Name: Air Fryer Pizza Bombs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 can refrigerated biscuit dough ((8 pieces)); 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (grated); 24 slices pepperoni ((3 slices per bomb)); 1/2 cup pizza sauce (plus extra for dipping); 3 tablespoons melted butter (divided); 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese; to taste fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)

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Creamy melted cheese, a burst of tangy pizza sauce, and a satisfyingly crispy exterior — Air Fryer Pizza Bombs deliver all the comfort of pizza in a fun, handheld bite. These golden little pockets are perfect for weeknight dinners, game-day snacks, or packing into lunchboxes for a special treat. Fun fact: bite-sized pizza snacks have been delighting families for decades — think of them as pizza’s mischievous, portable cousin.

This recipe is special because it’s incredibly simple, fast to prepare, and wildly crowd-pleasing. With just a few pantry staples and an air fryer, you can make something that tastes like it came from a pizzeria. If you love easy air-fried snacks, you might also enjoy this tasty take on pizza roll-ups I tried recently: https://recipesfiber.com/easy-air-fryer-pizza-roll-ups/. Try these tonight and watch everyone reach for seconds — they’re that good.

What is Air Fryer Pizza Bombs?

What’s in a name? Air Fryer Pizza Bombs are tiny dough balls stuffed with pizza sauce, cheese, and pepperoni that “explode” with flavor when you bite into them. Why call them bombs — is the explosion literal or just deliciously dramatic? Either way, these are meant to surprise and delight. Who knew that something so small could have such a big personality?

There’s a playful charm to the name, and a cheeky reason people joke that “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” Whether you’re feeding a hungry crowd or making a cozy snack for two, these bombs make a statement. Give them a try and see why the name sticks — chances are they’ll become a favorite.

Why You’ll Love This:

Irresistible highlight: Each pizza bomb has a molten core of mozzarella and zesty pizza sauce encased in a soft, golden biscuit shell, giving you a contrast of creamy and crispy in every bite.
Cost-saving benefit: Making these at home costs a fraction of buying pre-made frozen snacks or ordering pizza. With a can of biscuit dough and basic toppings you likely already have, you’ll save money and control the ingredients.
Flavorful toppings: Pepperoni, garlic-butter brush, Italian seasoning, and a sprinkle of Parmesan turn simple ingredients into a richly flavored snack that tastes gourmet without the fuss.

If you enjoy air-fried comfort foods, compare this to an air fryer baked potato for variety — both are easy and satisfying in different ways: https://recipesfiber.com/air-fryer-baked-potato/. Ready to make some? You’ll love how quickly they come together.

How to Make:

Quick Overview

This recipe is a breeze: flatten biscuit dough, fill with sauce, cheese, and pepperoni, seal, air fry, brush with garlic butter, and serve. The result is a pillowy interior with melty cheese and a crisp, buttery outside. Prep takes about 10 minutes and cooking about 8–10 minutes, so you can have hot snacks in under 20 minutes. The standout feature is the garlic-parmesan butter brushed before and after cooking — it adds shine, flavor, and a lovely aroma.

Ingredients

1 can refrigerated biscuit dough (8 pieces)
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, grated
24 slices pepperoni (3 slices per bomb)
1/2 cup pizza sauce, plus extra for dipping (room temperature or warmed slightly)
3 tablespoons melted butter, divided
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Preheat the air fryer to 350°F for about 3-5 minutes while you assemble the ingredients.

Directions

Flatten each biscuit into a 4-inch circle using your hands or a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface.
Place 1 teaspoon of pizza sauce in the center of each flattened biscuit.
Add 3 slices of pepperoni on top of the sauce for each bomb.
Sprinkle a generous pinch (about 1 tablespoon total spread across bombs) of shredded mozzarella into each center. Do not overfill.
Carefully pinch the edges of the dough together and roll into a tight ball, ensuring no filling is exposed. Press seams well to seal.
In a small bowl, combine 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and grated Parmesan to make the garlic butter mixture.
Brush each sealed dough ball with half of the garlic butter mixture before cooking.
Place the sealed dough balls in the air fryer basket seam side down, leaving a little space between each one for air circulation.
Cook at 350°F for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown and puffed up. Check at 8 minutes; some air fryers run hot.
Remove bombs carefully and brush immediately with the remaining garlic butter mixture.
Sprinkle chopped parsley on top and serve warm with extra pizza sauce for dipping.

Air Fryer Pizza Bombs

What to Serve With:

Simple green salad with a lemon vinaigrette to cut richness.
Classic Caesar salad for a hearty pairing.
Crispy carrot and celery sticks with ranch or blue cheese dip.
Marinated olives or a small antipasto plate to echo Italian flavors.
Sparkling lemonade, iced tea, or a light beer for drinks.

Top Tips for Perfecting:

Don’t overfill: Too much sauce or cheese can break the dough seal and cause leaking.
Seal tightly: Pinch seams firmly and roll seams against the work surface to ensure no openings.
Even spacing: Leave room between bombs so hot air circulates and they cook evenly.
Cheese choice: Use low-moisture mozzarella for less watery filling. A mix of mozzarella and provolone gives a deeper flavor.
Adjust time: If your air fryer runs hot, reduce cooking time by 1–2 minutes. For larger biscuit brands, add a minute.
Butter brush: Brushing both before and after frying adds flavor and keeps the crust tender rather than dry.

Storing and Reheating Tips:

Refrigeration: Store leftover pizza bombs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezing: Freeze cooled bombs on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 1 month. Reheat from frozen in the air fryer at 350°F for 10–12 minutes, checking for doneness.
Reheating from fresh: Reheat refrigerated bombs in the air fryer at 325°F for 4–6 minutes until warmed through and crisp. Avoid microwaving if you want to preserve the crispy exterior.
Shelf life note: For best flavor and texture, eat within 1–2 days, though properly stored leftovers are safe for up to 3 days.

FAQs

How do I prevent the cheese from leaking out?
Make sure to pinch and roll the seams tightly to seal the dough. Use modest amounts of cheese and sauce, and press seams against the countertop to close any gaps.

Can I make these vegetarian or use different fillings?
Yes. Substitute pepperoni with sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers, or spinach and use a meat-free pepperoni alternative if desired.

Can I bake these in the oven instead of an air fryer?
Yes. Place bombs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 375°F for 12–15 minutes or until golden brown.

Are these safe to freeze before cooking?
Yes. Assemble the bombs, freeze them in a single layer until firm, then store in a freezer bag. Cook from frozen in the air fryer; add a couple of minutes to the cooking time.

What size biscuit dough is best?
Standard refrigerated biscuit dough (8 per can) works well. If using larger biscuits, adjust filling and cooking time slightly.

Conclusion

These Air Fryer Pizza Bombs are an easy, crowd-pleasing snack that marries gooey cheese, zesty sauce, and crisp, buttery dough — all in under 20 minutes. They’re ideal for busy weeknights, parties, or any time you want a comforting bite that’s fun to eat. If you’d like another take on this idea or inspiration for variations, check out this helpful resource: Air Fryer Pizza Bombs | AirFried.com. Give this recipe a try, share it with friends and family, and enjoy the smiles that follow.