Name: Air Fryer Pizza Bombs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min

If you love pizza but don’t love waiting for dough to rise, ovens to preheat, or delivery drivers to find your house, Air Fryer Pizza Bombs are about to become your new obsession. These bite-sized pockets of joy combine everything we crave about pizza — melted cheese, bold sauce, savory toppings, and golden dough — wrapped into a crispy, handheld snack that cooks in minutes.

Perfect for busy weeknights, game-day spreads, after-school snacks, or late-night cravings, air fryer pizza bombs deliver maximum flavor with minimal effort. The air fryer transforms simple refrigerated dough into crisp, golden perfection while sealing in that molten, gooey center. One bite and you get stretchy mozzarella, tangy marinara, and savory pepperoni — no plate required.

Unlike traditional baked pizza rolls or frozen snacks, these pizza bombs are fresh, customizable, and incredibly easy. You control the fillings, the cheese, and even the dipping sauces. Whether you’re cooking for kids, entertaining guests, or just feeding yourself something comforting and indulgent, this recipe checks all the boxes.

Why Air Fryer Pizza Bombs Are So Popular

Air fryer recipes have taken over home kitchens for a reason — they’re fast, reliable, and produce crispy results without deep frying. Pizza bombs are especially suited for air frying because the circulating heat crisps the outside evenly while gently melting the cheese inside.

Here’s why people can’t stop making them:

Faster than oven-baked pizza
Crispy outside, gooey inside
Easy to customize with any toppings
Kid-friendly and party-approved
No deep frying, less mess

They also reheat beautifully, making them great for meal prep or leftovers.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Pizza Bombs

Use simple, easy-to-find ingredients for the best results.

Ingredients:

Refrigerated pizza dough
Mozzarella cheese (block or string cheese)
Pepperoni slices
Marinara or pizza sauce
Olive oil or melted butter
Italian seasoning
Garlic powder
Grated Parmesan cheese
Fresh basil or parsley (optional)

How to Make Air Fryer Pizza Bombs

These pizza bombs come together quickly and require zero special skills.

Instructions

Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3 minutes.
Roll out pizza dough on a lightly floured surface and cut into equal squares.
Place a small spoonful of marinara sauce in the center of each square.
Add mozzarella cheese and pepperoni on top of the sauce.
Carefully fold the dough around the filling, pinching seams tightly to seal.
Roll gently into a smooth ball with seams facing down.
Brush each pizza bomb lightly with olive oil or melted butter.
Sprinkle with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese.
Arrange pizza bombs in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Air fry for 8–10 minutes, turning halfway, until golden brown.
Remove and cool slightly before serving with warm marinara sauce.

Tips for Perfect Pizza Bombs

Seal well: Any gaps will cause cheese to leak.
Don’t overcrowd: Cook in batches for even browning.
Use low-moisture mozzarella to avoid soggy dough.
Let them rest for 2 minutes before biting — the cheese is molten hot.

Pizza Bomb Variations

One of the best things about pizza bombs is how customizable they are.

Pepperoni Lovers:
Add extra pepperoni and a blend of mozzarella and provolone.

Veggie Pizza Bombs:
Use mushrooms, olives, bell peppers, and onions.

Meat Lovers:
Add cooked sausage, bacon bits, or ham.

Cheesy Explosion:
Use a cube of mozzarella wrapped in shredded cheese.

Breakfast Pizza Bombs:
Fill with scrambled eggs, cooked sausage, and cheddar.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with marinara, ranch, garlic butter, or pesto.
Pair with a simple Caesar salad for a full meal.
Add to game-day platters alongside wings and sliders.
Serve as an appetizer with toothpicks for parties.

Storage & Reheating

Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Air fry at 350°F for 3–4 minutes until warmed through.
Freezing: Freeze uncooked pizza bombs, then air fry straight from frozen.

Fun Food Fact

Pizza-inspired snacks like pizza bombs are modern adaptations of stuffed bread recipes that date back centuries. From Italian calzones to Middle Eastern stuffed flatbreads, wrapping fillings in dough has always been a comfort-food staple across cultures.