Soft, warm, and perfectly puffed—this Air Fryer Pita Bread is as easy as it is satisfying. With just a few ingredients and minimal prep, you can have fresh pita ready for stuffing, dipping, or snacking in no time.
Table of Contents
What is Air Fryer Pita Bread?
Air fryer pita bread is a quick, modern twist on the classic Middle Eastern flatbread. Traditionally, pita is made with a yeast-based dough that’s rolled thin and baked at a high temperature, creating its signature pocket inside. By using frozen dinner rolls as the base, you skip the mixing, kneading, and long proofing process while still getting that soft, fluffy texture and gentle chew.
When cooked in the air fryer, these small dough rounds puff up beautifully, creating a light center perfect for stuffing with your favorite fillings. They’re equally amazing as a side for soups and salads, or simply as a vehicle for scooping up hummus, tzatziki, or baba ganoush. The best part? You can make just a few at a time or a whole batch without turning on the oven.
Ingredients You Need
- Rhodes Frozen Dinner Rolls – We love using these because they rise beautifully and have a tender crumb that mimics freshly made dough without the extra work.
- Olive Oil – A light brushing adds a touch of richness and helps the pita turn a gorgeous golden color in the air fryer.
- Flour – This keeps the dough from sticking to your rolling surface and helps you get smooth, even rounds for cooking.
How to Make Air Fryer Pita Bread Using Rhodes Dinner Rolls
- Prep the dough. Arrange the frozen rolls on a prepared baking sheet, leaving enough space for them to expand.
- Let them rise. Cover the rolls loosely with plastic wrap that’s been lightly sprayed with nonstick spray to prevent sticking, and allow them to thaw and puff.
- Shape the pita. Sprinkle flour onto the surface you’ll be using and onto a rolling pin if you’re not just using your hands. Carefully press and stretch each roll into a circle, keeping a bit of thickness so they’ll puff when cooked.
- Air fry. Arrange one or two circles in the air fryer basket, allowing plenty of space in between. Cook until they’re puffed and just turning golden, flipping halfway for even cooking.
- Add finishing touches. For softer pita, shorten the cooking time slightly and cover them with a clean towel. If desired, use a pastry brush to apply olive oil or garlic butter as soon as you remove them from the air fryer.
Variations
- Cheese – Sprinkle shredded mozzarella or Parmesan over the warm pita for a gooey, savory twist.
- Everything Bagel-style – Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning before serving.
- Za’atar – Add earthy flavor by brushing with olive oil and sprinkling za’atar on top before cooking.
- Sweet – Brush with melted butter, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, and serve warm for a sweet snack.
- Spice – Add a light sprinkle of crushed red pepper for gentle heat.
- Seeds – Sprinkle sesame seeds on top before air frying for a nutty aroma and texture.
Can I Store Leftovers?
These pitas are amazing when enjoyed fresh, but they can be stored. Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
For refrigeration, store in a sealed bag or container for up to 4 days and reheat before serving.
To freeze, wrap each pita individually and store it in a freezer bag for up to two months.
Common Questions
Yes, thawing allows the dough to rise and puff properly when cooked.
Absolutely! Any soft yeast dough will work as long as it’s risen before shaping.
This can happen if the dough is rolled too thin, if the air fryer isn’t hot enough, or if the dough wasn’t fully thawed and risen.
Yes! Knead in spices or herbs after the rolls have thawed but before shaping.
More Bread Recipes
Whether you’re looking for bread to sink into dips or soup, or you want to slather slices with butter or Nutella, we have all the bread recipes you need!
Cinnamon Sugar Pull Apart Bread
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Banana Bread
Air Fryer Pita Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- Rhodes frozen dinner rolls as many as you want to make
- Flour for dusting
- A little olive oil optional, for brushing
Instructions
Thaw & Rise
- Place the frozen Rhodes rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet.Rhodes frozen dinner rolls
- Cover lightly with plastic wrap sprayed with nonstick spray so it doesn’t stick.
- Let them thaw and rise at room temperature until doubled in size (about 3–5 hours).
Flatten into Discs
- Lightly flour your surface and rolling pin (or just use your hands).Flour
- Gently flatten each roll into a 4–5 inch round, about ¼ inch thick. Don’t press too hard—you want to keep a little puff potential for that pita pocket texture.
Preheat Air Fryer
- Set your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and let it preheat for about 3 minutes.
Air Fry
- Place 1–2 flattened rounds in the air fryer basket (don’t overcrowd).
- Air fry for 3–4 minutes, flip, then another 2–3 minutes until lightly golden and puffed.
- If you want them softer, air fry a minute less and cover them with a towel right after cooking to trap steam.
Optional Brushing
- Right after cooking, brush with olive oil or garlic butter for extra flavor.A little olive oil
Serve
- Slice in half for pockets, or keep whole for dipping with hummus, tzatziki, or spreads.
Equipment
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love this! Soooo easy!