Texas Toast Pizza Air Fryer Recipe

Crispy Texas Toast Pizza Air Fryer Recipe Everyone Will Love

Crispy golden slices of Texas toast pizza dance delightfully in an air fryer, promising a quick and mouthwatering meal.

Cheese melts beautifully across perfectly toasted bread while toppings turn irresistibly golden.

Weeknight dinners just got way more exciting with this simple hack.

Our kitchen shortcut transforms basic ingredients into something spectacular.

Anyone can master this lightning-fast recipe without complicated techniques.

Simple pantry staples become gourmet magic in minutes.

You’ll be amazed how effortlessly delicious these little pizza bites turn out.

Grab a plate and let’s make dinner fun again!

Texas Toast Pizza Air Fryer: Quick, Crispy Bites

  • Quick Meal Makeover: Transform ordinary Texas toast into a mouthwatering pizza in minutes, bringing excitement to your usual meal routine with minimal effort.
  • Kid-Friendly Cooking: Engage children in the kitchen by letting them add toppings and watch the cheese melt, creating a fun and interactive cooking experience that sparks culinary creativity.
  • No-Mess Preparation: Leverage the air fryer's magic to create crispy, golden pizzas without the hassle of traditional oven cooking, ensuring easy cleanup and convenience for busy households.
  • Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Customize these mini pizzas with different cheeses, sauces, and toppings to suit various taste preferences, making them perfect for family dinners, game nights, or casual gatherings.

What Goes in Texas Toast Pizza

Main Base:
  • Texas Toast: Thick-cut bread that serves as the perfect crispy pizza base.
Pizza Sauce:
  • Pizza Sauce: A tangy tomato-based sauce that provides the classic pizza flavor foundation.
Cheese and Toppings:
  • Mozzarella Cheese: A soft, melty cheese that creates the signature stretchy pizza topping.
  • Mini Pepperoni Slices: Small pepperoni pieces that add a spicy and savory meat element to the mini pizzas.
Optional Extras:
  • Parchment Paper, Foil: Non-stick liners that make air fryer cleanup easier and prevent sticking.

Make Texas Toast Pizza Fast

Step 1: Prepare Air Fryer Basket

Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

Carefully place Texas toast slices in a single layer, ensuring they don’t overlap.

Step 2: Initial Toasting

Preheat the air fryer to 360°F.

Lightly toast the bread for 3 minutes to create a crispy base that will support the pizza toppings.

Step 3: Spread Savory Sauce

Generously spread pizza sauce across each toasted bread slice.

Use the back of a spoon to create an even layer that covers the entire surface.

Step 4: Layer Delicious Toppings

Top each slice with an abundant amount of toppings:
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Mini pepperoni slices
  • Optional additional toppings like

* Diced bell peppers

* Sliced olives

* Crumbled Italian sausage

Step 5: Melt Cheese Perfectly

Reduce air fryer temperature to 300°F.

Cook for 3 minutes to allow cheese to melt smoothly and evenly across the toast.

Step 6: Create Golden Crispy Edges

Increase temperature to 400°F.

Air fry for 2 minutes to create bubbly, slightly browned cheese with crispy edges.

Step 7: Repeat Cooking Process

Remove completed pizza toasts.

Repeat the entire cooking process with remaining Texas toast slices and toppings.

Step 8: Serve and Enjoy

Transfer crispy Texas toast pizzas to a serving plate.

Garnish with fresh basil leaves or a sprinkle of dried oregano if desired.

Serve immediately while hot and crispy.

Air Fryer Pizza Tips for Crispness

  • Layer Texas toast slices carefully without overlapping to ensure even toasting and crispy edges.
  • Use the back of a spoon to spread pizza sauce evenly, covering the entire surface for maximum flavor in each bite.
  • Watch closely during the final high-temperature stage to achieve perfectly bubbly, golden-brown cheese without burning.
  • Distribute mini pepperoni slices evenly across the toast to guarantee a consistent taste in every slice.
  • Use parchment paper or air fryer liners to make cleanup quick and easy after creating these delicious mini pizzas.

Pizza Toast Variations to Try

  • Gluten-Free Option: Replace Texas toast with gluten-free bread slices or cauliflower crust for a celiac-friendly version.
  • Vegetarian Variation: Swap pepperoni with roasted bell peppers, sliced mushrooms, or plant-based pepperoni alternative.
  • Low-Carb Twist: Use zucchini rounds or portobello mushroom caps instead of bread as a base for a keto-friendly pizza.
  • Gourmet Version: Top with prosciutto, fresh basil, and drizzle with truffle oil for an elevated gourmet mini pizza experience.

Serve Pizza Toast as Fun Snacks

  • Quick Appetizer Delight: Serve these mini pizzas at game nights or movie marathons for instant crowd-pleasing bites.
  • Family-Friendly Customization: Let kids add their favorite toppings like ham, olives, or extra cheese to make personalized pizza slices.
  • Dipping Sauce Paradise: Pair with marinara, ranch, or garlic aioli for an extra flavor explosion that elevates the entire dish.
  • Balanced Meal Hack: Complement these mini pizzas with a fresh green salad or crisp vegetable sticks to add nutrition and balance.

Store Pizza Toast for Later

  • Store leftover Texas toast pizzas in an airtight container for up to 3 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
  • Wrap individual pizzas tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 1 month for best quality and texture.
  • Warm pizzas at 350F for 2-3 minutes until cheese melts and bread crisps up, restoring their original crunch and flavor.
  • Heat for 30-45 seconds, but expect softer bread compared to air fryer reheating method.

FAQs

  • Can I use different types of bread for this recipe?

Yes, you can substitute Texas toast with other thick-cut breads like garlic bread, sourdough, or regular white bread. Just ensure the bread is sturdy enough to hold toppings.

  • Do I need to add oil when making these mini pizzas?

No, Texas toast usually has enough butter or oil on its surface, so additional oil isn’t necessary in the air fryer.

  • What if I want to make these pizzas vegetarian?

Simply replace pepperoni with other toppings like sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, olives, or additional cheese. Keep the amount of toppings similar to maintain the right texture.

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Texas Toast Pizza Air Fryer Recipe

Texas Toast Pizza Air Fryer Recipe


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4.7 from 8 reviews

  • Total Time: 18 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Crispy Texas toast meets gooey pizza magic in this quick air fryer masterpiece. Melted cheese, zesty sauce, and golden edges make this mouthwatering fusion a game-changing snack you’ll crave again and again.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 8 slices texas toast garlic bread
  • 2 cups (473 ml) shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 80 pieces mini pepperoni slices

Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) pizza sauce

Seasonings and Optional Toppings:

(none in this recipe)


Instructions

  1. Prepare the air fryer by positioning the rack to allow optimal heat circulation for even cooking.
  2. Layer half of the Texas toast slices across the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap.
  3. Preheat the air fryer to 360F (182C) for 3 minutes, creating a crisp foundation for the pizzas.
  4. Once lightly toasted, carefully spread pizza sauce evenly across each bread slice, covering the surface.
  5. Distribute mozzarella cheese generously over the sauced toast, creating a thick cheese coverage.
  6. Strategically place mini pepperoni slices across the cheese layer for consistent flavor distribution.
  7. Reduce air fryer temperature to 300F (149C) and cook for 3 minutes to allow gentle cheese melting.
  8. Elevate the temperature to 400F (204C) for an additional 2 minutes, achieving a golden-brown cheese finish.
  9. Remove the first batch of mini pizzas, allowing them to rest briefly while preparing the remaining slices.
  10. Repeat the entire process with the second batch of Texas toast, ensuring consistent cooking technique.
  11. Plate the crispy, bubbling pizza toasts and serve immediately for maximum flavor and texture enjoyment.

Notes

  • Bread Selection Choose thick-cut Texas toast for the best crispy base that holds toppings perfectly without getting soggy.
  • Sauce Spreading Use the back of a spoon to spread pizza sauce evenly, leaving a small border around edges to prevent dripping during cooking.
  • Cheese Melting Watch cheese closely during final high-temperature stage to achieve golden-brown spots without burning the toast.
  • Dietary Modifications Swap pepperoni for vegetable toppings like bell peppers or mushrooms to create a vegetarian version, or use plant-based cheese for dairy-free option.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 8 minutes
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
  • Method: Air Frying
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 400 kcal
  • Sugar: 5 g
  • Sodium: 900 mg
  • Fat: 18 g
  • Saturated Fat: 9 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 35 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 22 g
  • Cholesterol: 40 mg
Nathaniel Brooks

Nathaniel Brooks

Founder & Recipe Developer

Expertise

Farm-to-table cuisine, Seasonal recipe development, Culinary storytelling

Education

Ivy Tech Community College – Indianapolis, IN
Culinary Arts / Hospitality Administration & Events
Focused on hands-on training in classical and modern culinary techniques. ​


Nathaniel’s story starts in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, where farm stands, backyard gardens, and old family recipes shaped his love for real food. After graduating from Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, he spent years working in farm-to-table kitchens, learning how to turn local, seasonal ingredients into something memorable.
Today, Nathaniel pours that same spirit into every single recipe on Aspiring Culinarian – recipes that feel real, comforting, and connected to the land. When he’s not in the kitchen, you’ll find him foraging wild herbs, chasing sunsets with his camera, or writing about the flavors that shaped his roots.

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