For a great-tasting snack in minutes, try my Air Fryer Pretzel Bites - crispy on the outside with the perfect chewy texture in the center, just as you expect from a pretzel.
The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.
For ease, I make my air fryer pretzel bites with pizza dough; a ready-made pizza dough will work just fine. Once cooked in boiling water and baking soda to puff the dough balls up, I brush them with egg wash and sprinkle some pretzel salt over them. The salt is entirely optional, and you can leave it off if you prefer.
My Air-Fried Pretzel Bites are the perfect party or game night snack. Serve up a bowl of these pillowy dough balls with a side of dip and watch them disappear.
If you like to use your air fryer to make quick snacks and appetizers, then try my recipes for Air Fried Macaroni Cheese Balls, Air Fryer Crab Cakes, or my Air Fryer Cauliflower Wings with Buffalo Sauce.
A Quick Look at the Ingredients
Ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions are on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Dough - for ease, I use ¾ pound of ready-made pizza dough; you can make your own pizza dough if you prefer.
- Water - I cook the dough balls in a pot of boiling water before air-frying them.
- Baking soda - I combine water with baking soda to cook the pizza dough, as it gives the dough a head start by puffing it up and provides the chewy texture you expect from a pretzel.
- Egg - I use one beaten egg to brush the pizza dough balls before placing them into the air fryer. The egg wash gives the dough a shiny glaze.
- Salt - for added flavor and a touch of seasoning, I sprinkle some pretzel salt over the dough balls before placing them in the air fryer. This is entirely optional, and you can leave it off if you prefer.
Tools Needed
- Air fryer – for cooking the pretzel bites.
- Large pot – to boil water for the baking soda bath.
- Slotted spoon – to safely lower and remove dough balls from boiling water.
- Mixing bowl – to beat the egg for the egg wash.
- Pastry brush – to apply the egg wash to the dough balls.
- Paper towels – to dry the dough balls after boiling.
- Cutting board and knife – to divide the pizza dough into bite-sized pieces.
How to make Air Fryer Pretzel Bites
Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cut or break the pizza dough into small bite-sized pieces, about 1 inch thick.
Roll the pieces into small cylinders. Set aside.
In a large pot, bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Slowly add the baking soda and stir until dissolved.
Using a slotted spoon, cautiously lower the dough balls into the boiling water. Allow them to cook for approximately 20-30 seconds before removing them with the slotted spoon.
Place the dough balls on a paper towel and pat them dry.
Beat the egg in a small bowl.
Brush each dough ball in the egg wash, and coat it evenly. Sprinkle with salt if desired.
Place the dough balls in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket.
Air fry at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 6-8 minutes or until the pretzel bites are golden brown and cooked.
Continue to cook the dough bites in batches until fully cooked.
Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, such as mustard or cheese sauce.
Tanya's Top Tips
These tips will help you make the best air-fried pretzel bites you've ever tried.
- Please don't skip the baking soda, as it's what helps the dough balls puff up and gives you the great chewy texture you expect from a pretzel.
- Once cooked in the boiling water, always allow the dough balls to drain on paper towels before placing them in the air fryer. The drier the dough balls, the crispier the pretzel.
Flavor variations
- After brushing the dough balls with egg wash, sprinkle over some dried herbs and serve with a tomato dipping sauce.
- Add some spice; try smoked paprika, Cajun spice blend, or red pepper flakes.
- Sprinkle over some sesame or nigella seeds.
- For sweet air fryer pretzel bites, swap the salt for demerara sugar and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon, and serve with a chocolate dipping sauce.
Serving suggestions
This recipe yields 40 pretzel bites, making a great appetizer or game night snack. I like to serve it with mustard or beer cheese dip. However, you can serve these savory snacks with your favorite dipping sauce.
For something a little different, try my Easy Queso Dip or BBQ Black-Eyed Pea Dip.
How to store
On counter-top: Once cooked, allow to cool and store in an airtight container on the countertop at room temperature for up to 5 days. If you want to heat the pretzels, place them into the air fryer for a couple of minutes to warm through.
To freeze: Once cooked and cool, lay out on a baking sheet and freeze for one hour. Then, place the mixture into a freezer bag and store it for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, reheat from frozen.
FAQs
I preheat the air fryer to 350°F and cook the pretzel bites for 6-8 minutes, or until they are cooked through.
Some air fryers allow the bottom to be cooked while the top is air frying, resulting in both sides being cooked simultaneously. Check on your pretzel bites halfway through cooking to determine if they should be flipped.
Yes, you can cook pretzel bites directly from the freezer in an air fryer.
If you've tried these Air Fryer Pretzel Bites or any other recipe on my blog, please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
Air Fryer Pretzel Bites
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cut or break the pizza dough into small bite-sized pieces, about 1 inch thick. Roll the pieces into small cylinders. Set aside.
- In a large pot, bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Slowly add the baking soda and stir until dissolved.
- Using a slotted spoon, cautiously lower the dough balls into the boiling water. Allow them to cook for approximately 20-30 seconds before removing them with the slotted spoon. Place the dough balls on a paper towel and pat them dry.
- Beat the egg in a small bowl.
- Brush each dough ball in the egg wash, and coat it evenly. Sprinkle with salt if desired.
- Place the dough balls in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket. Air fry at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 6-8 minutes or until the pretzel bites are golden brown and cooked.
- Continue to cook the dough bites in batches until fully cooked.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, such as mustard or cheese sauce.
Amber says
Wow. This sounds really easy. I usually make sourdough pretzel bites from scratch and they are out of this world delicious but man do they take a long time. This looks a lot easier.
Tanya says
Thanks Amber 🙂