Easy Air Fryer English Muffin Pizzas: Your 15-Minute Weeknight Hero Meal!
Are you constantly searching for quick, delicious, and family-friendly dinner ideas that don’t involve endless cooking or a pile of dishes? Look no further! These Air Fryer English Muffin Pizzas are your ultimate weeknight hero. Imagine getting dinner on the table in less than 15 minutes, using just four simple ingredients, and delighting even the pickiest eaters. It sounds too good to be true, but it’s not! This recipe delivers crispy, cheesy perfection that will revolutionize your busy evenings.
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It’s 5 o’clock. The kids are home, your spouse just walked through the door, and you’ve been tackling a demanding day. Suddenly, that familiar pang of panic hits: you forgot to plan dinner! Oh no, not another takeout night – especially when you’ve already ordered in a few times this week. We’ve all been there, facing the dilemma of wanting a homemade meal without the time or energy to prepare one.
But with a game-changing recipe like these Air Fryer English Muffin Pizzas, those frantic moments can become a thing of the past. If you keep a few pantry staples like English muffins, your favorite cheese, a can of pizza sauce, and some optional toppings on hand, you’re just minutes away from a satisfying meal. This recipe is a lifesaver for those hectic weeknights, or for fueling up during jam-packed weekends. Serve it alongside a crisp garden salad for a complete dinner, or enjoy them as is for a quick and filling lunch that everyone will love.
Why Air Fryer English Muffin Pizzas are Your New Favorite Go-To
These mini pizzas aren’t just easy; they’re incredibly versatile and practical. Here’s why they deserve a permanent spot in your recipe rotation:
- Lightning Fast: From prep to plate, you’re looking at under 15 minutes. The air fryer works its magic in 4-8 minutes, creating a perfectly cooked pizza every time.
- Minimal Ingredients: With just 4 core ingredients, grocery shopping is a breeze and you likely already have most of them on hand.
- Picky Eater Approved: Kids (and adults!) adore pizza. English muffin pizzas offer that familiar, comforting taste in a fun, personal size. Plus, everyone can customize their own!
- Budget-Friendly: English muffins, canned sauce, and cheese are inexpensive staples, making this a very economical meal option.
- Ultimate Customization: While delicious plain, these pizzas are a blank canvas for any toppings you desire, from classic pepperoni to gourmet veggie combinations.
- Freezer-Friendly Staple: English muffins freeze beautifully and thaw quickly, making them an ideal emergency meal ingredient. You can even use them straight from the freezer with a quick pre-toast!
Essential Ingredients for Your Air Fryer Pizza
Gathering your ingredients is the first step to these delightfully simple pizzas. You’ll be amazed at how little you need to create such a satisfying meal.
- English Muffins: The foundation of our mini pizzas! Choose your favorite brand of English muffins, or even day-old homemade English muffins for an extra special touch. The nooks and crannies are perfect for holding sauce and melted cheese.
- Pizza Sauce: You’ll need about 6oz (¾ cup) of pizza sauce. A good quality canned pizza sauce is perfectly fine and makes this recipe incredibly easy. However, if you have homemade sauce on hand or prefer to make your own (try this Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce recipe), that works wonderfully too!
- Shredded Cheese: Approximately 3 cups of shredded cheese will cover your pizzas generously. A blend of mozzarella and cheddar is classic, but feel free to experiment with provolone or an Italian blend. Both pre-shredded and freshly grated cheeses work well. While freshly grated cheese often melts more smoothly, the difference is negligible for this quick recipe, so use what’s most convenient!
- Sliced Pepperoni (Optional, but highly recommended!): For many, pizza isn’t complete without pepperoni. These pizzas are fantastic with or without this classic topping. We typically use regular-sized pepperoni slices, but mini slices would be adorable and might stay in place a bit better in the air fryer.
- Your Favorite Toppings (Optional): Don’t be shy about loading up your mini pizzas! Diced vegetables, cooked meats, and herbs can take your English muffin pizzas to the next level. Just be mindful that the air fryer’s fan can sometimes blow lighter toppings around, so press them gently into the melted cheese when adding them to the hot pizzas.
Simple Step-by-Step Instructions for Air Fryer English Muffin Pizzas
Making these pizzas is incredibly straightforward. Follow these steps for a perfect, crispy, and cheesy result every time!
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Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for at least 3 minutes, or according to your manufacturer’s specific instructions. Proper preheating is key for even cooking and a crispy crust.
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Carefully split your English muffins using a fork or a butter knife. This method helps create those signature nooks and crannies. Place the split halves, cut sides up, on a baking sheet or plate. Only prepare as many English muffin pizzas as you can comfortably fit in your air fryer basket in a single layer. Working in batches prevents overcrowding and ensures each pizza gets perfectly crispy, rather than soggy from sitting with moist ingredients.
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Spoon 1-2 tablespoons of your chosen pizza sauce onto each English muffin half. Use the back of the spoon to spread it evenly over the bread, leaving a small border for the crust.
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Top each half with a generous small portion of shredded cheese, about ¼ cup per half. Ensure the cheese is evenly distributed for a perfect melt.
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Carefully place the prepared English muffin pizzas into your preheated air fryer basket. Cook at 350°F (175°C) for 4-6 minutes, or until the cheese is beautifully melted and bubbly, and the English muffin edges are golden and toasted. Cooking times can vary slightly depending on your air fryer model.
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If using pepperoni, top each pizza with 2-3 slices of pepperoni and return to the air fryer for an additional 1-2 minutes. This brief second cook ensures the pepperoni gets slightly crispy without flying off. After this step, quickly remove the air fryer basket and adjust any pepperoni slices that might have shifted. If you plan to add any other light toppings (like herbs or pre-cooked veggies), do so at this same time.
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Remove the pizzas from the air fryer and let them cool for about 5 minutes before serving. This cooling period allows the cheese to set slightly and prevents burns from the hot ingredients.
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Repeat the process with the remaining English muffins, working in batches until all of your delicious mini pizzas are cooked and ready to enjoy!
Creative Topping Suggestions for Your Mini Pizzas
The beauty of English muffin pizzas lies in their adaptability. You can stick to the classics or get adventurous with your toppings! Here are some ideas to spark your creativity:
Meat Toppings (Ensure fully cooked for quick heating!)
- Pepperoni: The timeless favorite.
- Salami: Offers a richer, spicier flavor than pepperoni.
- Bacon Bits: Adds a salty, crunchy texture.
- Crumbled Cooked Sausage: A hearty and flavorful addition.
- Crumbled Cooked Beef: Great for a “meat lover’s” style pizza.
- Cooked and Shredded Chicken: Perfect for a BBQ chicken or buffalo chicken pizza twist.
Vegetable Toppings (Dice finely for best results in the air fryer)
- Diced Bell Peppers: Adds color and a sweet crunch.
- Sliced Jalapeño Peppers: For those who love a bit of heat.
- Black Olives: A classic pizza topping that adds a briny flavor.
- Green Olives: Tangy and delicious.
- Sun-dried Tomatoes: Intensifies the tomato flavor.
- Minced Garlic: Aromatic and flavorful (add during the last minute to prevent burning).
- Roasted Garlic: Try this easy Air Fryer method for a sweet, mellow garlic flavor!
- Mushrooms: Sliced thinly, they add an earthy depth.
- Red Onion: Thinly sliced or diced for a pungent kick.
Expert Tips for Perfectly Crispy Air Fryer English Muffin Pizzas
Achieve pizzeria-quality mini pizzas every time with these valuable tips and tricks:
- Toasting the Muffins First (Optional, but recommended): For an extra sturdy and crispy base, toast the English muffin halves for 1-2 minutes in the air fryer (or a toaster) before adding sauce and cheese. This creates a barrier that helps prevent sogginess.
- Managing Pepperoni:
- The air fryer’s powerful fan can cause lighter toppings, especially pepperoni, to fly around. Based on extensive testing, adding pepperoni during the last 1-2 minutes of cooking yields the best results and taste, ensuring a slightly crisp texture.
- If you absolutely need your pepperoni to stay firmly in place, you can place the slices directly on top of the pizza sauce before adding the cheese. While this method prevents them from flying, it often results in less crispy pepperoni.
- Alternatively, you can omit pepperoni altogether or simply top the hot pizzas with cold pepperoni slices after cooking.
- Topping Placement and Pre-cooking:
- When adding any extra toppings, do so during the last 1-2 minutes of cooking (the same time you would add pepperoni). This minimizes the chance of them blowing around.
- It’s crucial that any meat toppings you use are fully cooked beforehand, as 1-2 minutes in the air fryer is not enough time to cook raw meats safely. Excellent options include crumbled cooked beef or sausage, bacon bits, and various cured meats. Dice vegetables finely so they cook through quickly.
- Addressing Excess Grease: If you find your English muffin pizzas have accumulated a significant amount of grease, particularly from pepperoni or certain cheeses, simply dab them gently with a paper towel to absorb the excess before serving.
- Choosing the Right Cheese: You can use almost any shredded cheese you have on hand, but mozzarella and cheddar blends tend to offer the best melt and classic pizza flavor. If possible, opt for freshly shredded cheese as it often melts more smoothly, but pre-shredded varieties work perfectly fine for convenience. Italian style or pizza blend pre-shredded cheeses are ideal for these mini pizzas.
Frequently Asked Questions About English Muffin Pizzas
The best way to ensure your English muffin pizzas stay wonderfully crispy is to prepare them just before they go into the air fryer or oven. Always make sure your cooking appliance is fully preheated. For an extra sturdy and crispy base, lightly toast the English muffin halves for 1-2 minutes before adding the pizza sauce and cheese. This simple step creates a more resilient foundation, significantly contributing to a crispy finish.
Given the small size of English muffin pizzas, it’s best to keep your toppings finely diced or thinly sliced, and use them in moderation. This helps ensure even cooking and prevents the pizza from becoming too heavy or overflowing. Excellent choices include diced bell peppers, thinly sliced jalapeños, olives (black or green), and fully cooked and crumbled meats like sausage or bacon bits. These toppings cook quickly and distribute well.
Absolutely! Oven baking is a great alternative. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the prepared English muffin pizzas on the baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the crust is golden. For extra crispiness, toast the English muffins for 1-2 minutes before topping them with sauce and cheese. Then, return them to the oven and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes.
You can prep English muffin pizzas a little in advance for even quicker cooking. Assemble the pizzas (muffin, sauce, cheese, and most toppings) and place them on a baking sheet. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 4-6 hours. For longer storage, freeze them on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag for up to a month. Cook from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time, or thaw partially before cooking.
Delicious Pairings: What to Serve With Your English Muffin Pizzas
While these mini pizzas are fantastic on their own, pairing them with a simple side can create a more balanced and satisfying meal. Here are some easy suggestions:
- Fresh Garden Salad: A light, crisp salad with a vinaigrette dressing provides a refreshing contrast.
- Steamed Vegetables: Broccoli, green beans, or carrots offer a healthy, quick side.
- Raw Vegetables and Dip: Carrot sticks, cucumber slices, and bell pepper strips with hummus or ranch are always a hit.
- Sweet Potato Fries: A slightly healthier and flavorful alternative to regular fries.
- French Fries: The classic pizza companion for a reason!
- Caesar Salad: A creamy, garlicky Caesar salad adds a touch of sophistication.
- Fruit Salad: A simple bowl of mixed fruit can be a light and sweet ending to your meal.
Air Fryer English Muffin Pizzas
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Ingredients
- 6 english muffins split in half
- 1 6oz can pizza sauce (¾ cup)
- 3 cups shredded cheese
- 36 slices pepperoni optional
- Optional toppings: chopped peppers mushrooms, sausage crumbles, bacon bits, etc.
Instructions
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Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for at least 3 minutes, or according to your manufacturer’s instructions.
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Split the English muffins using a fork or a butter knife, and place them, cut sides up, on a baking sheet or plate. Only prepare as many English muffin pizzas as you can fit in the air fryer at once. This will help the pizza stay crispy, preventing them from sitting too long with the moist ingredients.
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Spoon 1-2 tablespoons of pizza sauce onto each English muffin half. Use the back of the spoon to spread it evenly over the bread.
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Top each half with a small portion of shredded cheese, about ¼ cup.
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Place the prepared English muffin pizzas into the air fryer and cook at 350°F (175°C) for 4-6 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the bread is toasted.
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Top with 2-3 slices of pepperoni and return to the air fryer for 1-2 minutes. Remove the air fryer basket and quickly adjust any pepperoni slices that have flown off of the pizzas. If you would like to add any other toppings, do so at the same time you add the pepperoni.
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Remove the pizzas from the air fryer and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
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Repeat the process with the remaining English muffins, working in batches until all of the muffins have been used up.
Notes
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the prepared English muffin pizzas on the baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes. If you want your pizzas to be crispy, toast the English muffins for 1-2 minutes before topping with sauce and cheese. Then, return to the oven and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes.
Pepperoni:
The pepperoni will fly around quite a bit in the air fryer. I tested several methods for including the pepperoni, and adding them during the last 1-2 minutes of cooking is what works the best AND has the best taste.
If you want to keep your pepperoni slices in place, you can add the slices in between the pizza sauce and the cheese. I find the result is not as good when you use this method, and there is very little crunch, but they do stay in place.
Alternately, you can omit the pepperoni or top with cold pepperoni slices.
Toppings:
If you want to add your favorite toppings, do so during the last 1-2 minutes of cooking (at the same time you would add the pepperoni). Keep in mind that the fan of the air fryer can cause your toppings to fly around quite a bit. If you like meat toppings, ensure you use fully cooked meat since 1-2 minutes is not long enough to cook any raw meats. Crumbled beef or sausage, bacon bits, and cured meats are all great options.
Excess Grease:
If you find your English muffin pizzas to have a significant amount of grease on top, simply dab them with a paper towel to absorb the excess grease.
Nutrition
There you have it – a simple, speedy, and undeniably delicious meal that will save your weeknights and satisfy every palate. Say goodbye to takeout guilt and hello to homemade convenience with these fantastic Air Fryer English Muffin Pizzas!
Don’t forget to Pin this recipe for your next quick meal inspiration!
Helpful Resources
- Homemade English Muffins – Bigger Bolder Baking
- Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce – Joy Food Sunshine
- Another quick air fryer favorite: Air Fryer Salmon Patties – Dash for Dinner