Crispy Air Fryer Cheese Twists (Printable)

Golden, cheesy bread twists air-fried until crunchy, perfect for snacks or appetizers.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 1 can (13.8 oz) refrigerated pizza dough

→ Cheese & Fillings

02 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
03 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1/2 cup pizza sauce, plus more for dipping
05 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs (oregano, basil, thyme)
06 - 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

→ Topping

07 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
08 - 1 garlic clove, minced
09 - 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes.
02 - On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough into a rectangle approximately 10 x 14 inches.
03 - Spread the pizza sauce evenly over half of the dough. Sprinkle mozzarella, Parmesan, Italian herbs, and red pepper flakes over the sauce.
04 - Fold the dough in half lengthwise to cover the filling. Gently press together to seal.
05 - Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, slice the dough into 8 equal strips.
06 - Twist each strip several times and place in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Work in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding.
07 - In a small bowl, mix melted butter and minced garlic until well combined.
08 - Brush the tops of each twist generously with garlic butter mixture.
09 - Air fry for 8–10 minutes, turning halfway through cooking, until golden brown and crispy.
10 - Garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Serve warm with extra pizza sauce for dipping.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They come together in under 30 minutes with ingredients you probably already have
  • The air fryer makes them incredibly crispy without the mess of deep frying
  • Each twist has that perfect pull of melted cheese and familiar pizza flavors
02 -
  • Work in batches if your air fryer basket is small to avoid overcrowding which leads to soggy spots
  • The dough puffs up while air frying so do not twist too tightly or the filling might burst through
03 -
  • Let the dough sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before rolling to make it easier to work with
  • If the cheese starts oozing out too much during cooking, gently tuck it back in with tongs

Go Back