Air Fryer French Bread Pizza

We sneak in a layer of garlic butter to take your pizza to a whole new level of delicious! Skip the delivery and whip up your own delicious French bread pizza in the air fryer tonight. Crispy French bread, coated with a perfect layer of garlic butter, topped with ooey-gooey melted cheese and savory pepperoni slices.

Our favorite 2-Minute Pizza Sauce is perfect for this recipe!

What really makes this recipe shine is the homemade garlic-butter base that takes your pizza to the next level. It’s such a simple little step, but wow, does it take the flavor to a whole new level. Go with classic pepperoni or let everyone load up their pieces with their favorite toppings—it’s totally up to you. The air fryer guarantees crispy perfection every single time, so you can say goodbye to soggy crusts and hello to the easiest pizza night ever (with almost no cleanup)!

Ingredient Notes

• French Bread: Choose a loaf with a nice crusty exterior and soft interior. Day-old bread works great too since it crisps up perfectly in the air fryer.
• Butter: Make sure it’s softened to room temperature for easy spreading.
• Garlic Powder: We use garlic powder rather than minced garlic to keep it from burning while still giving you garlic flavor.
• Dried Oregano: Just a little Italian herb note. You could also use Italian seasoning.
• Parmesan Cheese: Freshly shredded Parmesan melts best. Store-bought bagged cheese contains additives that can make it harder to melt.
• Pizza Sauce: Homemade pizza sauce is our favorite, but canned or jarred store-bought options work just fine. Use your favorite!
• Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: Freshly shredded mozzarella melts better than pre-shredded cheese, which contains additives to prevent clumping which also makes it hard to melt.
• Pepperoni Slices: Use any brand or type you prefer for your topping.

Topping Ideas

One of the best things about French bread pizza is how you can top it with whatever you’d like. Just be careful not to overload your pizza with too many toppings—this can make the crust soggy and affect the cooking time. While classic pepperoni is always a hit, don’t be afraid to mix it up. Here are some ideas to inspire your pizza creations:

Veggie Lovers: Load up with sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, olives, and red onion.

Hawaiian: Sweet and savory perfection with pineapple chunks and ham. Those who think pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza can skip.

BBQ Chicken: Swap out the pizza sauce for BBQ sauce, then top with shredded chicken, red onion, and a sprinkle of cilantro.

Margherita: Fresh mozzarella slices, tomato, and fresh basil for a simple classic.

Meat Lovers: Combine sausage crumbles, pepperoni, bacon, and ham for an all-in meat feast.

Kids’ Favorites: Let the kids top their own pizzas with fun toppings like mini pepperonis or even sliced hot dogs. Hey, we don’t judge!

Browning The Bread is Important

One of the most important steps when making this air fryer french bread pizza is to brown the bread with the garlic butter on top before you add the toppings. This not only adds flavor but also helps prevent the pizza from becoming soggy once the toppings are added and cooked.

The quick pre-toast in the air fryer is a game-changer. Pop the buttered bread in for just 2 minutes until the tops are lightly golden and crisp. Trust me, this step is worth it! It gives the bread a sturdy, flavorful foundation that holds up beautifully under all that sauce, cheese, and toppings.

Keeping Pepperoni in Place

The air fryer’s powerful fan can sometimes send lighter toppings like pepperoni flying like a tornado. To prevent this, you can place a light sprinkle of cheese over the top of the pepperoni to anchor them in place as the cheese melts.

Or, if your air fryer includes a rack or trivet, place it over the pizzas to keep toppings in place while still allowing airflow.

Air Fryer Options

Not all air fryers are created equal, and cooking times can vary depending on the style you’re using. The key is to keep an eye on the pizzas. When the cheese is golden and bubbly, and the edges are crisp, they’re ready to devour!

Basket-Style Air Fryers: We have a strong preference for the basket style of air fryer with our current favorite being the Ninja Air Fryer Pro. The toaster oven styles aren’t quite as effective as the basket style and items often take a little longer.

Toaster Oven-Style Air Fryers: These are great for fitting more pizzas at once but may take a bit longer to cook since they have a larger space to heat. Start by adding 1-2 extra minutes to the cooking time and keep an eye on the cheese.

Ovens with Air Fryer Settings: These work similarly to toaster oven-style air fryers but can also take slightly longer. Adjust the cooking time as needed, checking after 4-5 minutes to ensure the cheese is melted and bubbly.