Air Fryer Vegan English Muffin Pizzas

Equipment

• Air Fryer: Basket style or oven-style air fryer
• Silicone Tongs: For safely removing hot pizzas from the basket
• Small Pastry Brush or Spoon: For spreading sauce and oil
• Baking Sheet / Cutting Board: For assembling pizzas prior to frying

Ingredients

The Base & Sauce

• 2 Whole-Wheat or Gluten-Free English Muffins , split in half (4 halves total)
• 1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil (for pre-toasting the muffin bases)
• 1/2 cup Organic Pizza Sauce or Marinara (thick sauces prevent sogginess)
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/2 tsp Dried Italian Seasoning (blend of oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary)

Cheese & Protein Toppings

• 3/4 cup Vegan Shredded Mozzarella (commercial melt-friendly brand or homemade shredded cashew mozzarella)
• 1/3 cup Plant-Based Pepperoni , thinly sliced or diced small
• 2 tbsp Nutritional Yeast (optional, for an extra nutty, savory depth)

Fresh Veggies & Finishes

• 1/4 cup Bell Peppers (red or green), finely diced
• 4-5 Cremini Mushrooms , thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp Black Olives , sliced
• Fresh Basil Leaves , torn for garnish
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes , to taste

Instructions

1. Pre-Toast the English Muffin Bases Pre-heat your air fryer to $400^\circ\text{F}$ ( $200^\circ\text{C}$ ) for 2 minutes.
2. Split the English muffins in half using a fork to create textured crannies. Brush the cut sides lightly with extra virgin olive oil.
3. Place the English muffin halves cut-side up in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
4. Air Fry at $400^\circ\text{F}$ for 2 minutes (Intensity: High). Pre-toasting creates a moisture barrier so the pizza sauce does not make the dough soggy.
5. Season and Sauce the Bases
6. Carefully remove the crisp muffin bases using tongs and set them on a clean work surface or cutting board.
7. Sprinkle garlic powder and dried Italian seasoning evenly over the toasted surfaces.
8. Spoon 2 tablespoons of pizza sauce onto each half, spreading it gently to the edges.
9. Layer Cheese and Toppings
10. Divide the vegan shredded mozzarella evenly among the four halves, completely covering the sauce.
11. Top with plant-based pepperoni slices, diced bell peppers, sliced cremini mushrooms, and black olives.
12. Gently press the toppings into the melted cheese layer with the back of a spoon to keep light toppings from flying around in the high-velocity convection air flow.
13. Air Fry to Bubbly Perfection
14. Arrange the assembled mini pizzas back into the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap. Work in batches if your air fryer basket is smaller.
15. Air Fry at $380^\circ\text{F}$ ( $190^\circ\text{C}$ ) for 3 to 4 minutes (Intensity: Medium-High Circulation).
16. Check at the 3-minute mark: the vegan cheese should be fully melted, bubbly, and slightly browned around the edges, with crisp pepperoni edges.
17. Garnish and Rest
18. Use silicone tongs to transfer the hot English muffin pizzas to a cutting board.
19. Garnish immediately with fresh torn basil, a sprinkle of nutritional yeast, and crushed red pepper flakes for heat.
20. Let rest for 1 to 2 minutes so the molten vegan cheese sets slightly before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 310 kcal — · Protein: 14 g 28% · Fat: 12 g 15% · Carbohydrates: 38 g 14% Dietary · Saturated Fat: 3.5 g 18% · Fiber: 7 g 25% · Sugar: 5 g — Includes Added · Sodium: 680 mg 30%