My First Kitchen Mess
I tried making pizza rolls when I was young. I used too much sauce. The kitchen looked like a tomato explosion.
I still laugh at that. It taught me a good lesson. Getting messy is part of learning to cook. It means you are trying.
Why We Love These Little Rolls
These pizza rolls are little pockets of joy. They are crispy outside and gooey inside. Doesn’t that sound perfect?
Making them yourself matters. You control what goes inside. You can make them just how you like. That is the best part of cooking.
Let’s Get Folding
The folding part is fun. It is like making a tiny dough envelope. Just fold the corners to the center.
Press the edges well. This keeps all the cheesy goodness inside. What is your favorite thing to put in a pizza roll? Tell me if you like pepperoni or something else.
The Magic of the Air Fryer
The air fryer makes them so crispy. It uses hot air instead of lots of oil. You get a crunchy treat that feels special.
Fun fact: The air fryer is like a tiny, super-fast oven. It cooks things quickly and makes them brown and delicious. Do you have a favorite thing to cook in your air fryer?
Sharing Food is Sharing Love
I love making these for my grandkids. We stand around the air fryer. We watch them turn golden brown.
Sharing food you made matters. It is a way to show you care. It creates happy memories. What is a fun food you like to make with your family?
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pizza dough | 1 tube (13.8 ounces) | Thinly rolled out and cut into 16 squares |
| Pizza sauce | ¾ cup | |
| Garlic | 1 teaspoon | Minced |
| Italian seasoning | ½ teaspoon | |
| Pepperoni | ½ cup | Diced |
| Mozzarella cheese | 1 cup | Shredded |
| Cooking spray | For spraying the rolls |
My Crispy, Cheesy Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
Oh, these little pizza rolls bring back such fun memories. My grandson Leo invented them one rainy afternoon. We were bored and wanted a pizza. But we also wanted something fun to dip. Doesn’t that smell amazing when it cooks? It fills the whole kitchen with a cozy feeling. Let’s make some together.
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 16 pizza rolls
- Category: Snack, Appetizer
Instructions
Step 1: First, get your air fryer nice and hot. Set it to 400°F. This is like warming up its little engine. Grab a baking sheet and line it with parchment paper. I still laugh at the time I forgot the paper. What a sticky mess that was!
Step 2: Now, let’s make the special sauce. Mix your pizza sauce with minced garlic and Italian seasoning. This simple step makes it taste like a real Italian kitchen. Give it a good stir and set it aside. The smell is already so good.
Step 3: Time for the dough! Sprinkle a little flour on your counter. Roll the dough out into a big square. Then, cut it into 16 smaller squares. Place them on your prepared baking sheet. They look like little blank canvases, don’t they?
Step 4: This is the fun part, the filling! Top each square with a teaspoon of sauce. Then add your pepperoni and a sprinkle of cheese. (A hard-learned tip: Don’t overfill them, or the cheese will escape during cooking!). Be generous, but not too messy.
Step 5: Let’s fold them up. Wet the edges of the dough with a little water. This is the glue. Fold one corner to the middle. Then fold the two side corners in. It looks like an open envelope. Finally, fold the top corner down and press to seal. You can use a fork to press the edges, too. What’s your favorite pizza topping to hide inside? Share below!
Step 6: Almost ready! Give your sealed pizza rolls a light spray with cooking oil. This makes them wonderfully crispy. Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You will probably need to cook them in two batches. I know, the waiting is the hardest part.
Step 7: Cook them for about 8 minutes. Watch for a beautiful, dark golden brown color. When they’re done, take them out carefully. They will be very hot! Let them cool for a minute. Then serve them hot with ranch or extra pizza sauce for dipping.
Three Fun Twists to Try
You can fill these little pockets with almost anything. It’s a great way to use up leftovers in the fridge. Get creative and make them your own. Here are a few ideas we love.
- Breakfast Pizza Roll: Scrambled eggs, crumbled cooked sausage, and cheddar cheese. Perfect for a Saturday morning.
- Veggie Lover’s Dream: Diced bell peppers, black olives, and mushrooms. A great way to eat your colors.
- Hawaiian Sweet & Savory: A little diced ham and a small chunk of pineapple. It’s a tropical vacation in a bite.
Which one would you try first? Comment below!
Serving Them Up With Style
These pizza rolls are a meal all by themselves. But I love making a little party platter. It feels so special. Place the warm rolls on a big wooden board. Put a few small bowls of different dipping sauces in the middle. We love marinara, ranch, and even a spicy buffalo sauce.
For a drink, a frosty glass of root beer is a classic choice. For the grown-ups, a chilled Italian pale ale is just perfect. It cuts through the richness of the cheese. Which would you choose tonight?
Keeping Your Pizza Rolls Perfect
Let’s talk about keeping your pizza rolls for later. They freeze beautifully. Just let them cool completely after cooking.
Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze them for one hour. This stops them from sticking together.
Then, pop them into a freezer bag. They will keep for three months. You can cook them straight from frozen.
I once put warm rolls in a bag. They became one big, frozen block. We had to chip them apart with a knife.
This matters because a little planning saves time. A quick snack is always ready for hungry kids. Have you ever tried storing it this way? Share below!
Fixing Common Pizza Roll Troubles
Sometimes, the filling might try to escape. This happens if the edges are not sealed well. Use water to wet the dough edges.
Press the edges firmly with your fingers. You can also use a fork to crimp them. A good seal keeps all the cheesy goodness inside.
I remember when my first batch was pale. My air fryer was not hot enough. Always let it preheat fully for a golden crust.
Do not overcrowd the basket. The hot air needs space to move. This gives you an even, crispy cook on every roll.
Getting a good seal builds your cooking confidence. A crispy crust makes the snack much more fun to eat. Which of these problems have you run into before?
Your Pizza Roll Questions Answered
Q: Can I make these gluten-free? A: Yes. Just use your favorite gluten-free pizza dough. The method stays the same.
Q: Can I make them ahead of time? A: Absolutely. Assemble them and keep them in the fridge. Cook them within a day.
Q: What other fillings can I use? A: Try cooked sausage or just veggies. Fun fact: My grandson loves them with just cheese and a little pesto.
Q: Can I double this recipe? A: You can. Just remember to cook in batches. Do not fill the air fryer basket too much.
Q: Is the dipping sauce needed? A: No, it is just for fun. They are delicious all on their own. Which tip will you try first?
From My Kitchen to Yours
I hope you love making these little pizza rolls. They always make my kitchen smell wonderful. It is a happy smell.
I would be so thrilled to see your creations. Sharing food is a way of sharing joy. It connects us all.
Have you tried this recipe? Tag us on Pinterest! I love seeing your family’s favorite snacks. Happy cooking!
—Elowen Thorn.
Crispy Air Fryer Pizza Rolls Recipe
Description
These easy homemade pizza rolls are cooked to crispy perfection in the air fryer, filled with seasoned sauce, pepperoni, and gooey mozzarella cheese.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, combine pizza sauce, garlic, and Italian seasoning. Set aside.
- Lightly dust a work surface with flour. Roll out the pizza dough into a 12×12-inch square. Cut into 16 smaller squares and place each on the lined baking sheet.
- Top each square with 1 teaspoon of the seasoned pizza sauce, 1 teaspoon pepperoni, and 1 teaspoon cheese.
- Wet the outside edges of the dough with water (run a wet finger around all edges). To seal, fold one corner up to the center of the roll.
- Next, fold the two corners to the left and right into the center (it should look like an open envelope).
- Finally, fold the top corner down, sealing all of the ingredients inside. Lightly press with your finger to seal (or use a fork).
- Spray the sealed pizza rolls with cooking spray and place in a single layer into the basket of an air fryer. (Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches.)
- Air fry for 8 minutes, or until dark golden brown. Serve hot with ranch or extra pizza sauce for dipping (optional).
Notes
- For a crispier crust, lightly spray the pizza rolls with oil before air frying. You can customize the fillings with other pizza toppings like cooked sausage, mushrooms, or olives.