Soft, Cheesy, Flavor-Packed Muffins With a Crispy Golden Top — All Made in the Air Fryer!
Imagine biting into a soft, savory muffin that tastes like a slice of your favorite pizza. These Air Fryer Pizza Muffins are a creative and delicious spin on traditional muffins — but instead of being sweet, they’re full of melty cheese, pepperoni or veggies, herbs, and that unmistakable pizza flavor.
Whether served hot for dinner or cold for lunch on the go, pizza muffins are a win for kids and adults alike. Plus, thanks to the air fryer, you’ll have them ready in less than 20 minutes — with minimal mess and no need to heat up the entire oven.
🧾 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
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✅ Quick and easy — no oven, ready in under 25 minutes
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✅ Customizable with your favorite pizza toppings
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✅ Kid-friendly and lunchbox-approved
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✅ Freezer-friendly for make-ahead meals
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✅ Great for picky eaters and fun to make together
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✅ No yeast or rising time required
🍽 Ingredients (Makes 8–10 muffins)
🧁 For the Muffin Batter:
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1 cup all-purpose flour
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1 teaspoon baking powder
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½ teaspoon baking soda
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½ teaspoon salt
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1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (or oregano + basil)
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¼ teaspoon garlic powder
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2 large eggs
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½ cup milk (any kind, dairy or non-dairy)
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¼ cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
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2 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter
🧀 Pizza Flavor Add-Ins:
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½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
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⅓ cup diced pepperoni or turkey pepperoni
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¼ cup diced bell pepper (any color)
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2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
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2 tablespoons pizza sauce or marinara
🧅 Optional: Add chopped olives, mushrooms, onions, jalapeños, or cooked sausage!
🍕 For Topping (Optional but Recommended):
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A sprinkle of mozzarella cheese
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Extra mini pepperoni slices or veggies
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Light brush of olive oil for crispy tops
🍳 Equipment Needed
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Air fryer (basket or oven style)
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Silicone muffin cups (or foil muffin liners)
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Mixing bowls
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Measuring cups and spoons
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Spatula or spoon
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Whisk
⏲ Time Overview
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
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Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
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Total Time: ~20–25 minutes
👨🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
🔪 Step 1: Prepare Your Ingredients
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Dice and measure all your toppings ahead of time.
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Preheat your air fryer to 330°F (165°C) if your model requires it.
🧊 Tip: If you’re using veggies like mushrooms or onions, sauté them first to release moisture and avoid sogginess.
🧁 Step 2: Make the Muffin Batter
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In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
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In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, yogurt, and olive oil until well combined.
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Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined — don’t overmix!
🥄 The batter will be thick, similar to pancake batter.
🧀 Step 3: Add the Pizza Goodness
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Fold in your cheese, pepperoni, bell peppers, and pizza sauce.
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Stir until all ingredients are evenly distributed in the batter.
🧀 Tip: Don’t overfill with toppings or the muffins may fall apart. Keep the total mix-ins under 1 cup.
🧁 Step 4: Fill the Muffin Cups
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Line your air fryer basket with silicone muffin cups or foil cupcake liners (avoid paper — it may burn).
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Spoon the batter evenly into 8–10 muffin cups, filling about ¾ full.
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Optional: Top each with a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese, a few mini pepperoni, or a brush of olive oil for extra golden crust.
🌬️ Step 5: Air Fry the Muffins
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Carefully place the filled muffin cups in your air fryer basket, leaving space for air circulation.
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Air fry at 330°F (165°C) for 10 to 12 minutes, or until:
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Tops are golden
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A toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean
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You may need to cook in batches depending on your air fryer size.
🔄 Rotate the basket halfway through cooking if needed for even browning.
❄️ Step 6: Cool and Serve
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Let the muffins cool for 2–3 minutes in the air fryer basket.
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Remove from cups and transfer to a wire rack to cool fully — or serve warm!
🍽 Serving Suggestions
These pizza muffins are so versatile! Serve them as:
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🍽 A kid-friendly dinner with salad or fruit
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🥡 A school lunchbox surprise
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🧺 A picnic or road trip snack
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🎉 Appetizers for parties or game day
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🌯 Wrapped in foil for grab-and-go breakfast
Serve with warm marinara sauce or ranch dressing for dipping!
🧊 Storage & Reheating
Refrigerate:
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Store cooled muffins in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freeze:
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Wrap individually and freeze for up to 2 months.
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Thaw overnight or reheat from frozen.
Reheat:
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Air fryer: 320°F for 3–5 minutes
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Microwave: 30–45 seconds
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Oven: 350°F for 8–10 minutes
🧀 Reheating in the air fryer helps maintain the crispy top!
🧁 Recipe Variations
🥬 Veggie Supreme Muffins:
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Use mushrooms, peppers, olives, onions, and spinach.
🐓 BBQ Chicken Muffins:
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Swap pizza sauce for BBQ sauce and use chopped cooked chicken + red onions.
🧄 Garlic Bread Pizza Muffins:
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Add extra garlic powder and top with parmesan + parsley before baking.
🍍 Hawaiian Muffins:
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Use diced ham and pineapple for a tropical twist!
🧄 Keto-Friendly Version:
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Use coconut flour (1/3 cup) + 2 extra eggs, or a low-carb baking mix.
📊 Nutritional Info (Per Muffin – Approximate)
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Calories: 150
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Fat: 10g
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Carbs: 6–8g
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Protein: 6g
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Sugar: <1g
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Fiber: 1g
(Will vary depending on toppings and cheese used.)
✅ Tips for Success
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Use silicone muffin cups: They’re reusable, non-stick, and safe for air fryers.
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Don’t overmix the batter or muffins will be dense.
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If using lots of veggies, sauté first to reduce moisture.
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Let muffins cool slightly for the best texture.
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Customize the fillings — make them your own pizza creation!
❤️ Final Thoughts
Air Fryer Pizza Muffins are more than just a fun idea — they’re an easy, delicious, and family-friendly way to enjoy all the flavors of pizza in a handheld, portable form. Whether you make them for dinner, freeze them for busy mornings, or serve them as party bites, they’re a guaranteed hit every time.
You’ll love how crispy the tops get in the air fryer, how cheesy the middle is, and how flexible the recipe is to suit your tastes. Once you make them once, you’ll want to experiment with new flavors every week!
