Craving crispy air fryer pizza rolls that are golden on the outside, gooey on the inside, and ready in under 15 minutes? These homemade pizza rolls beat anything from the freezer aisle — and your family will literally beg you to make them every week.
Okay, real talk — the first time I made these, my kids inhaled them before I even had a chance to grab one. I’m not even mad. These crispy air fryer pizza rolls are everything: cheesy, pepperoni-packed, golden-crisp perfection that takes barely any effort.
They’ve officially replaced the sad frozen ones in our house, and honestly? There’s no going back.
Table of Contents
What You’re Getting Into (The Good Stuff)
These pizza rolls are the ultimate easy appetizer you didn’t know you needed in your air fryer rotation. Think stretchy mozzarella, savory pepperoni, and herby Italian seasoning all wrapped up in a little dough parcel that crisps up beautifully in the air fryer — no deep frying, no mess.
They’re one of those air fry ideas that sounds fancy but is genuinely simple enough to make on a Tuesday night or throw together for a party spread.
They’re also one of the best easy healthy school snacks you can prep ahead of time, since they reheat like a dream and taste just as good the next day. Pair them with a bowl of marinara for dipping and you’ve got a snack that disappears faster than you can say “save me one.”
Irresistible Crispy Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Rolling Pin
- Knife or pizza cutter
Ingredients
Dough
- 1 batch pizza dough store-bought or homemade
Filling
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup pepperoni slices
Seasoning
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- salt to taste
For cooking
- olive oil spray as needed
For serving
- marinara sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Let the pizza dough rest at room temperature for 20 minutes. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes.
- Roll the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into 3×3 inch squares.
- Place pepperoni and mozzarella in the center of each square. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning and a pinch of salt.
- Fold the dough over the filling and seal the edges. Crimp with a fork to secure.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil. Arrange rolls in a single layer and spray tops lightly.
- Cook at 375°F (190°C) for 8–10 minutes, shaking halfway through, until golden and crispy.
- Let cool for 2–3 minutes before serving with marinara sauce.
Notes
Ingredients
Here’s everything you need — nothing wild, nothing hard to find.
| Category | Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dough | Pizza dough (store-bought or homemade) | 1 batch |
| Filling | Shredded mozzarella cheese | 1 cup |
| Filling | Pepperoni slices | 1 cup |
| Seasoning | Italian seasoning | 1 tsp |
| Seasoning | Pinch of salt | To taste |
| For cooking | Olive oil spray | As needed |
| For serving | Marinara sauce | For dipping |
Ingredient Notes: Store-bought dough from your local grocery store works perfectly here — no shame in that shortcut. If you want to go homemade, check out my Mexican White Cheese Dip Recipe for another crowd-pleasing party snack you can serve alongside these rolls. And if you’re feeling adventurous with the filling, we’ll get to variations in a bit!
Let’s Make These Pizza Rolls
Step 1: Get Your Dough Ready
Pull your pizza dough out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes. This is important — cold dough is stubborn and will snap back every time you try to roll it. Warm dough is cooperative dough. While it’s resting, go ahead and preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes.
Step 2: Roll and Cut
Once your dough is relaxed (same), roll it out on a lightly floured surface until it’s about ¼ inch thick. Then cut it into 3×3 inch squares — a pizza cutter makes this super easy, but a sharp knife works fine too. You’ll end up with roughly 12-16 squares depending on how big your dough batch is.
Pro tip: Try to keep your squares as even as possible so they cook at the same rate in the air fryer. Uneven squares = some overcooked, some underdone. No thanks.
Step 3: Fill ‘Em Up
This is the fun part. Lay a few pepperoni slices in the center of each square, add a generous pinch of shredded mozzarella, then dust with a little Italian seasoning and a tiny pinch of salt. Don’t overstuff — I know it’s tempting, but too much filling makes them hard to seal and they’ll burst open. A little restraint goes a long way here.
Step 4: Seal and Crimp
Fold the dough over the filling to form a little pocket. Press the edges together firmly with your fingers, then crimp them with a fork to really seal everything in. You want that cheese staying inside, not melting all over your air fryer basket. Give each roll a gentle press to make sure nothing’s escaping.
Step 5: Into the Air Fryer
Lightly spray your air fryer basket with olive oil — this is what gives you that gorgeous golden crust. Arrange the pizza rolls in a single layer, making sure they aren’t touching. Depending on your air fryer size, you may need to cook in batches. Spray the tops of the rolls lightly with olive oil too.
Cook at 375°F for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through so they brown evenly on all sides. By the time the timer goes off, your kitchen will smell absolutely incredible.
Step 6: Cool Slightly, Then Devour
Let the rolls cool for 2-3 minutes before biting in — the filling is molten hot right out of the fryer and will absolutely burn your mouth (ask me how I know). Serve them warm with marinara sauce for dipping and watch them disappear.
Tips, Tricks & Variations
Make Them Your Own
These are one of those good to make in air fryer recipes that you can customize endlessly. Swap the pepperoni for cooked Italian sausage, sautéed mushrooms, or diced bell peppers for a veggie version. You can also mix cheeses — a little provolone or parmesan alongside the mozzarella adds a nice depth of flavor.
Want a white pizza version? Skip the marinara dip, add a little garlic butter inside the rolls, and use ricotta mixed with spinach as the filling. So good.
Getting That Perfect Crisp
The olive oil spray is non-negotiable if you want that crunch. Don’t skip it and don’t use too much either — a light coat on the basket and the tops of the rolls is all you need. Also, make sure you’re not overcrowding the basket. Air fryers work by circulating hot air, and if the rolls are stacked or crammed together, they’ll steam instead of crisp.
Troubleshooting
Rolls keep bursting open? You’re overfilling, or the edges aren’t sealed well enough. Use less filling and crimp harder with the fork.
Dough is too doughy in the center? Try cutting slightly thinner squares next time, or add 1-2 minutes to your cook time.
Not crispy enough? Crank the air fryer up to 400°F for the last 2 minutes. Works every time.
Storage & Reheating
| Method | How Long | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Up to 3 days | Store in an airtight container |
| Freezer | Up to 2 months | Freeze on a baking sheet first, then transfer to a bag |
| Air Fryer Reheat | 3-4 min at 350°F | Best way to bring back the crispiness |
| Microwave | 30-45 seconds | Quick but soft — not ideal |
| Oven Reheat | 10 min at 350°F | Great for reheating a big batch |
No-Waste Ideas: Got leftover dough scraps? Roll them into little breadstick twists, brush with garlic butter, and air fry for 5 minutes. Leftover marinara sauce doubles as a pasta sauce or pizza sauce during the week. Nothing goes to waste!
These also make amazing easy appetizers for air fryer parties because you can freeze a big batch ahead of time and just pop them straight from frozen into the air fryer — add 3-4 minutes to the cook time and you’re good to go.
Nutritional Information
Approximate values per 2 pizza rolls (based on a batch of 14)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | ~220 kcal |
| Protein | 9g |
| Carbohydrates | 24g |
| Fat | 10g |
| Saturated Fat | 4g |
| Sodium | 480mg |
| Fiber | 1g |
Note: Nutritional values are estimates and will vary based on the specific dough and ingredients used.
More Snack & Party Ideas You’ll Love
If you’re building out a snack spread, these pizza rolls pair perfectly alongside some Chicken Street Tacos for a fun appetizer night. Or if you’re in a baking mood, these Cadbury Mini Egg Cookies with Browned Butter make the most amazing dessert to follow up a savory snack session. And for something to sip alongside all of it? I mean, there’s never a wrong time to also browse Lemon Blueberry Cake for after-dinner vibes.
Crispy Air Fryer Pizza Rolls FAQs
Can I use store-bought pizza dough for crispy air fryer pizza rolls?
Absolutely — that’s actually what I use most of the time. Store-bought dough from the refrigerated section of the grocery store works perfectly and saves so much time. Just make sure you let it come to room temperature before rolling so it’s easier to work with.
Can I make these pizza rolls ahead of time?
Yes! You can assemble the rolls, place them on a baking sheet, and refrigerate them for up to 24 hours before cooking. You can also freeze them raw and cook straight from frozen — just add a few extra minutes to the air fryer time.
Are these good easy healthy school snacks?
They’re definitely a step up from ultra-processed frozen snacks since you control the ingredients. Use a whole wheat dough and load up on veggie fillings to make them even more wholesome. Kids love them in lunchboxes — just reheat in the morning and wrap in foil to keep warm.
What dipping sauces work besides marinara?
Marinara is the classic, but ranch dressing, garlic butter, pesto, or even this amazing Mexican White Cheese Dip are all incredible with these rolls. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
Can I make these without an air fryer?
You can bake them in a conventional oven at 400°F for about 15-18 minutes until golden brown. They won’t be quite as crispy as the air fryer version, but they’ll still be delicious.
Go Make These Right Now!
Seriously, if you’ve got pizza dough and some cheese in your fridge, you have everything you need to make these crispy air fryer pizza rolls tonight. They’re the kind of recipe that becomes a household staple after the first batch — easy enough for a weeknight snack, impressive enough for a party spread.
Give them a try and let me know what you think in the comments below! And if you loved this recipe, I’d be so grateful if you saved it to Pinterest so others can find it too. Happy rolling!
