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Air Fryer Texas Toast Pizzas are my go-to trick when I want melty comfort food super fast. Whether it's late-night munchies or kids asking for a quick snack, you get crispy garlic bread and stretchy cheese in just minutes with this one.
The first time I made these was a tired Friday night with no energy for cooking dinner. My family wiped the tray clean and now it's a weekly favorite they bug me for nonstop.
Tasty Ingredients
- Mini pepperoni slices: Get small ones so they crisp up all the way and curl on the sides. It gives a pizza shop vibe and adds awesome smoky bites.
- Shredded mozzarella cheese: You want loads of gooey, melty cheese. Buy it shredded to save time or shred your own for extra flavor.
- Texas toast garlic bread: Pick thick slices packed with garlic flavor. They get crunchy outside and soft inside when air fried—so good.
- Pizza sauce: Go for a thicker sauce that sticks on your bread so it doesn't go soggy. Any brand with bold flavors will work great.
Irresistible Step by Step Directions
- Serve 'Em Up:
- Gently remove your piping hot pizzas from the basket and repeat the whole process with the rest if you've got more ingredients left. Eat while they're fresh for the best crunch and cheese pull.
- Crispy Finish:
- Jack the air fryer up to four hundred degrees Fahrenheit. Pop the mini pizzas back in for about two more minutes till you see golden bubbles on the cheese and the edges go crisp.
- Cheese Meltdown:
- Drop the heat to three hundred degrees Fahrenheit and put your topped bread back in for three minutes so the cheese melts and goes stretchy just right.
- Pile On Cheese and Pepperoni:
- Throw on a good layer of mozzarella and sprinkle at least ten mini pepperonis over each slice. Don’t hold back—the more cheese, the better the bite.
- Sauce It Up:
- Spread a couple spoons of pizza sauce on each toasted slice, getting as close to the edges as you like so every bite pops with flavor.
- Pre-Toast the Bread:
- Bake the Texas toast slices in the air fryer at three sixty Fahrenheit for about three minutes. They’ll toughen up a bit, which keeps the toppings from soaking into the bread.
- Load the Toast:
- Put as many slices as you can fit in the air fryer, but no stacking allowed—let that hot air move around. If you want easy cleanup, drop in parchment or foil, but you don’t have to.
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I love how the mini pepperonis get slightly crunchy around the edges in the air fryer. When I was a kid, my sister and I would race for the cheesiest slice with the crispest corners and it’s cool that my own kids do the same now.
Keeping Them Fresh
Store any leftover mini pizzas in the fridge (airtight, always) and they’ll stay good for two days. Let them cool off first. Want to reheat? Go with the air fryer at three fifty Fahrenheit for a couple of minutes for that crispy bite back. Don't microwave though, or you'll get chewy bread.
Swap Ideas
No Texas toast? Thick sandwich bread or even a halved bagel totally works. Marinara or pesto sauce is a good pizza sauce swap. If you’re out of minis, chop up regular pepperoni or use some other cooked meats or veggies.
Ways To Eat
Pair these cheesy bites with a bowl of leafy green salad for an easy meal. Or serve 'em with crunchy baby carrots or celery on a snack tray. Want something extra? Put out a cup of ranch or hot honey for dunking—it hits just right.
How Texas Toast Pizza Happened
People have mixed garlic bread with pizza forever, but dropping it all in the air fryer gives you crispy edges just like at a pizza place. Texans love their thick, garlicky bread with everything. Making it like this is all about quick family dinners and skipping the delivery guy on Friday nights.
FAQs About the Recipe
- → Is it okay to skip pepperoni and use something else?
Go for it! Mushrooms, sausage, bell peppers or whatever's in your fridge work great. Make it your own.
- → How can I keep my toast from getting soggy?
Just give the Texas toast a quick toast in the air fryer first. That'll help it stay crisp and tasty once you add the toppings.
- → Do I need to thaw the frozen garlic bread slices?
Nope! Pop those frozen pieces right in the air fryer. It couldn't be easier.
- → Can I prep these ahead of time?
They're tastiest when fresh, but you can toast the bread earlier and save topping work for last minute.
- → Should I use parchment paper in the air fryer?
Parchment or foil is handy if you want cleanup to go fast, but you can totally skip it and put the toast straight in the air fryer.
- → What cheese melts best?
Mozzarella is nice and melty, but cheddar, provolone or others can mix things up. Try your faves!