French Bread Pizza in the Air Fryer

I make homemade French bread pizza in the air fryer whenever I’m craving pizza but don’t want to wait for delivery! My recipe is ready in 10 minutes, and my whole family goes crazy for this easy dinner!

My Easy Recipe for Air Fryer French Bread Pizza

I love to make a good French bread pizza. But, about 5 years ago, I realized I had never tried French bread pizza in the air fryer.

I love getting it super crispy, so air frying it only made sense. Turns out, this way not only gets the bread crispier, but it also takes less time than baking it in the oven! And even shorter when I count in the full oven preheating time too.

I created it to only be a few ingredients, so it’s super easy and really customizable too. My daughter Leah loves having hers with pepperoni while my son Connor prefers his with just cheese.

For more delicious pizza recipes, check out my air fryer tortilla pizza, air fryer pizza, air fryer frozen pizza rolls, and pizza dip!

Air Fry French Bread Pizza Ingredients

• French bread loaf – I slice it lengthwise so each piece has enough surface area for toppings and a sturdy base.
• Marinara sauce – I use the sauce sparingly to add flavor without it soaking into the bread and making it soggy.
• Shredded mozzarella cheese – I like mozzarella because it melts evenly and gives me that classic pizza pull.
• Italian seasoning – A quick sprinkle adds flavor to my easy recipe.
• Pepperoni – I love this classic topping, but I also like to mix it up with other toppings depending on what everyone is in the mood for.

How to Make French Bread Pizza in the Air Fryer

A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.

STEP ONE: Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees.

STEP TWO: Slice the french loaf in half, then cut lengthwise for 4 total pieces. If necessary, slice off extra so the bread fits in the air fryer.

STEP THREE: Once the air fryer is heated, place 2 pieces of bread in the air fryer cook them for 2 minutes. This helps toast the bread so it get nice and crispy and not mushy from the tomato sauce.

STEP FOUR: Carefully remove the loaf pieces, then add the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and shredded mozzarella. Air fry it for 4-5 minutes.

STEP FIVE: Turn the air fryer off, open it, and place the pepperoni slices on the French bread pizza.

STEP SIX: Close the air fryer for about 1 minute to allow the pepperoni to melt into the cheese.

Tips for the Best Air Fryer Pizza

• To prevent soggy bread, I air fry the bread by itself first so it crisps up a little before adding sauce and toppings.
• If the bread tilts, I lean it against the inside of the air fryer basket or prop it with a toothpick.
• To keep the cheese in place, I press it lightly into the sauce before air frying.
• If I want an extra crispy crust, I brush the cut side of the bread lightly with olive oil.
• When cooking multiple batches, I stick the finished French bread pizzas in the oven on WARM so it stays hot without overcooking.

Topping Ideas

When I want to add a little more flavor to my easy recipe, one of my favorite variations is grabbing store-bought white garlic sauce and brushing it onto the bread with the marinara. So good!

But I also love throwing on some mushrooms, bell peppers, or olives when I’m in the mood for more veggies.

To add protein, anything already cooked and leftover in my fridge is fair game. I’ve used sausage, shredded chicken, crumbled bacon, even ground beef!

If I’m craving some heat, a little crushed red pepper or some hot honey always does the trick.

How to Make Frozen French Bread Pizza in the Air Fryer

If I’m making a store-bought French bread pizza like Stouffer’s or Red Baron, I start by preheating my air fryer to 350 degrees F. Once it’s ready, I place the frozen pizza in the air fryer and cook for about 6 minutes until it’s nice and hot!

French Bread Pizza in the Air Fryer FAQs

How do I salvage overcooked cheese?

If the cheese goes a little too far, I just scrape off the darkest spots and add a fresh sprinkle of mozzarella before serving. It’s a quick fix that saves the whole pizza!

Is there a way to make the bottom of my French bread crispier?

I make sure the bread sits flat in the basket and always pre-crisp it before adding toppings. If I really want to make sure the bottom has a nice crunch, I’ll flip the bread crust-side up prior to adding any toppings and let it air fry for about 2 minutes to crisp up the bottom of the bread.

How do I store leftover air fryer french bread pizza?

I let my air fryer French bread pizza leftovers fully cool, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. It’s great for a quick lunch! The key is to make sure the pizza is room temperature to prevent condensation that could make the bread soggy.

How to reheat French bread pizza in the air fryer

I reheat leftovers in the air fryer so the crust gets crispy again instead of soggy! I preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F, place 2 leftover pieces of French bread pizza in the air fryer at a time, and air fry for 3-4 minutes until they’re heated all the way through.

More Easy Air Fryer Dinner Recipes

• Air fryer new york strip
• Air fryer stuffed peppers
• AIr fryer chicken parmesan
• Air fryer chicken breast
• Air fryer hamburgers

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