for a few minutes. Slice and serve.
Helpful Tips!
- warm and draft-free place for rising the dough: heat up 1 cup of water in a microwave until it bubbles, then place the bowl with pizza dough inside, close the door (do not turn the microwave on!) and let it sit until the dough doubles in size.
- pizza crust type: if you like the crust fluffy, divide the dough into 2 parts to make 2 pizzas; if you prefer your crust thin and crispy, divide the dough into 3 parts to make 3 pizzas;
- homemade pizza sauce: mix crushed tomatoes with Italian seasoning and garlic powder;
- cheese: mozzarella and gouda make the best combo for pizza in my opinion; they are both creamy and gooey when melted;
- parchment paper tip: I highly recommend baking the pizza on parchment paper; it makes it easy to roll out the dough the right size but also helps prevents sticking and helps remove the pizza from air fryer basket.
Recipe FAQs:
Can I use pizza sauce in this recipe?
Absolutely! If you have your favorite pizza sauce (store-bought or homemade), feel free to use what you like. I always use crushed tomatoes with seasoning.
Can I use a refrigerated dough to make this pizza?
Yes, you can use premade dough that has been chilled in the fridge. Pull it out and let it come to room temperature before baking.
How to reheat air fryer pizza?
To reheat leftovers, set the temperature to 350 degrees F and the timer to 3 minutes. Check the pizza and cook for a minute or two more if needed.
How do I prevent the pepperoni from flying in the air fryer?
I recommend pressing it down to stick it to the pizza sauce. I did not have this problem. You can also place a metal grate or rack that fits into your air fryer basket.
More air fryer recipes:
If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!
Air Fryer Pizza from Scratch
This Air Fryer Pizza is made from scratch, from the dough to the sauce! Topped with pepperoni, mozzarella and gouda cheese, this pizza bakes in half the time it takes in the oven.
Ingredients
for the dough:
- ¾ cup warm water not hot
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons olive oil divided
- ½ teaspoon salt
for the pizza:
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup shredded gouda cheese
- 18 to 20 slices of pepperoni
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water and sugar. Stir to dissolve.
- Add yeast and stir in a few times. Let it sit until the yeast foams. It will take about 10 minutes, depending on how warm is in your kitchen.
- Add ½ cup of flour at a time to yeast mixture, stirring with a wooden spoon until smooth after each addition. With each addition, add a little bit of olive oil and salt. Mix well.
- If the dough is very sticky, you may need more flour. See my photos for visual reference of what the dough should look like.
- Once the dough is coming together, place it on a lightly floured counter surface and knead 5 to 6 times.
- Wash the bowl you used to make the dough, in warm water and towel dry. Pour 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil into the bowl and swirl to coat the bottom and a little bit up the sides.
- Place the dough into the bowl, cover with saran wrap or a kitchen towel (flour the side that will be facing the dough), and place in a warm draft-free place until doubled in size. See my tip below!
- Divide the dough into 2 (for fluffy crust) or 3 (for thin crust) parts.
- Cut out a piece of parchment paper that fits into your air fryer and use it as a guide to roll out the dough. Mine were about 8" in diameter.
- Preheat air fryer to 390° F. Pre-bake the first crust for 3 to 4 minutes, on air fry setting.
- Spread about ⅓ cup of sauce over crust, season with dried herbs, salt and pepper, top with half the cheese, then pepperoni. Make sure to press the pepperoni down so it sticks to the sauce and cheese. This will prevent it from flying around in the air fryer.
- Place the basket with pizza back in the air fryer and bake for 4 to 5 minutes more.
- Remove pizza from air fryer and repeat with the second dough.
- Slice and serve.
Notes
- Heat up 1 cup of water in a microwave until it bubbles, then place the bowl with pizza dough inside, close the door (do not turn the microwave on!) and let it sit until the dough doubles in size.
- If you like the crust fluffy, divide the dough into 2 parts to make 2 pizzas; if you prefer your crust thin and crispy, divide the dough into 3 parts to make 3 pizzas.
- To reheat leftovers, set the temperature to 350 degrees F and the timer to 3 minutes. Check the pizza and cook for a minute or two more if needed.
- Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.
Nutrition
Calories: 435kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Potassium: 360mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 313IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 214mg | Iron: 4mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!
Sharina says
Never thought I could use an air fryer in making our all-time favorite pizza. I added pineapple (because we love pineapples on pizzas) to this amazing air fryer pizza, turned out so tasty and yummy!
Journa Liz Ramirez says
We love pizza at home and we would never get tired of it. Thanks, for sharing this easy recipe. It's so good and we enjoyed it so much. Would probably make this on repeat.
Tara G says
The only way to make pizza!! Who knew?? Thank you so much for this, it's life changing!