If you have a block of pizza dough sitting in your fridge and you’re not sure what to do with it, try making these air fryer pizza dough knots with garlic butter. They’re ridiculously easy and taste way better than you’d expect.
I love how quickly these come together. You cut the dough into strips, tie them into knots, and let the air fryer do the rest. No need to heat up the oven for something this simple.
The garlic butter is really what makes them special. It’s just melted butter, minced garlic, parsley, italian seasoning, and a good amount of parmesan cheese. Once the knots come out of the air fryer, you toss them in that mixture and every bite is packed with flavor.
Serve them with a side of marinara sauce for dipping and you’ve got a snack that everyone will love. They’re great for game day, parties, or just a regular weeknight when you want something warm and comforting.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Perfect for Dipping in Marinara – These warm, buttery knots paired with a cup of marinara sauce is a combo that just works every single time. The tangy sauce balances out the rich garlic butter perfectly.
The Air Fryer Makes Them Perfectly Golden – The air fryer gives these knots a crispy golden outside while keeping the inside soft and pillowy. You get that fresh-from-the-bakery texture without heating up your whole oven.
Ready in Minutes – From cutting the dough to pulling warm knots out of the air fryer, this whole recipe comes together super fast. It is one of the quickest air fryer snacks you can make.
That Garlic Butter Is Unreal – Melted butter mixed with fresh minced garlic, parsley, and parmesan creates a coating that makes these knots absolutely irresistible. Once you brush it on, your kitchen is going to smell incredible.
Ingredients
- 1 lb Pizza Dough (store-bought or homemade)
- 4 tbsp Butter (melted)
- 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 2 tbsp Fresh Parsley (chopped)
- 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese (grated)
- 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1 cup Marinara Sauce (for dipping)
How to Make
Step 1
Divide pizza dough into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 6-inch rope and tie into a simple knot.
Step 2
Mix melted butter with minced garlic, parsley, Italian seasoning, and salt in a small bowl.
Step 3
Brush each dough knot generously with half of the garlic butter mixture.
Step 4
Place knots in air fryer basket in a single layer, working in batches if needed. Air fry at 350°F for 8-10 minutes until golden brown.
Step 5
Remove from air fryer, immediately brush with remaining garlic butter, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Serve warm with marinara sauce.
Tips
Let the Dough Warm Up First
If your pizza dough is coming straight from the fridge, let it sit on the counter for about 20-30 minutes before you start working with it. Cold dough is stiff and fights back when you try to roll it, and it won’t tie into knots without tearing or springing back on you.
You want the dough to feel soft and stretchy when you poke it. Once it’s at room temperature, it rolls out smoothly and holds the knot shape without any trouble.
Don’t skip this step thinking it won’t matter. It makes a huge difference in how easy the whole process is.
Keep the Pieces Even
When you divide the dough into 12 pieces, take a second to actually eyeball them and make sure they’re roughly the same size. If some are way bigger than others, the small ones will overcook while the big ones are still raw in the middle.
A simple trick is to roll the dough into one long log first, then cut it in half, cut each half in half, and then cut each of those into three pieces. That gets you to 12 pretty even portions without having to weigh anything.
Don’t Roll the Ropes Too Thin
When you roll each piece into a 6-inch rope, aim for about the thickness of your finger. If you roll them too thin, the knots will dry out and turn crispy like crackers instead of being soft and pillowy on the inside.
If the dough keeps shrinking back while you roll, just let it rest for a minute or two and come back to it. The gluten needs a little time to relax before it cooperates.
Also, if your hands or the counter are sticky, dust them with just a tiny bit of flour. Too much flour will make the surface dry and the garlic butter won’t stick as well later.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I air fry pizza dough knots?
Air fry the pizza dough knots at 350°F for about 6-8 minutes, flipping them halfway through. They should be golden brown on the outside and cooked all the way through on the inside.
Every air fryer is a little different, so keep an eye on them the first time you make these. If they’re browning too fast on top but still doughy inside, lower the temperature by 10-15 degrees and add an extra minute or two.
Air Fryer Pizza Dough Knots with Garlic Butter
- 1 lb Pizza Dough (store-bought or homemade)
- 4 tbsp Butter (melted)
- 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 2 tbsp Fresh Parsley (chopped)
- 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese (grated)
- 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1 cup Marinara Sauce (for dipping)
- Divide pizza dough into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 6-inch rope and tie into a simple knot.
- Mix melted butter with minced garlic, parsley, Italian seasoning, and salt in a small bowl.
- Brush each dough knot generously with half of the garlic butter mixture.
- Place knots in air fryer basket in a single layer, working in batches if needed. Air fry at 350°F for 8-10 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove from air fryer, immediately brush with remaining garlic butter, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Serve warm with marinara sauce.