Pizza Toast Recipe {Air fryer+Oven Instructions}
If you are short on time and want a quick pizza recipe, this quick and easy pizza toast recipe will treat you.
This recipe is so easy that even your kids can help you make it. It takes 5-10 minutes to cook in the air fryer or oven.
You can batch-make these pizza toasts in the oven, and if you stay alone or with your partner, you could also make them in the air fryer.
They are so easy to make and turn out perfect every single time. You can serve these as a snack or appetizer in a casual brunch or a family event.
It is perfect for game day or movie nights as it is light and not carb-heavy like pizza, but it tastes so good. I would say it is like a low-carb version of a pizza, and you will enjoy every bit of this pizza toast.
So why you should make this recipe
To summarise everything I just said above, the reasons why I recommend you make this easy pizza toast recipe is because-
1. It is easy to make; even kids can help you.
2. It takes 5 minutes to make in the air fryer and a bit longer in the oven.
3. Perfect as a snack or appetizer
4. Easy to store leftovers for a later day.
Ingredients
1. Thick Bread Slices—If you have thicker bread slices, the toast tastes better with all the pizza sauce and toppings; however, if you do not have thick bread slices, you can always use a thin bread slice, which should be fine. If you are making this in the air fryer, I strongly recommend using thick bread slices, and I have used the same.
2. Mozzarella cheese—I have used dry mozzarella cheese for this recipe, which works perfectly fine. You can also use fresh mozzarella cheese. Remember, if you do that, you might want to toast the bread first, put the cheese and toppings on, and slightly warm it.
If you plan on using meat toppings, cook them beforehand when using fresh mozzarella.
You cannot cook with fresh mozzarella for longer than 4-5 minutes in the air fryer or oven, as it would burn and lose that fresh flavor. I recommend slightly warming fresh mozzarella for 2-3 minutes for the perfect taste.
3. Pepperoni Slices—I have used pepperoni as a pizza topping for this recipe to give it that classic pepperoni pizza aesthetic. However, you can experiment with different toppings of your choice.
I have made pizza toast with just bell peppers, and then I remember using a combo of mushrooms, onions, and olives. All these combinations taste good. Just ensure you layer the pizza toast correctly to get the best flavor.
4. Pizza Sauce—You need pizza sauce since this is a pizza toast. You can use homemade pizza sauce like I did or store-bought pizza sauce. Ensure you like the pizza sauce you use to get the maximum flavor.
5. Mayonnaise or Butter—A very small amount of mayonnaise or butter is needed to form a barrier between the bread and the pizza sauce so that the bread doesn’t become soggy.
How to make Pizza Toast
1. Take the bread slices and cover them up with a thin layer of butter and mayonnaise. You do not need to do it on both sides if you don’t want to; it is necessary to do it on the side that you will layer your pizza sauce on the toast so it doesn’t come in direct contact with the bread and make it soggy.
2. Now layer the bread toast with some pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and toppings of your choice. I have used pepperoni as the topping of my choice, but you can use olives, bell peppers, or any other veggies.
I have used dry mozzarella cheese for this step, but if you plan on using fresh mozzarella cheese, then do keep that.
It is best to use them as a topping since they are high in water content and do not need to be melted. They won’t give that stringy cheese effect, like dry mozzarella cheese.
3. Bake this toast in the air fryer at 200°C for 5-6 minutes or in the oven at the same temperature for about 10 minutes.
Once you see the toppings cooked and the cheese golden brown, remove it from the oven. You can cook it for a minute or so longer until the cheese is golden brown to your liking.
Tips on making the best Pizza Toast
1. Make sure to apply the butter or mayo layer to avoid the bread from getting soggy.
2. You do not need to flip the pizza toast at any point in this recipe because when you bake it in the air fryer or the oven, both sides of the bread get cooked simultaneously, and hence, you do not need to flip any of the bread slices.
3. You can experiment with different toppings on your pizza toast and add more meat or veggie toppings. The larger the bread, the more space you have to add toppings. Just be sure not to overload the bread, as it will get messy.
If you try to overload the bread with toppings, add some mozzarella cheese on top to hold the toppings. There’s not a lot of cheese on top—just a few strands to help you keep the toppings intact(mostly)!
How to store leftovers
It is easy to store these; just put them in an air-tight container and store them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
If you plan on reheating them, pop them back in the air fryer and reheat them at 200°C for 4-5 minutes. If you reheat them in the oven, cook them at 200°C for 6-7 minutes.
You can store them in the freezer, which will last you a good month. When you want to eat them, reheat them with the instructions above, and your pizza toast will taste good again.
Pepperoni Pizza Toast
Instructions
- Begin by spreading a light layer of butter and mayonnaise onto the bread slices. It's important to do this on the side where you'll be applying the pizza sauce to prevent the bread from becoming soggy.
- Next, apply some pizza sauce on to the prepared bread slices, followed by a layer of mozzarella cheese and your preferred toppings. I have used pepperoni but you can add more toppings like olives, bell peppers, or other vegetables. Basically customize the toppings to your liking.
- For cooking, place the assembled toasts in the air fryer at 200°C for approximately 5-6 minutes. Alternatively, bake them in the oven at the same temperature for around 10 minutes. Keep an eye on the toasts and remove them once the toppings are cooked, and the cheese turns golden brown.