These homemade air fryer pizza rolls are crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, and made with real pizza dough, not the frozen kind. Filled with melty mozzarella, zesty marinara, and fresh basil, they're ready in 20 minutes and taste like a hot slice of pizza in roll form. For a higher protein option, try them with my Greek yogurt pizza dough.
Air Fryer Pizza Rolls At A Glance
- ✅ Recipe Name: Homemade Air Fryer Pizza Rolls (Easy 20 Minute Recipe!)
- 🕒 Ready In: 20 minutes
- 👪 Serves: 12
- 🍽 Calories: ~100 calories per roll
- 💪 Protein: ~7g per roll (with Greek yogurt dough)
- 🥣 Main Ingredients: Pizza dough (homemade, canned, or store bought), marinara sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, fresh basil
- 📖 Dietary Info: High-protein option, dairy-free option, no oil, vegetarian-friendly, freezer-friendly
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: These homemade air fryer pizza rolls are crispy, gooey, and made with real pizza dough for a fresher, lighter, and extra-cheesy snack.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
I've made a lot of air fryer recipes over the years, but these homemade pizza rolls might be one of my favorites. They taste like the nostalgic frozen ones we all grew up on - only fresher, crispier, and made with ingredients you actually recognize. Whenever I test new air fryer recipes, this is the one my friends and family request again and again. There's just something about that gooey mozzarella stretch and golden dough that hits every time.
If you love healthy, high-protein comfort food made in the air fryer, you've got to try my air fryer buffalo chicken, crispy air fryer carrot fries, and homemade air fryer bagel bites. They're all quick, crispy, and made with simple ingredients - the kind of recipes that prove the air fryer really can do it all. Give these pizza rolls a go, and you'll see why I keep coming back to this one again and again!
If you want something faster, I also have this air fryer tortilla pizza that's ready in 5 minutes and still gets super crispy.
Jump to:
- Air Fryer Pizza Rolls At A Glance
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- The Ingredients You'll Need
- Easy Substitutions & Variations
- How to Make Homemade Pizza Rolls in the Air Fryer (Step-by-Step Process)
- Video Tutorial (Step-by-Step)
- Expert Tips + Notes From My Kitchen
- What to Serve with Pizza Rolls
- How to Store, Reheat & Freeze
- Air Fryer Pizza Rolls FAQ
- More Air Fryer Recipes You'll Love
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Crispy, cheesy, and golden: Air-fried to perfection for that irresistible crunch with a gooey mozzarella center.
- Made with real pizza dough: A fresh, homemade upgrade to frozen store-bought rolls filled with random ingredients - I love using my lighter, high-protein Greek Yogurt Pizza Dough Recipe!
- Quick 20-minute recipe: Simple to prep, fast to cook, and perfect for a satisfying snack or easy dinner.
- Healthier air-fried twist: No deep frying, minimal oil, no random ingredients, and higher in protein.
- Fully customizable: Add pepperoni, veggies, or your favorite sauce to make every batch your own.
- Freezer-friendly: Make a big batch, freeze, and reheat for a quick, crispy snack anytime.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
These are SO GOOD. My partner and I have made them twice, and they are quick to make and delicious to eat. Can't wait to make them again!
- Sally
The Ingredients You'll Need
- Pizza dough: You'll need about 1 pound of pizza dough - either homemade, canned, or store-bought from the refrigerated section (I used my homemade Greek Yogurt Pizza Dough). Just note, this recipe doesn't use frozen pre-made pizza rolls - you're making real ones from dough!
- Marinara sauce: Go with a thicker, good-quality sauce so the filling doesn't leak - or try pizza sauce for extra flavor.
- Mozzarella cheese: Shredded low-moisture mozzarella gives that classic melty stretch.
- Parmesan cheese: I love using freshly grated Parmesan cheese, since it adds the best, most authentic flavor.
- Fresh basil: Brings brightness and that authentic pizzeria taste.
- Olive oil spray: Helps the rolls crisp evenly in the air fryer without deep-frying.
- Optional fillings: Mini pepperoni, sautéed veggies, or cooked chicken for your own custom twist.
Scroll to recipe card for quantities!
Easy Substitutions & Variations
- Dough options: Use canned or store-bought pizza dough for convenience, or go lighter with my Greek Yogurt Pizza Dough (the same dough I use in my Easy Healthy Pizza Recipe)!
- Sauce swap: Try pesto, alfredo, avocado green goddess dressing, or buffalo sauce instead of marinara for a flavor twist.
- Cheese: Mix in cheddar, provolone, or a little feta for extra flavor.
- Add protein: Fill with cooked chicken, turkey pepperoni, or crumbled sausage for a heartier version.
- Go veggie: Add sautéed spinach, bell peppers, mushrooms, or onions before rolling for extra color and nutrients.
- Make it spicy: Sprinkle in red pepper flakes or drizzle with hot honey before serving.
- Dipping ideas: Serve with warm marinara, ranch, or my Healthy Greek Yogurt Ranch.
How to Make Homemade Pizza Rolls in the Air Fryer (Step-by-Step Process)
- Step 1: Lightly flour your surface and roll out the pizza dough into an 8" x 12" rectangle. Spread about ½ cup of pizza sauce evenly on top, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.
- Step 2: Sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan cheese evenly over the sauce.
- Step 3: Add freshly chopped basil for that classic pizza flavor.
- Step 4: Starting from the long side, tightly roll up the dough, as you would for cinnamon rolls. The tighter the roll, the better the swirl!
- Step 5: With the seam side down, slice into 10-12 1-inch pieces. Lightly pinch the bottoms to seal the filling so the cheese doesn't ooze out while air frying.
- Step 6: Arrange the rolls in your preheated air fryer basket so they don't touch (about ½ inch apart). Air fry at 320°F for 11-15 minutes, or until golden and cooked through (check at 11 minutes and add time if needed). Cook in batches if needed.
Video Tutorial (Step-by-Step)
Expert Tips + Notes From My Kitchen
- Seal the edges well: Lightly pinch the bottoms and sides of each roll to prevent the sauce and cheese from leaking out while air frying.
- Don't overcrowd the basket: Give each roll space to crisp evenly! If not, they will be doughy and undercooked. If your air fryer basket is small, cook in two batches.
- Watch the cook time: Different models of air fryers, like Ninja, Cosori, and Instant Vortex, may vary slightly in heat levels. So, check around the 11-minute mark and add time as needed until golden and cooked through.
- Use a lower temperature: I've tested this recipe countless times, and cooking at 320°F ensures the dough cooks thoroughly before the cheese melts out.
What to Serve with Pizza Rolls
These homemade air fryer pizza rolls are delicious on their own, but they're even better with sides and dips that turn them into a full meal or fun game-day party spread:
- Dipping sauces: Serve with warm marinara, Healthy Greek Yogurt Caesar Dressing, garlic butter, Pesto without Pine Nuts, or my Healthy Homemade Ranch Dip.
- Salad: Pair with a crisp Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad, a Greek salad, or a Kale Crunch Salad for a fresh option.
- Veggie sticks: Add color and crunch with carrot sticks, celery, and bell peppers; perfect for dipping in ranch or hummus.
- Soup: Make it cozy with a bowl of Dairy-Free Tomato Soup, minestrone, or this Creamy Cauliflower Leek Potato Soup.
- Party platter: Serve alongside other air fryer favorites like Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs or Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip for the ultimate game-day spread.
How to Store, Reheat & Freeze
Here's how to store and reheat your homemade air fryer pizza rolls so they stay just as crispy and cheesy as when they're fresh:
- To store: Let the pizza rolls cool completely, then place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
- To reheat: Pop them back into the air fryer at 320°F for 3-5 minutes until warm and crispy again. Avoid the microwave - it makes them soggy.
- To freeze: Arrange cooled pizza rolls on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container and store for up to 2 months.
- To reheat from frozen: Air fry at 320°F for 6-8 minutes from frozen, or until hot and golden. No need to thaw first!
Air Fryer Pizza Rolls FAQ
That usually means they were overfilled or the edges weren't sealed tightly. Next time, leave a small border when adding sauce and cheese, and pinch the seams closed before air frying.
Nope! This recipe makes homemade air fryer pizza rolls completely from scratch using real pizza dough, sauce, and cheese, not frozen pre-made ones. They are healthier, higher in protein, and better for you than the frozen ones!
Yes! To bake in the oven, preheat to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the rolls ½ inch apart and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. They won't get quite as crispy as the air fryer, but they'll still be delicious.
Absolutely! You can use canned or store-bought dough, or try my Greek Yogurt Pizza Dough for a lighter, high-protein twist.
Cook homemade pizza rolls at 320°F for the best results. This lower temperature lets the dough bake through before the cheese melts out, keeping the outside crisp but not burnt.
Air fry for 11 to 15 minutes, checking around the 11-minute mark. Every air fryer runs a little differently, so adjust as needed until the rolls are golden and the cheese is melted.
Yes! They freeze beautifully. Let them cool, then flash-freeze on a baking sheet. Transfer them to a freezer bag. Reheat straight from frozen at 320°F for 6-8 minutes until warm and crisp.
More Air Fryer Recipes You'll Love
If you loved these homemade air fryer pizza rolls, here are a few more recipes to try next:
Did you make this recipe?
If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don't forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!
📖 Recipe
Homemade Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 lb. store-bought or canned pizza dough, I love using my Greek Yogurt Pizza Dough Recipe or a refrigerator fresh one from your local grocery store
- 1 cup pizza or marinara sauce, divided
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, low fat or regular
- ¼ cup grated parmesan
- ¼ cup fresh basil, finely chopped
Instructions
- Prep: Spray the bottom of your air fryer with non-stick spray and place a piece of parchment paper down. Then, preheat the air fryer to 320°F.
- Roll out the dough: Lightly flour your surface and roll the pizza dough into an 8" x 12" rectangle.
- Add the sauce: Evenly spread ½ cup of pizza sauce over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges so you can seal the roll.
- Add the cheese and basil: Sprinkle mozzarella, Parmesan, and fresh basil evenly on top.
- Roll it up: Starting on the long edge, tightly roll the dough like you would for cinnamon rolls. The tighter, the better!
- Slice into rolls: Place the seam side down, then cut into 10-12 one-inch pieces. Lightly pinch the bottom of each roll to seal the filling.
- Arrange in the air fryer: Evenly space the rolls in your preheated basket - they should not touch. Leave about ½ inch between each and cook in batches if needed.
- Air fry: Cook at 320°F for 11-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the dough is golden and cooked through. Check at the 11-minute mark and add time as needed.
- Cool and serve: Carefully remove from the basket and let cool for a few minutes before serving with extra marinara, pizza sauce, or pesto for dipping.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe tested and developed by Tati Chermayeff, creator of Healthful Blondie - where classic comfort foods get a wholesome, everyday twist. A former collegiate athlete and recipe developer, Tati is known for turning classic recipes into balanced, feel-good favorites, especially in the air fryer.
Sarah says
They are so crispy & so soft.... Love it! 😍🥰
Barbara Borofsky says
I added pepperoni and they came out great. Quick snack or appetizer. Had a bit of a problem sealing the bottom but they still came delicious!
Tati Chermayeff says
Hi Barbara - thank you so much for this comment and 5 star review. So happy you loved these!
Sally says
Amazing!!!! I was skeptical because I found the recipe on Instagram but they were really good. Everyone needs to try these.
Brianne says
These are SO GOOD. My partner and I have made them twice and they are quick to make and delicious to eat. Can’t wait to make them again!