Making a Frozen Pretzel in Air Fryer is so easy! Perfectly soft and salty, air fryer frozen pretzels are a wonderful snack that can be whipped up in just minutes, no excess oil or deep frying required.

closeup: two cooked frozen pretzels in air fryer stacked on a black plate
Save This Recipe Form

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email below & I will send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get more great recipes from me on occasion!

Frozen Pretzel in Air Fryer

Frozen pretzels are the perfect snack to make in your air fryer. They’re quick, easy, and super delicious. Plus, they make a great alternative to traditional fried snacks like French fries or potato chips.

I have been making these for years, and after a lot of trial and error, I figured out that cooking your soft pretzels in the air fryer is honestly the best method there is!

If you have ever tried to microwave frozen pretzels, you know that they don’t come out very well. They often taste gummy and can sometimes get overcooked in a few places. The goal with a delicious soft pretzel is to have a tender, chewy center with a crispy outside. The air fryer is the best way to achieve that!

And in case you’re looking for more Air Fryer Pretzel Recipes, try some of my other favorites next: AIR FRYER CINNAMON SUGAR PRETZELS, AIR FRYER BITE-SIZE PRETZELS, AIR FRYER PRETZEL DOGS, AIR FRYER PRETZEL CRUSTED CHICKEN TENDERS, and AIR FRYER SUPERPRETZEL BITES.

Why You’ll Love Frozen Pretzels in Air Fryer

  • Ready in under 10 minutes
  • Much better results than the microwave
  • Perfect for at-home snacking, sleepovers, and movie night
  • Very minimal ingredients
  • Always soft, never gummy
  • Family-friendly — my kids love these!

Ingredients Needed for Air Fryer Frozen Pretzels

Once you’ve secured the pretzels, you don’t need a whole lot else to make my frozen pretzels air fryer recipe!

two boxes of frozen pretzels on a kitchen counter

For complete ingredients and quantities, as well as the nutritional informationkeep on scrolling until you get to the bottom with a printable recipe card.

  • Frozen Pretzels: You can choose your favorite brand and shape of soft frozen pretzels for this recipe. It will work with any brand!
  • Coarse Salt: Most frozen pretzels come with a small package of salt right inside the box. If yours didn’t, you can use coarse salt or pretzel salt.
  • Dipping Sauces: Totally optional, but totally delicious. My family loves melted butter, cheese sauce, and a variety of mustards. Choose your favorites!

My favorite brands of frozen pretzels

There are so many great frozen pretzels to choose from! If you need help deciding at the store, some of my favorites are: 

How to Make Frozen Soft Pretzels in Air Fryer

You can use any model (Ninja Foodi, Instant Pot Vortex, Power XL, Instant Pot Crisp Lid, etc.) to make a frozen pretzel in air fryer!

air fryer frozen pretzels in air fryer basket

Step 1: Place the frozen pretzels in air fryer

Remove your pretzels from the packaging and arrange in your air fryer basket, being careful not to overcrowd it.

Step 2: Add the salt

Brush some water on top of each frozen pretzel in air fryer, then sprinkle with salt.

Step 3: Air fry

Set the temperature to 320 degrees F and air fry for 5 minutes. Serve immediately with your dipping sauces of choice and enjoy!

How long to air fry pretzels

The exact cooking times will depend on how thick your pretzel is. On average, it should take around 3-5 minutes. Here are some tips for other sizes and variations:

  • Large frozen soft pretzels: 3-5 minutes at 320 degrees F
  • Frozen soft pretzel rods: 2-4 minutes at 320 degrees F
  • Frozen soft pretzel bites: 2-4 minutes at 320 degrees F
  • Frozen pretzel dogs: 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees F
  • Frozen cheese filled pretzels: 8-10 minutes at 330 degrees F
closeup: two air fried pretzels on a black plate

Tasty Dipping Sauce Options

Honey mustard and yellow mustard are classic pairings! You could also try:

Recipe Variations

One thing I love about my local pretzel stand is that they always have a ton of flavor variations to try! When your air fryer frozen pretzels are still nice and hot, try topping them with some of these delicious toppings:

  • Cinnamon sugar
  • Parmesan and garlic
  • Chocolate drizzle
  • Pepperoni and mozzarella

Frozen Pretzel in Air Fryer Pro Tips

  • Cooking Times: Since every air fryer works a bit differently, start checking on your frozen soft pretzels in air fryer around the 4-minute mark. You want to make sure they’re cooked completely, but you don’t want to burn them either!
  • Don’t Overcrowd the Basket: Leave plenty of space in between each frozen pretzel in air fryer so the hot air can circulate freely. This is what helps them crisp up.
  • Frozen soft pretzels typically don’t stick to the air fryer basket so no need to coat with nonstick spray.
  • Don’t Skip the Water: But, one thing you won’t want to skip is brushing your pretzels with water before you add the salt. It helps it stick!
  • No Thaw: Like most frozen foods, soft pretzels cook up better if they go straight from frozen to the air fryer without any thawing.
  • You can use the same method to make frozen pretzel bites too. They’ll cook faster than full-sized, so about 2-4 minutes at 320 degrees F should do the trick.

Frozen Pretzels Air Fryer FAQs

Can you cook frozen pretzels in air fryer?

Yes! You can cook frozen pretzels in the air fryer, but you also need to make sure your model is large enough to accommodate them. Most may not fit a full tray of frozen pretzels, but you can always work in batches.

How to get salt to stick to frozen pretzels?

You need to lightly brush them with water before you add the salt! It basically acts like glue that will help the salt pieces stick.

Can you cook straight from frozen in air fryer?

Yes, as mentioned, you don’t have to thaw your pretzels first!

Can I make frozen pretzel bites in the air fryer?

Absolutely! This recipe will work exactly the same. Just be sure to reduce your cooking time by about 2-3 minutes since the bites are a lot smaller and will cook more quickly. Check that the pretzels are cooked before removing them from the air fryer basket.

Can I store my cooked pretzels for later?

You can store your cooked pretzels in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer at 320 F for 2 minutes until warm and crispy again. Brush the pretzels with water and add some more salt before reheating in case all that delicious salt fell off!

titled image (and shown): frozen pretzel in air fryer

More Air Fryer Snack Recipes

Don’t Forget To Pin!

Share Your Creations! Are you active on Facebook? Join our Air Fryer Recipes Group, where hundreds of thousands of Air Fryer enthusiasts gather and share your photos! I’m always thrilled to see what you’ve made. For those on Instagram, don’t forget to tag me @forktospoon – I can’t wait to admire your culinary adventures!​

Frozen Pretzel In Air Fryer

Frozen Pretzel In Air Fryer

4.67 from 3 votes
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings

Description

There is nothing better than an afternoon snack that includes a frozen pretzel. With these easy and simple directions, you will have a perfectly cooked pretzel in minutes!

Ingredients 

  • 1 package frozen pretzels, any type
  • 2 teaspoons coarse salt
  • 1/4 cup dipping sauce

Instructions

  • Remove pretzels from the packaging and place them into the air fryer basket. Do not crowd the basket, as the air fryer needs room around them to perfectly crisp up.
  • Using a pastry brush, brush water on the pretzels, and sprinkle the salt (most frozen pretzels come with a package of salt) over the pretzels. Set the temperature to 320 degrees F, air fryer setting, for 5 minutes.
  • Serve with your favorite dipping sauces and enjoy!

Equipment

Notes

  • Since each air fryer works a bit differently, check at the end of the cooking cycle to make sure your food is cooked completely.
  • Leave plenty of space around them, so the hot air can circulate the pretzel, causing them to crisp up perfectly.
  • I did not spray the basket, as they do not typically stick.
  • No preheating is required for this recipe.
  • Like most frozen foods, they cook up better if they go from frozen to the air fryer, without any thawing.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 32kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 0.2gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.01gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.02gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 1350mgPotassium: 42mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 40IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 7mgIron: 0.1mg

Share this recipe

We can’t wait to see what you’ve made! Mention @forktospoon or tag #forktospoon!