Air Fryer Garlic Bites
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Air Fryer Garlic Bites are made from dinner rolls, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and savoy seasonings then cooked in the air fryer until soft and pillowy. Serve them as a starter to any meal and watch them disappear!
At our house, we call these air fryer garlic knots. Then again they could easily be referred to as air fryer garlic rolls, especially since they’re made with pre-made dinner rolls as the base. Since these garlic knots are made by taking one dinner roll and cutting it in half, it makes the most sense to call them bites. They’re small but still packed with flavor.
We like to serve these air fryer garlic bites with a plate of warm Penne alla Vodka, with Homemade Beef Bolognese, or Spaghetti Arrabiata.
How To Make Air Fryer Garlic Bites
- Cut each thawed dough ball in half to create 24 pieces total. Fold two pointy ends under and twist to create a ball shape. Place the dough balls in an air fryer basket seam side down, 1-inch apart, placing extras on a greased baking sheet for the next batch.
- Brush both sides generously with canola oil (or spray with cooking spray). Cover with plastic wrap and rest in a warm place for 10-15 minutes, until slightly puffy.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375℉. Working in batches, air fry the rolls for 6 minutes. Brush with more oil if they are not browning yet, flip over, and air fry an additional 3-4 minutes until golden brown. (Adjust the times depending on how your air fryer model cooks.)
- Place the butter and fresh garlic in a large microwave-safe bowl, and microwave for 30 seconds. Add the parsley, garlic powder, and salt. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Toss the hot garlic knots in the melted butter, and transfer to a serving bowl, sprinkle generously with parmesan cheese. Cover loosely with foil to keep them warm, or serve right away with pizza sauce and ranch dressing. Enjoy!
Air Fryer Garlic Bites Tips
- Roll the dough into a breadstick shape instead of a ball shape. Roll each breadstick portion to about 5-6 inches long.
- Follow the instructions on the premade dinner roll dough in regards to letting it rise.
- Check the bites after 5 minutes for the first bake, and begin checking them at 3 minutes for the second bake. Basket style air fryers will generally brown food more quickly than countertop oven style.
- Finely shredded parmesan cheese off the block works best for these garlic bites.
Variations
- Change up the type of hard cheese by using freshly grated Asiago or Romano cheese.
- Add some spice by sprinkling on some red pepper flakes before serving.
- Serve with a dipping sauce like ranch dressing, garlic aioli, or marinara sauce.
- Season with dried Italian herbs for a complimentary bold herb flavor.
What kind of dinner rolls are best to use?
I like to use Rhodes frozen dinner rolls because they are super soft and pillowy, but any type of frozen dinner roll will work.
Storage
Storing: Store air fryer garlic bites in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1-2 days.
Reheating: To reheat, place in the air fryer at 350°F (preheated) for 2 minutes for a crispy bite. Reheat in the microwave for about 10 seconds for a softer bite.
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Air Fryer Pasta Chips
- Air Fryer Pickles
- How to Air Fry Frozen Tamales
- Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
- Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings
- Air Fryer Cauliflower Florets
Ingredients
- 12 frozen dinner roll dough balls, thawed according to package directions
- 3 tablespoons canola oil, or non stick cooking spray
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed
- 1 teaspoon parsley, dried
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Cut each dough ball in half to create 24 pieces total. Fold two pointy ends under and twist to create a ball shape. Place the dough balls in an air fryer basket seam side down, 1-inch apart, placing extras on a greased baking sheet for the next batch.12 frozen dinner roll dough balls
- Brush both sides generously with canola oil (or spray with cooking spray). Cover with plastic wrap and rest in a warm place for 10-15 minutes, until slightly puffy.3 tablespoons canola oil
- Preheat the air fryer to 375℉. Working in batches, air fry the dough balls for 6 minutes. Brush with more oil if they are not browning yet, flip over and air fry an additional 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Watch them closely, all air fryers will cook dough differently.
- Place the butter and fresh garlic in a large microwave safe bowl, and microwave for 30 seconds. Add the parsley, garlic powder, and salt. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.4 tablespoons salted butter2 cloves garlic½ teaspoon kosher salt½ teaspoon garlic powder1 teaspoon parsley
- Toss the hot bread bites in the melted butter, and transfer to a serving bowl, sprinkle generously with parmesan cheese. Cover loosely with foil to keep them warm, or serve right away with pizza sauce and ranch dressing.½ cup parmesan cheese
- See post for storage options.
Nutrition
Serving: 2garlic bites | Calories: 199kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 419mg | Potassium: 58mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 150IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 127mg | Iron: 2mg
Notes
*The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients in the recipe card and a serving size of 2 garlic bites. Actual calories will vary.
*For more information, tips, and answers to frequently asked questions, please refer to the post.
*Photos courtesy of Lindsay Evers Photography.
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