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Air fryer pepperoni rolls with crispy golden dough, gooey melted mozzarella cheese, savory pepperoni slices, and fresh parsley, served as an easy cheesy snack or appetizer.
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Air Fryer Pepperoni Rolls - Crispy, Cheesy, and Fast

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time8 minutes
Total Time18 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound pizza dough (store-bought or homemade), or 1 can crescent roll dough
  • 24–30 slices pepperoni (regular or turkey)
  • 1–1.5 cups shredded mozzarella (or 12 string cheese pieces, cut in half)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan (optional, for topping)
  • Marinara or pizza sauce, for dipping
  • Olive oil spray (light spritz for the basket)
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Pinch of kosher salt

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer. Set to 360°F (182°C). This helps the rolls puff and crisp right away.
  • Prep the basket. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray or line with perforated parchment made for air fryers. Don’t use regular parchment without holes—airflow matters.
  • Mix the butter topping. Stir melted butter, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and a pinch of salt. Set aside.
  • Roll out the dough. If using pizza dough, dust your counter and roll into a rectangle about 12x16 inches. If using crescent dough, press seams together to make one sheet.
  • Assemble the rolls. Cut dough into 12 equal rectangles. On each piece, layer 2–3 pepperoni slices and a tablespoon of mozzarella (or half a string cheese). Add a tiny pinch of red pepper flakes if you like heat.
  • Seal tightly. Roll each rectangle like a cigar, tucking in the ends to keep cheese inside. Pinch the seams well so nothing leaks.
  • Brush and load. Brush each roll lightly with the garlic butter. Place in the basket seam-side down, leaving space between them. You may need to work in batches.
  • Air fry. Cook 7–9 minutes, until golden brown and puffed. Turn once at the 5-minute mark for even browning if your air fryer has hot spots.
  • Finish. While hot, brush with any remaining garlic butter and sprinkle with Parmesan. Let them rest 2 minutes so the cheese sets.
  • Serve. Plate with warm marinara or pizza sauce on the side for dipping.