Save to Pinterest My roommate brought home an air fryer one random Tuesday, and the first thing we made wasn't anything fancy—just these pizza rolls she'd seen trending on TikTok. They came out impossibly crispy, with cheese practically spilling out the sides, and we devoured half the batch before they even cooled down. I've made them a dozen times since, and somehow they taste like both a ridiculously easy snack and something you'd actually serve to people you want to impress.
I made these for a movie night with friends last month, and they became the only thing anyone remembered eating. Someone even asked if they were store-bought because they looked so polished, which felt like winning a secret kitchen award. Now whenever I host anything, someone requests them before I even send the invite.
Ingredients
- Refrigerated pizza dough (1 package, about 400 g): Use the kind in the dairy section that comes rolled in a tube—it saves the whole flattening-from-scratch step and honestly works better than homemade for this because it's already the right texture.
- Mozzarella cheese (120 g / 1 cup shredded): Fresh is nice, but the pre-shredded stuff works fine here since it melts into oblivion anyway.
- Mini pepperoni slices (60 g / 1/2 cup, optional): Or swap for diced bell peppers, mushrooms, or even drained spinach if you want vegetarian versions or just whatever you have.
- Pizza sauce (4 tbsp): The regular jarred kind works perfectly; no need to make sauce from scratch for something this casual.
- Parmesan cheese (2 tbsp grated): This adds a salty, slightly nutty depth that makes people wonder what your secret ingredient is.
- Dried Italian herbs (1/2 tsp): Oregano or basil, whichever you have—this is where the pizza flavor actually comes from, so don't skip it.
- Egg (1, beaten): Acts as both glue to seal the dough and a gentle brush for browning, so it does double duty.
- Cooking spray or olive oil spray: Prevents sticking and helps everything crisp up beautifully in the air fryer.
Instructions
- Get your air fryer warm and ready:
- Preheat to 190°C (375°F) for about 5 minutes while you set everything else up. This matters because cold air fryers won't crisp the outside properly.
- Roll out your canvas:
- Flour a clean surface lightly and stretch that pizza dough into a big rectangle, roughly 30 x 25 cm. Don't stress about it being perfect—slight imperfections actually help it cook more evenly.
- Spread the sauce like you're painting:
- Use the back of a spoon to distribute pizza sauce evenly, leaving about a 1 cm border all around so it doesn't squeeze out when you roll. This border is your seal, so respect it.
- Layer your fillings:
- Scatter the mozzarella, then pepperoni or veggies, then Parmesan, then those Italian herbs. The layers don't need to be perfect; just make sure everything's reasonably distributed so every bite has flavor.
- Roll it tight and seal the seam:
- Starting from one long edge, roll the dough toward you like you're making cinnamon rolls, keeping it snug so nothing leaks during cooking. Pinch that seam shut with your fingers once you're done rolling.
- Slice into perfect portions:
- Using a sharp knife (a serrated one works great), cut the log into 24 roughly equal pieces. Don't stress about exact sizing—slightly uneven pieces still cook, they just look more homemade.
- Seal and brush each roll:
- Lightly brush each piece's cut sides with beaten egg to help them seal and brown. This step feels fussy but genuinely makes the difference between "good" and "crispy outside, sealed inside."
- Prep your air fryer basket:
- Give it a light spray of cooking spray or olive oil so nothing sticks. If you're cooking in batches, a quick re-spray between rounds saves frustration.
- Arrange and space them out:
- Place rolls flat-side down in a single layer, leaving a little breathing room between each one. Crowding them means soggy spots, so resist the urge to cram more in.
- Top with a final egg wash:
- Brush the tops of all your rolls with another light coat of beaten egg for that gorgeous golden color.
- Air fry until golden:
- Cook for 8–10 minutes at 190°C, flipping them halfway through so they brown evenly on both sides. You'll know they're done when the dough is visibly crispy and slightly darker.
- Cool for a moment before serving:
- Let them sit for 2–3 minutes so the cheese isn't lava-hot, then serve with extra pizza sauce for dipping.
Save to Pinterest There was this moment when my seven-year-old neighbor bit into one of these and her eyes went wide like she'd just discovered something magical. She asked if I could make them for her birthday party, and suddenly this lazy TikTok snack felt like it meant something. That's when I realized the best kitchen victories aren't always about technique—they're about making something people want to remember.
Why the Air Fryer Is Perfect for These
The air fryer does something special here that an oven or stovetop just doesn't—it circulates hot air around the rolls so intensely that the outside becomes genuinely crispy while the inside stays soft and gooey. You're not deep-frying, which means less oil and less cleanup, but you get that crispy texture without any effort. Once you make these in an air fryer, you'll never want to cook them any other way.
Filling Ideas and Variations
The beauty of these rolls is that the dough-sauce-cheese formula works with almost anything, so you can go wild with fillings based on what you have or what mood you're in. I've done them with diced fresh tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, spinach mixed into the sauce, even leftover roasted vegetables. The only rule is that your filling shouldn't be watery or heavily oiled, because that's what leaks out during cooking and makes the dough soggy.
Storage, Reheating, and Make-Ahead Tips
You can actually assemble these the night before and store them on a parchment-lined tray in the fridge, then air fry them straight from cold—they just take an extra minute or two. If you've got leftovers (rare, but it happens), they reheat beautifully in the air fryer for 3–4 minutes at the same temperature, and they taste almost as good as fresh. I've even frozen assembled rolls in a single layer on a tray, then transferred them to a freezer bag; just add a minute or two to the cooking time and you've got emergency snacks whenever you need them.
- Refrigerate assembled rolls for up to a day in an airtight container, and they'll stay perfectly fresh.
- Reheat leftovers in the air fryer rather than the microwave so they stay crispy instead of turning rubbery.
- Frozen rolls cook beautifully without thawing, which makes these genuinely one of the best foods to have on hand for unexpected guests.
Save to Pinterest These rolls started as a TikTok curiosity and somehow became the thing I reach for when I want to feel like a good cook without actually trying that hard. They're crispy, they're fun, and they work every single time.
Recipe FAQs
- → How do I prevent the rolls from getting soggy?
Make sure to brush the rolls with beaten egg or oil before air frying to create a golden, crisp crust that locks in moisture.
- → Can I use gluten-free dough?
Absolutely. Substitute with your favorite gluten-free dough for a similar texture and crispness when air fried.
- → What fillings work best in the rolls?
Mozzarella and Parmesan give a gooey texture, while mini pepperoni or diced vegetables add flavor and variety.
- → How long should I air fry the rolls?
Cook at 190°C (375°F) for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway to ensure even crispiness and browning.
- → Can these be made vegan?
Yes, use vegan cheese alternatives and brush the rolls with olive oil instead of egg wash for a dairy-free version.