How to Make Tall and Soft Air Fryer Pizza

Air Fryer Pizza is a quick and delicious way to enjoy homemade pizza with a soft, airy crust and a perfectly cooked topping. Thanks to a long dough rise and the high heat of the air fryer, this recipe creates a tall and fluffy pizza base with a golden exterior.

Topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, olive oil, and fresh basil, this pizza brings the flavors of a traditional Italian pizzeria into your kitchen with the convenience of modern cooking.

Why Everyone Will Love This Recipe

This air fryer pizza delivers everything pizza lovers want: a soft and pillowy crust, flavorful tomato sauce, and melted cheese. The slow rising process gives the dough a light texture, while the air fryer creates a beautifully cooked base in less time than a traditional oven.

It’s also a fun recipe to customize. You can add your favorite toppings, prepare individual pizzas, or enjoy it as a simple Margherita-style pizza with classic Italian flavors.

What Is Air Fryer Pizza?

Air Fryer Pizza is a modern adaptation of traditional Italian pizza-making techniques, using the air fryer to recreate the high-heat environment needed for a crispy outside and soft interior. Pizza itself originated in Naples, Italy, where simple flatbreads topped with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil became a symbol of Italian cuisine.

The classic Margherita pizza, with its red tomatoes, white mozzarella, and green basil, is traditionally associated with honoring Queen Margherita of Italy in the late 19th century. While air fryers are a much more recent invention, this cooking method allows home cooks to enjoy pizza with a texture inspired by traditional baking techniques.

Cooking Tips

• Use lukewarm water when activating the yeast because the right temperature helps the yeast work properly and supports a good rise without damaging it.
• Allow enough time for the dough to rise because the fermentation process is what creates the light, airy texture that makes this pizza soft and fluffy.
• Do not worry if the dough feels very soft after the first mixing stage because resting allows the flour to absorb the liquid and makes the dough easier to handle.
• Knead the dough thoroughly after resting because developing the gluten network helps create a strong structure that traps air during cooking.
• Add the oil and salt only after the dough has started developing because this helps the ingredients incorporate more evenly and supports better dough elasticity.
• Handle the dough gently when shaping the pizza because pressing too aggressively can remove the air bubbles created during fermentation.
• Preheat the air fryer if your model requires it because a hot cooking environment helps the pizza rise quickly and develop a golden crust.
• Add the mozzarella after the initial cooking time because this prevents excess moisture from making the crust soft and allows the cheese to melt perfectly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use Dry Yeast Instead of Fresh Yeast?

Yes, instant or active dry yeast can be used instead of fresh yeast. The quantity may need adjustment depending on the type used, and dry yeast should usually be mixed according to the package instructions to ensure proper activation.

Can I Prepare the Dough Ahead of Time?

Yes, preparing the dough in advance can actually improve the flavor because a longer fermentation period allows the dough to develop more aroma and a lighter texture. Keep the dough covered in the refrigerator and allow it to come closer to room temperature before shaping.

Can I Add Other Pizza Toppings?

Absolutely. You can customize this pizza with mushrooms, vegetables, cooked ham, olives, peppers, or other toppings. Avoid adding too many ingredients at once because a heavy topping can prevent the dough from cooking evenly.

Can I Make This Pizza Without an Air Fryer?

Yes, you can bake it in a traditional oven at a high temperature. The texture may vary slightly, but a properly risen dough will still create a soft and flavorful homemade pizza.

Why Is My Pizza Dough Too Sticky?

A soft dough is normal for this recipe because it helps create a fluffy crust. If it is difficult to handle, lightly oil your hands or work surface rather than adding too much flour, which could make the final pizza denser.

How to Store

Store leftover air fryer pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat it in the air fryer for a few minutes to help restore the crisp exterior and warm the topping evenly.

How to Freeze

Freeze cooked pizza slices once completely cooled by wrapping them individually and placing them in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month. Reheat directly in the air fryer or oven until hot and crispy.

How to Make Air Fryer Pizza

To prepare pizza in an air fryer, first sift the flours into a bowl, then take 50 g of a mixture of type 0 and Manitoba flour and set aside.

Dissolve the crumbled brewer's yeast in a glass with 2 tablespoons of warm water taken from the total amount of the recipe, then add the granulated sugar and mix carefully.

Pour the resulting mixture into the bowl with the flours.

Also add the remaining water and mix with a spoon until you get a soft mixture.

Cover with cling film and let it rise at room temperature for about 4 hours.

Once doubled in volume, transfer the dough into the bowl of a stand mixer.

Add the flour kept aside and work with the whisk until you obtain a rather sticky mixture.

Work the dough briefly on the work surface, then place it back into the mixer bowl.

Add the salt.

Pour the extra virgin olive oil and continue kneading until you obtain a soft dough.

Place the dough on an oiled cutting board, cover with a clean cotton cloth and let it rest for about 10 minutes.

Then divide the dough in half with a cutter.

Transfer each portion of dough into an oiled bowl, cover with cling film and let it rise at room temperature for about a couple of hours.

At this point, roll out the first piece of pizza dough inside an oiled baking pan of about 18 cm in diameter.

Season the base with the peeled tomatoes, previously crushed with the prongs of a fork and seasoned with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt, then transfer the pan to the air fryer basket and cook the pizza at 400°F (205°C) for about 12 minutes.

Once the time has passed, open the air fryer basket and fill the pizza with the well-squeezed mozzarella cut into pieces and continue cooking until the mozzarella has completely melted.

When finished, open the basket and take out the pizza.

Place the air fryer pizza on a cutting board, garnish with a sprig of fresh basil, bring to the table and serve. Enjoy!