Air Fryer Pizza Bagels (Gluten free Option)

These easy air fryer pizza bagels are perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. They can be made in just under 10 minutes! This is one of my go-to dinners for busy nights in our house! These pizza bagels are made with chewy bagels (or gluten free bagels), rich tomato sauce and lots of melty cheese! Plus they are done so quickly since they are made in the air fryer! They are crispy with melted cheese, not soggy at all!

Since I am celiac and eat gluten free, I used gluten free bagels to make these Air Fryer Pizza Bagels! You can use any kind of bagels you have at home!

If you love these gluten free pizza bagels, you’ll also love my french bread pizza in the air fryer and my gluten free pizza stuffed peppers. All of these recipes are easy weeknight recipes made with tomatoes!

Why You’ll Love this Gluten free Recipe

• Doesn’t heat up your whole kitchen. There is nothing worse than having to turn an oven on when its hot outside. I like this air fryer recipe because the air fryer quicking cooks without pushing all the heat into your kitchen the way the oven does. Perfect for a hot, or cold day!
• These air fryer pizza bagels are easy to make allergy friendly! I use gluten-free bagels to make gluten free pizza bagels, but you can use regularl bagels obviously instead if you don’t need gluten-free. You can also use dairy free cheese on top to make these a dairy free recipe!
• Perfect for a quick after-school snack, weekend lunch or easy weeknight dinner!
• Cheaper than buying the frozen ones, and fresher too! The ingredients are simple and affordable.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Bagels: Since I am celiac and eat gluten free, I used gluten free bagels for these Air Fryer Pizza Bagels! You can use any kind of bagels you have at home! You can use store bought, ones from a bagel shop, make your own or even use mini ones! Any flavors will work too! Garlic and onion are my favorite!

Mozzarella: For this Air Fryer Pizza Bagels recipe I used shredded mozzarella cheese. You can choose from shredded or fresh mozzarella. To make this a dairy free pizza bagel recipe, use dairy free cheese shreds instead.

Marinara sauce: Any pizza or marinara sauce works great! I like to use the garlic marinara sauce from Rao’s because it is my favorite.

Ricotta cheese: This gives the air fryer pizza bagel a creamy base under the mozzarella cheese. You can also use dairy free ricotta cheese, greek yogurt or a soft cheese like goat cheese!

Pepperoni: I like to use turkey pepperoni since it is a better-for-you option. Standard pepperoni tastes really good too! If you are vegetarian make sure to use vegan pepperoni or skip this step altogether.

Directions

First, let’s get your air fryer ready. Turn on your air fryer and set it to 375°F (190°C). It’s like setting the oven temperature, but for your air fryer!

Now, let’s assemble your pizza bagels: Take your bagel halves and spread some creamy ricotta cheese on each one. Next, dollop a spoonful of your favorite marinara sauce on top of the ricotta. Now, sprinkle some mozzarella cheese over the sauce.

Add your favorite toppings! For this recipe, we’re using pepperoni. You can also add other veggies like mushrooms or peppers. A little sprinkle of garlic powder adds a nice flavor too.

Place in the air fryer: Carefully put your bagel halves in the air fryer basket, making sure they’re not touching. Set the timer for 4-7 minutes. Keep an eye on the gluten free pizza bagels, you don’t want them to burn!

Time to cook! Let your air fryer work its magic. You’ll know they’re done when the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.

Take them out: Once the Air Fryer Pizza Bagels are cooked, carefully take your pizza bagels out of the air fryer. For a fresh, herby flavor, sprinkle some chopped basil on top. If you like a little heat, drizzle some hot honey over your pizza bagel.

Expert Tips & Tricks

Instead of using these as a quick after-school snack, make them into dinner.  These are great paired with an arugula caesar salad for a complete meal. These are easy to make with both full-size and mini bagels. I like to use mini bagels when making a snack, and full-sized bagels when making these a full meal.

With either cooked or uncooked freezer gluten free pizza bagels, there’s no need to thaw (though you can in the refrigerator if you prefer). You can air fry cook/reheat the Air Fryer Pizza Bagels right from frozen.

I love anything pizza related. If you’re looking for more pizza recipes check out this cottage cheese pizza bowl or my pizza dip recipe.

How to Serve

These Air Fryer Pizza Bagels can be served with a pesto caprese salad or a gluten free crispy chicken caesar salad. I like to serve it hot right out of the oven for the freshest taste.

Storage and Meal Prepping

To store, I let the gluten free pizza bagels cool completely before refrigerating in an airtight container for up to four days.

For longer storage, I love to portion the Air Fryer Pizza Bagels into freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 2 months.

To meal prep into individual portions, divide into separate containers. These individual portions are my favorite for great grab-and-go lunches or quick dinners during the week.

Reheating Leftovers

Leftover Air Fryer Pizza Bagels can be reheated in the air fryer from room temperature or frozen. Frozen will take 2-3 minutes longer.

What other toppings can I use on my pizza bagels?

The toppings are endless! I like to use any toppings I would order on my Air Fryer Pizza Bagels! You can use anything, but here are some more ideas:

• Sausage and peppers
• Broccoli and garlic
• Tomato and garlic
• Buffalo chicken or BBQ chicken
• Skip the tomato sauce for a white pizza

Will different air fryers work differently?

All air fryers have their quirks. They all work a little different, cook a little different, so this recipe is just a guide. Air frying frozen pizza bagels (uncooked or cooked) will take around 4-7 minutes at 375°F. I always recommend staying close by and checking them as they cook so they don’t burn. Some air fryers might have them done in 4 minutes, while others may need 6 or 7. It will also depend on the size of your bagel and the amount of toppings you have!

Do I need to preheat the air fryer?

No need to preheat the oven. This takes so much time and is frustrating to wait for when you only need to bake for less than 10 minutes. Most air fryers require NO preheating! This helps get the after school snack or meal on the table as quickly as possible.

Can you freeze these air fryer pizza bagels?

Yes! This is an easy freezer friendly meal, which means the Air Fryer Pizza Bagels are a great option for a meal prep lunches or dinners! I love to have it ready to go when I need to just pull a dinner out of the freezer and heat it up quick.

Looking for more gluten free recipes?

If you make this recipe and enjoyed it, I would really appreciate a review! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok and Pinterest. Purchase my cookbook Easy Allergy Free Cooking. Join my exclusive weeknight meal plan group for 5 weekly 30-minute dinner recipes. The weeknight meal plan also has an accompanying podcast as well! I would love for you to follow along! 

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