Last Saturday afternoon, Lina and three of his friends came running in from the backyard, sweaty and starving. “Mom, we need snacks!” They stood there staring at me with hopeful eyes. I opened the freezer and spotted a bag of pizza rolls I’d forgotten about. “Give me ten minutes,” I said, pulling out the air fryer. Lina’s friend Connor had never seen one before. “What’s that thing?” he asked. “Magic,” I told him, dumping air fryer pizza rolls into the basket.
I’ve been using an air fryer for years, ever since my sister convinced me to try one. At first I thought it was just another kitchen gadget that would sit in the cabinet collecting dust. But once I figured out it could turn frozen Air Fryer Pizza Rolls into crispy golden pockets of melty cheese in less time than my oven even preheats? Game changer. No oil needed, no hot oven heating up the whole kitchen, just pop them in and wait.
Why I Love This Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
I started making frozen Air Fryer Pizza Rolls in the air fryer during Lina’s first year of virtual school when he needed quick snacks between classes. He’d finish a Zoom call and have ten minutes before the next one, and I needed something fast that actually filled him up. Microwave pizza rolls were always soggy and sad. Oven took too long. The air fryer? Eight minutes and they were done, crispy and hot. Lina would grab a plate, dip them in ranch, and be back at his computer before the next class started.
I love how this is the laziest snack that somehow feels like real food. You literally just dump frozen pizza rolls in the basket, set the timer, and walk away. No preheating, no oil, no flipping (okay, I shake the basket once but that takes two seconds). They come out golden and crispy like you deep fried them, but you didn’t. The air fryer does all the work. Linas friends always ask if I made them from scratch because they taste that much better than microwaved ones. Nope, same frozen bag from Costco, just cooked the right way. We go through a bag a week now – after school snacks, movie nights.
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Ingredients You’ll Need For Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
Main Ingredients:
- 1 bag frozen pizza rolls
- Cooking spray
For Serving:
- Marinara sauce for dipping
- Ranch dressing
- Garlic butter for brushing
- Parmesan cheese for sprinkling
Optional Add-Ons:
- Fresh parsley
- Italian seasoning
- Garlic powder
- Crushed red pepper flakes
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Cook Air Fryer Pizza Rolls Step By Step
Preheat the Air Fryer
- Set air fryer to 380°F
- Let it preheat for 3-5 minutes
- This helps them cook evenly
Load the Basket
- Place frozen pizza rolls in a single layer
- Don’t stack them or they won’t crisp up
- Leave a little space between each one
- Spray lightly with cooking spray if you want extra crispy
Cook the Pizza Rolls
- Set timer for 8 minutes
- Shake the basket halfway through
- Check for golden brown color
- Add 1-2 more minutes if needed
Let Them Cool
- Seriously, wait or you’ll burn your mouth
- Remove from basket carefully
- Let sit for 2-3 minutes before eating
- The inside is molten lava hot
Smart Swaps for Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
Healthier Options:
- Homemade pizza rolls → Frozen ones (more control over ingredients)
- Whole wheat tortilla pizza rolls → Regular (more fiber)
- Turkey pepperoni rolls → Regular pepperoni (leaner)
- Veggie pizza rolls → Meat versions (fewer calories)
Dietary Needs:
- Gluten-free pizza rolls → Regular (several brands make these now)
- Dairy-free cheese rolls → Regular (vegan options available)
- Cauliflower crust rolls → Regular (low-carb option)
Different Brands:
- Totino’s → Any frozen brand (most popular)
- Pillsbury → Totino’s (slightly different texture)
- Store brand → Name brand (usually cheaper, same result)
- Bagel Bites → Pizza rolls (different shape, similar cook time)
Flavor Twists:
- Dip in buffalo sauce → Ranch (spicy kick)
- Brush with garlic butter → Plain (restaurant style)
- Sprinkle Parmesan → Skip it (extra flavor)
- Add Italian seasoning → Plain (more pizza-like)
Air Fryer Pizza Rolls Variations
Pizza Rolls Air Fryer Tortilla:
- Make your own with small tortillas
- Fill with cheese, pepperoni, and sauce
- Roll tight and air fry seam-side down
- Way cheaper than buying frozen
Healthy Air Fryer Pizza Rolls:
- Use whole wheat tortillas
- Low-fat mozzarella
- Turkey pepperoni
- Load up on veggies in the filling
Air Fryer Pepperoni Pizza Crescent Rolls:
- Use crescent roll dough
- Fill with pepperoni and cheese
- Roll up and air fry until golden
- Lina likes these even better than regular pizza rolls
Pizza Egg Rolls Air Fryer:
- Use egg roll wrappers instead
- Stuff with pizza toppings
- Bigger and crunchier
- Perfect for parties
Equipment For Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
- Air fryer (any brand works)
- Tongs or spatula for removing hot rolls
- Plate for serving
- Small bowls for dipping sauces
Storing Your Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
Room Temperature (Not recommended):
- Don’t leave cooked pizza rolls out more than 2 hours
- They get soggy and unsafe to eat
- Best eaten right after cooking
Refrigerator (Cooked rolls, 3-4 days):
- Let cool completely first
- Store in airtight container
- Reheat in air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes
- Way better than microwave reheating
Freezer (Unopened bag):
- Keep frozen pizza rolls in original bag
- Store at 0°F or below
- Use by date on package
- Cook straight from frozen, don’t thaw
Leftover Cooked Rolls:
- Microwave makes them rubber
- Honestly just eat them all
- They’re never as good reheated
- But if you must, air fryer brings back some crispiness
Top Tip
- Don’t skip the shaking step at the 4-minute mark! This is what prevents some Air Fryer Pizza Rolls from staying pale and soft while others get too dark. Just pull the basket out, give it a good shake to flip them around, and slide it back in. Takes 5 seconds and makes a huge difference! I learned this the hard way the first time I made pizza rolls in the air fryer. I just dumped them in, set the timer for 8 minutes, and walked away feeling all proud of myself for using this fancy new appliance.
- When the timer went off, half the Air Fryer Pizza Rolls were golden and perfect, and the other half were still pale and barely cooked. Lina picked through them like he was sorting laundry, eating only the crispy ones and leaving the sad pale ones on his plate.Now I set a timer on my phone for 4 minutes so I don’t forget. When it beeps, I pull out the basket and shake it like I’m making popcorn on the stove – not too violent or they’ll break, just enough to flip them around and rearrange them.
- The ones that were on top move to the bottom, the ones touching the sides spread out. Then back in they go for another 4 minutes. The difference is night and day. Every single pizza roll comes out golden brown and crispy all over.Lina has become the shake police in our house. If he hears the air fryer running and I’m in another room, he’ll yell “Mom! Did you shake them yet?” He knows that shaking is the difference between snack perfection and disappointment.
FAQ
How long do you cook pizza rolls in an air fryer?
Eight minutes at 380°F is the sweet spot! That’s the exact time that gets them golden and crispy on the outside while the cheese inside gets all melty. I shake the basket at the 4-minute mark so they cook evenly on all sides. Some air fryers run hotter or cooler, so check them at 7 minutes your first time. Lina learned to tell they’re done by the color – when they look golden brown and slightly puffed up, they’re ready.
How do I cook a Totino’s pizza in the air fryer?
Wait, do you mean Totino’s pizza rolls or an actual Totino’s pizza? For pizza rolls, same 8 minutes at 380°F. For a whole Totino’s frozen pizza, it won’t fit in most air fryer baskets – those pizzas are usually too big. But if you have a big air fryer or cut the pizza into pieces, cook at 380°F for about 8-10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is crispy. I’ve done it when Lina wanted pizza but I didn’t want to heat up the whole oven. Works great!
How to heat up pizza rolls in an air fryer?
If you’re reheating leftover cooked pizza rolls, put them in at 350°F for 3-4 minutes. That’s way less time than cooking from frozen because they’re already cooked. The air fryer crisps up the outside again instead of making them soggy like the microwave does. Lina actually prefers reheated air fryer pizza rolls to microwaved fresh ones – that’s how much better the air fryer method is.
How long for pizza rolls in air fryer reddit?
Reddit gets this one right – most people say 8 minutes at 380°F, which is exactly what I do! Some Reddit users go as low as 6 minutes or as high as 10, but that depends on their air fryer and how crispy they like them. The general consensus is 8 minutes with a shake halfway through. If you want the real pro tip from our kitchen, check out our Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks Recipe or our Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe for more air fryer snack ideas!
Crispy, Easy, Perfect Every Time!
Now you know how to make air fryer pizza rolls that come out crispy and golden every single time. From the 8-minute cook time to our secret shake-the-basket trick, this method turns frozen pizza rolls into the best after-school snack ever. The best part? Lina’s friends now ask if they can come over specifically for “air fryer snack time.” High praise from middle schoolers.These air fryer pizza rolls have become our go-to for everything – quick lunches, after-school hunger emergencies, movie night snacks, even lazy dinners when neither of us wants to cook. The air fryer sits on our counter now because we use it so much.
Want more quick meals that actually taste good? Try our The Best French Garlic Soup Recipe when someone needs warming up, or make our Easy Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt Recipe for lunch that feels fancy but takes ten minutes. For dinner that’s fun to make together, our Healthy Thai Basil Beef Rolls Recipe turns cooking into family time!
Share your crispy creations! We love seeing your golden snacks!
Rate this Air Fryer Pizza Rolls and join our air fryer family!
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
-
Easy Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt Recipe
-
Healthy Thai Basil Beef Rolls Recipe
-
Best Hot White Matcha Chocolate Recipe
-
The Best Amish Hamburger Steak Bake Recipe
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
-
Delicious Greek honey cake Recipe
-
Easy Chicken Mushroom Soup Recipe
-
Healthy Jamaican Curry Chicken Recipe
-
Simple Pan Chicken Pitas In 10 Minutes
Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
Equipment
-
1 Air fryer (Any brand or model works)
-
1 Tongs (For removing hot pizza rolls)
-
1 Plate (For serving)
-
1 Small Bowls (For dipping sauces)
Ingredients
- 1 bag Frozen pizza rolls – Any brand like Totino’s
- 1 spray Cooking spray – Optional for extra crispiness
- ½ cup Marinara sauce – For dipping
- ¼ cup Ranch dressing – Optional dip
- 2 tablespoon Garlic butter – Optional for brushing
- 2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese – Optional for sprinkling
- 1 tablespoon Fresh parsley – Optional garnish
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning – Optional
- ¼ teaspoon Crushed red pepper flakes – Optional
Instructions
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Preheat the air fryer to 380°F for 3-5 minutes
-
Arrange frozen pizza rolls in a single layer and spray lightly
-
Air fry for 8 minutes, shaking halfway through
-
Let pizza rolls cool for 2-3 minutes before serving
-
Serve with dipping sauces and enjoy
