Air Fryer Pizza Muffins

A quick and easy recipe for making pizza muffins in an air fryer, featuring a savory batter with mozzarella, pepperoni, and Italian seasoning, cooked to a golden brown in just 18–20 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup milk
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ cup pizza sauce or marinara sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• ½ cup finely chopped pepperoni
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, optional
• Extra mozzarella for topping, optional
• Cooking spray or a little olive oil for greasing

Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer to 180°C (350°F) for about 3 minutes. Lightly spray silicone muffin cups or oven-safe molds with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt. Stir until the seasonings are evenly distributed.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, and olive oil until smooth. Pour the wet mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients and gently stir until a thick batter forms, avoiding overmixing.
4. Fold in the pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella, chopped pepperoni, and Parmesan cheese. Mix gently until evenly distributed.
5. Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared muffin cups, filling each approximately two-thirds to three-quarters full. Sprinkle with extra mozzarella cheese if desired.
6. Place the filled muffin cups into the air fryer basket. Cook at 180°C (350°F) for 8–10 minutes, or until the tops are golden, the cheese is melted, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
7. Remove the muffin cups from the air fryer and allow the pizza muffins to cool for approximately 3–5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Do not overfill the cups as the muffins rise while cooking. Use silicone cups for easy removal. If tops brown too quickly, reduce temperature to 175°C (345°F) and add 1-2 minutes to cooking time. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months. Reheat in the air fryer at 160°C (320°F) for 3–5 minutes.