If you love pizza but want something faster and easier, these air fryer pepperoni pizza bagel halves are the way to go. Same great flavors, a fraction of the effort.
Mini bagels make the perfect base for this. They get nice and toasty in the air fryer, almost like a thin crust, and hold the toppings really well.
The whole thing comes together in about 10 minutes from start to finish. No preheating a big oven, no waiting around, no fuss at all.
All you need is some mini bagels, pizza sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, and a bit of oregano. That is it – nothing complicated.
This is one of those recipes I keep coming back to because it is just so easy and satisfying every single time.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Way Better Than Frozen Pizza Bagels – If you have ever had those frozen pizza bagels from the store, you know they can be soggy and bland. These homemade ones taste fresher, crispier, and cheesier because you control the ingredients.
Perfect After-School Snack – When the kids come home hungry and want something hot and satisfying right now, these pizza bagel halves are the answer. They are filling enough to hold everyone over until dinner.
The Air Fryer Makes the Bagel Perfectly Crispy – A regular oven or microwave just can’t compete here. The air fryer gets the bagel edges golden and crunchy while melting the cheese on top into bubbly perfection.
Ingredients
- 4 Mini Bagels
- 1/2 cup Pizza Sauce
- 1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- 1/4 cup Mini Pepperoni Slices
- 1 tsp Dried Oregano
How to Make
Step 1
Slice the mini bagels in half horizontally to create 8 bagel halves.
Step 2
Spread a generous spoonful of pizza sauce evenly over the cut side of each bagel half.
Step 3
Top each half with shredded mozzarella cheese and a few mini pepperoni slices.
Step 4
Sprinkle dried oregano lightly over the top of the pizzas.
Step 5
Place the bagel pizzas in the air fryer basket and air fry at 360F for 5 to 6 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Tips
Don’t Overcrowd the Basket
Leave a little space between each bagel half in the air fryer basket. They don’t need a ton of room, but if they’re touching or stacked on top of each other, the hot air can’t circulate and some will come out perfectly melted while others barely have the cheese softened.
Depending on your air fryer size, you might need to cook them in two batches. Four halves at a time usually works well in most standard air fryers. It only takes 5-6 minutes per batch, so it’s not a long wait.
Don’t Skip Preheating the Air Fryer
Let your air fryer run at 360F for about 2-3 minutes before you put the bagel pizzas in. This makes sure the heat is already at the right temperature when cooking starts, so the cheese melts evenly and the bottom of the bagel gets that nice crispy texture.
If you skip preheating, the bagels sit in a warming air fryer for the first minute or two. That extra time can dry out the edges before the middle even gets hot enough to melt the cheese properly.
Put the Cheese on Before the Pepperoni
Always layer the mozzarella cheese directly on top of the sauce first, then place the pepperoni slices on top of the cheese. This keeps the pepperoni exposed to the hot air so it gets slightly crispy around the edges, which tastes so much better than soft pepperoni buried under cheese.
The cheese also acts like glue between the sauce and the pepperoni. If you put the pepperoni on first and then cheese on top, everything tends to slide around and the pepperoni won’t get that little bit of crunch.
Related Recipes
- Air Fryer Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks
- Air Fryer Crispy Ravioli with Marinara
- Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
- Air Fryer Pizza Dough Knots with Garlic Butter
- Air Fryer Pizza Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature and time should I use to air fry these pizza bagel halves?
Set your air fryer to 370°F and cook the pizza bagel halves for about 5 to 6 minutes. That is usually enough time for the cheese to melt completely and get bubbly with a little bit of golden browning on top.
Keep an eye on them the first time you make these because every air fryer heats a bit differently. If you like your cheese extra crispy, you can add another minute or so.
Air Fryer Pepperoni Pizza Bagel Halves
- air fryer
- 4 Mini Bagels
- 1/2 cup Pizza Sauce
- 1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- 1/4 cup Mini Pepperoni Slices
- 1 tsp Dried Oregano
- Slice the mini bagels in half horizontally to create 8 bagel halves.
- Spread a generous spoonful of pizza sauce evenly over the cut side of each bagel half.
- Top each half with shredded mozzarella cheese and a few mini pepperoni slices.
- Sprinkle dried oregano lightly over the top of the pizzas.
- Place the bagel pizzas in the air fryer basket and air fry at 360F for 5 to 6 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.