Pin Recipe I discovered these pizza rolls completely by accident one Thursday night when my air fryer and I were in a committed relationship, but I'd run out of frozen appetizers for game night. My sister had been sending me TikTok videos of these crispy, golden pockets for weeks, and something just clicked—why not make them fresh? Thirty minutes later, I had twenty-four little golden treasures that tasted nothing like the freezer-burned versions from my college days. The smell alone had my friends gathered in the kitchen before anything even hit the table.
I'll never forget my neighbor Janet peeking through my kitchen window as these baked, her eyes getting wider with each golden roll coming out of that basket. She asked for the recipe on the spot, then admitted she'd been intimidated by homemade pizza rolls for years. Now she makes them every Sunday and has converted her entire knitting circle into air fryer evangelists. That's when I realized these weren't just snacks—they were conversation starters.
Ingredients
- Refrigerated pizza dough (1 package, about 400 g): This is your secret weapon—no yeast to proof, no waiting around, just dough that's ready to work with and somehow stays tender even after air frying.
- Shredded mozzarella cheese (120 g / 1 cup): Use the pre-shredded kind; it melts beautifully and costs you about five minutes of standing there not grating cheese by hand like some kind of medieval kitchen worker.
- Mini pepperoni slices (60 g / 1/2 cup, optional): These stay somehow crispy and don't release pools of oil like full-sized pepperoni would, but swap them for diced bell peppers if you're keeping things vegetarian.
- Pizza sauce (4 tbsp): Keep it simple here—bottled works perfectly and takes the pressure off you to make a sauce when you're already assembling twenty-four little rolls.
- Grated Parmesan cheese (2 tbsp): This adds a salty, almost nutty edge that somehow makes the whole thing taste more sophisticated than it has any right to.
- Dried Italian herbs (1/2 tsp): The kind that's already mixed is fine, or use whatever you've got—oregano if you're a purist, basil if you like a lighter touch.
- Egg, beaten (1): This seals the rolls shut and gives them that beautiful golden gloss that makes people think you actually know what you're doing.
- Cooking spray or olive oil spray: Essential for keeping them from sticking, though honestly the oil spray makes them taste a little less cardboard-ish than the cooking spray does.
Instructions
- Get your air fryer warming up:
- Turn it to 190°C (375°F) and let it heat for five minutes while you gather everything else. This is when you'll pour yourself a drink, because assembly is much more pleasant with something to sip.
- Roll out the dough:
- Flour your surface lightly, then unroll that pizza dough into a rectangle about 30 x 25 cm. Don't stress about perfect edges—it'll get wrapped up anyway, and any weird bumps just add character.
- Spread the sauce:
- Use the back of a spoon to distribute the pizza sauce evenly, leaving about a 1 cm border all the way around. This border is crucial because it's what seals everything shut and keeps the filling from escaping during cooking.
- Layer in your fillings:
- Sprinkle the mozzarella first, then the Parmesan, then pepperoni or whatever vegetables you chose, then finish with those Italian herbs. The order matters less than being reasonably generous—these little pockets can handle it.
- Roll it up:
- Starting from one of the long edges, roll the dough tightly like you're making cinnamon rolls, but for pizza people. Once you get to the end, pinch that seam firmly so nothing unravels in the air fryer, then take a second to admire what you've created.
- Slice into portions:
- Using a sharp knife, cut your dough log into twenty-four pieces—honestly, don't overthink the math, just aim for roughly equal sizes and call anything between pencil-thin and quarter-inch "correct."
- Seal the edges:
- Brush a little beaten egg on the cut sides of each roll where the filling might want to escape. You're not painting the Sistine Chapel; just a light coat that helps everything stick together.
- Prep your air fryer basket:
- Give it a light spray with cooking spray or oil so the rolls don't decide to become permanent fixtures in there.
- Arrange and brush:
- Place the rolls in a single layer in the basket with a little breathing room between each one, then brush the tops with more egg wash for that golden finish.
- Cook them:
- Air fry for eight to ten minutes, flipping halfway through when they look like they're getting golden on the first side. They'll puff up slightly and turn that perfect crispy golden color that makes everyone stop talking.
- Cool before serving:
- Let them sit for two or three minutes so you don't immediately burn your mouth like some kind of pizza roll savage.
Pin Recipe My eight-year-old made these with me last weekend and got this quiet, focused look while assembling the filling—the same expression he gets reading comics. Somewhere between rolling the dough and pulling them out of the air fryer, they stopped being "mom's recipe" and became "my pizza rolls." He now requests them for his lunchbox, which I take as the highest compliment a kid can give a home-cooked item.
Customizing Your Fillings
The beauty of these is that they're basically pizza in a different shape, which means your brain should stop thinking of them as limited. I've done everything from caramelized onions and spinach to sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil stirred in at the last second. One time I added crumbled sausage and roasted garlic, and my husband literally locked the container to keep me from eating them all before guests arrived. The filling isn't precious—it's permission to clear out your fridge and have something delicious come out the other side.
Timing and Storage Strategy
If you're making these for a party, you can prepare them hours ahead—just keep them on a baking sheet in the fridge and air fry right before serving. I once made a batch at seven in the morning for a noon gathering, and they were still perfect, which made me feel like some kind of organized human being. You can also freeze them unbaked for up to three months; just add a minute or two to the cooking time and fry straight from frozen, which means you're never more than ten minutes away from having snacks that actually taste homemade.
Why Your Air Fryer Is Actually Worth It
I used to think air fryers were a gimmick, one more gadget taking up counter space, but these pizza rolls changed my entire perspective. There's something almost magical about how the air circulation creates this crispy exterior while keeping the inside tender and gooey—the oven just can't replicate that, and deep frying is a whole commitment I'm not willing to make on a random Thursday. It's become the tool I reach for when I want something good fast, and honestly, it's earned its real estate.
- The cleanup is dramatically easier than any other cooking method for fried foods.
- You can cook multiple batches in quick succession without letting oil temperature drop.
- They come out consistent every single time once you nail the timing.
Pin Recipe These little pockets have become the thing I make when I want to feel like I'm actually cooking but don't want to spend hours doing it. They're the kind of snack that makes people feel cared for, which is really what food is all about.
Recipe FAQs
- → Can I make these rolls vegetarian?
Yes, you can substitute pepperoni with diced bell peppers or mushrooms to keep them vegetarian.
- → What type of dough works best?
Refrigerated pizza dough works well, but whole wheat or gluten-free dough can be used as alternatives.
- → How do I prevent the rolls from sticking to the air fryer basket?
Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or olive oil before placing the rolls inside.
- → Can I prepare these rolls in advance?
Yes, you can assemble the rolls ahead of time and refrigerate them before air frying when ready.
- → How do I achieve a golden, crispy finish?
Brushing the rolls with beaten egg before cooking helps create a golden and crisp exterior.
- → Can I add other fillings to customize the rolls?
Absolutely! Chopped olives, jalapeños, or mushrooms can be added to the filling for extra flavor.