These air fryer pizza dough knots with garlic butter are one of the easiest snacks you can make. Golden on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, and loaded with garlicky, buttery flavor.
They only take about 10 minutes in the air fryer, which makes them perfect for a quick appetizer or a side dish with dinner.
The garlic butter is really what makes these special. You brush it on before and after cooking, so every single knot is packed with flavor.
Serve them with some warm marinara sauce for dipping and you have something that tastes like it came from a pizza shop. But way easier and faster to make at home.
All you need is some pizza dough, butter, garlic, a few seasonings, and your air fryer. Let me show you how to make them.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Irresistibly Soft and Pillowy – These knots come out golden on the outside and so soft and fluffy on the inside that you will not be able to stop eating them.
That Garlic Butter Is Everything – The double coat of garlic butter makes every single bite rich and buttery with amazing garlic flavor in every knot.
Perfect for Dipping – The warm salty knots paired with tangy marinara sauce create an addictive combo that tastes like something from a pizzeria.
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 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 into ropes.
Warm dough is stretchy and easy to shape. It rolls out smoothly and holds the knot shape without springing back or tearing on you.
Keep Your Ropes Even
When you roll each piece into a rope, try to keep the thickness even from end to end. If one side is thicker than the other, the thin part will cook faster and get too crispy while the thick part stays doughy inside.
Roll from the center outward using both hands and apply gentle, even pressure. If a rope keeps shrinking back, let it rest for a minute and come back to it.
Don’t Tie the Knots Too Tight
When you tie the dough into knots, keep them a little loose. The dough puffs up as it cooks, and a tight knot will squeeze itself and end up with a dense, undercooked center.
A loosely tied knot lets the hot air circulate through it evenly so every part gets golden and cooked through.
Related Recipes
- Air Fryer Garlic Knots
- Air Fryer Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks
- Air Fryer Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread
- Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites
- Air Fryer Pretzel Bites
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I preheat the air fryer before putting the knots in?
It is a good idea to preheat your air fryer for about 3 minutes at 350°F before adding the knots. This helps them start cooking evenly right away and gives you a nicer golden color on the outside.
If you skip preheating, the knots may need an extra minute or two of cook time, and the results can be a little uneven depending on your air fryer model.
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.