All the pizza night fun, zero rolling pin required — these Pepperoni Pizza Boats bake up in the air fryer with rich sauce, gooey stretchy mozzarella, and crispy pepperoni tucked inside soft golden buns. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser for kids and game-day alike.
Ingredients
- 4 soft sub-style buns or hoagie rolls
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded low-moisture mozzarella
- 24-28 pepperoni slices
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan
- Fresh basil leaves, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Hollow the buns: Slice the tops off the buns and gently hollow out some of the soft interior to make room for the filling.
- Fill: Spread pizza sauce inside each bun, add a layer of mozzarella, tuck in the pepperoni slices, and top with more mozzarella.
- Season: Brush the outside with olive oil, sprinkle with Italian seasoning and Parmesan.
- Air fry: Cook at 370°F for 6-8 minutes until the buns are golden and the cheese is bubbling and browned.
- Serve: Cool 2 minutes, then serve warm with extra pizza sauce for dipping.
Pro tip: Use low-moisture mozzarella, not fresh — it melts into that perfect stretchy blanket without waterlogging the buns.
Advertisement
Estimated nutrition per serving: 390 calories, 18g protein, 38g carbs, 19g fat.
