Crispy Air Fryer Cheese Twists (Printable)

Golden cheese twists with herbs, air-cooked until crispy and flavorful—ideal for snacking or entertaining.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 1 can (13.8 oz) refrigerated pizza dough

→ Cheese & Fillings

02 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
03 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1/2 cup pizza sauce, plus more for dipping
05 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs (oregano, basil, thyme)
06 - 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

→ Topping

07 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
08 - 1 garlic clove, minced
09 - 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes.
02 - On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough into a rectangle approximately 10 x 14 inches.
03 - Spread the pizza sauce evenly over half of the dough. Sprinkle mozzarella, Parmesan, Italian herbs, and red pepper flakes over the sauce.
04 - Fold the dough in half lengthwise to cover the filling. Gently press together to seal.
05 - Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, slice the dough into 8 strips.
06 - Twist each strip several times and place in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Work in batches if needed.
07 - In a small bowl, mix melted butter and minced garlic. Brush the tops of each twist with garlic butter.
08 - Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, turning halfway, until golden brown and crispy.
09 - Garnish with chopped parsley, if desired. Serve warm with extra pizza sauce for dipping.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • They taste like cheese sticks but with way less oil and mess
  • The twisting technique looks fancy but takes zero skill to master
  • Perfect for those I need food NOW moments without sacrificing flavor
02 -
  • Do not overload the air fryer basket or they will steam instead of crisp up
  • The twisting keeps the filling inside but do not twist so tight the dough tears
  • Work in small batches, crowding is the enemy of crispy
03 -
  • Freeze uncooked twists on a baking sheet then transfer to a bag for emergency snacks
  • Let the dough sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before rolling, it cooperates better

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