When you need a quick side dish to your Italian feast, reach for these frozen garlic knots in the air fryer. Theyโre loaded with butter, garlic, and savory goodness in a warm soft roll! Best of all, air fryer frozen garlic knots are ready to eat in under 10 minutes. You canโt go wrong!

If youโre in the mood for more buttery garlic goodness, you can also try making Frozen Texas Toast in the Air Fryer!
Why Youโll Love This Recipe
Frozen garlic knots take all the prep work out of making an easy yet delicious side dish. No more kneading, rising, or rolling required! Simply pull them out of the package and pop them in your air fryer, no defrosting required.
In less than 10 minutes, youโll have savory, warm, soft garlic knots that are perfectly cooked and ready to enjoy.ย I like to pair mine with lasagna and a nice side salad, but I definitely heat up leftovers and serve them with marinara for a snack!

I also love the fact that you donโt need to take up space in the oven to make them. No more trying to coordinate your baked pasta and rolls so they finish together! If youโre not making something in the oven, well then this prevents you from having to heat up the house too!
What Youโll Need: Ingredients

- Frozen garlic knots (any brand)
- Marinara for dipping (optional)
Ingredient Notes and Tips
- Any brand of frozen garlic knots works. I have New York Bakery brand today, but have used Great Value (Walmart), Marketside, LโOven Fresh (Aldi), and Furlani before as well
- You can get whatever size box you want based on how many people youโre feeding!ย Cooking time doesnโt change based on quantity as long as you have enough space in the air fryer basket to hold the knots. Whether youโre cooking one serving for yourself or feeding a crowd, itโs all the same!
- If you plan to serve your garlic knots as an appetizer or snack, then I recommend adding a dipping sauce. Marinara and garlic sauce are my two favorite choices!
How to Cook Frozen Garlic Knots in an Air Fryer
- Preheat your air fryer to 350ยฐF
- Remove the frozen garlic knots from all packaging. Place them garlic butter side up into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer, allowing some air space between so they can expand during cooking

- Cook on the air fry setting for 6 minutes. I do not recommend flipping them, as youโll lose some of your tasty toppings if you do so
- Check to see if they are warmed through using a thermometer, or by depressing the center with your finger to see if it feels warm and gives easily. Add additional cooking time in 1-minute increments as needed (or for additional browning)
- Serve with your favorite entrees or with dipping sauce as a snack!

What to Eat With Garlic Knots
- Pasta (all kinds)
- Chicken alfredo
- Gnocchi
- Lasagna
- Stuffed shells or manicotti
- Meatballs
- Italian sausage
- Roasted chicken
- Chicken parmesan
- Tortellini
- Ravioli
- Tomato soup
- Vegetable soup
- Wedding soup
- Buttered lobster
- Linguine with clam sauce
- Cioppinoย
- Green salad
- Caprese salad
- Pizza
When it comes to what to eat with garlic knots, there are so many great dishes to choose from!ย You really canโt go wrong with any type of pasta or sauce, as well as seafood, chicken, and a variety of other dishes.
Try your air fryer frozen garlic knots with my homemade Air Fryer Roasted Tomato Soup, comforting Air Fryer Baked Spaghetti, easy Air Fryer Gnocchi, or Air Fryer Frozen Scallops with a garlic butter sauce that compliments these rolls perfectly.
Recipe FAQs
Can Frozen Garlic Knots Be Cooked in the Air Fryer?
Yes, frozen garlic knots can be cooked in the air fryer. They require no defrosting and may be cooked directly from frozen state.
It takes roughly the same time as cooking in a traditional oven, but the preheating time is significantly less, which gives you an overall time savings.
How Long to Air Fry New York Bakery Garlic Knots?
New York Bakery garlic knots should air fry for 4-8 minutes, depending on the temperature used.
For a less brown, softer knot, cook at a temperature between 330ยฐF-350ยฐF, and for a darker brown cook between 360ยฐF-380ยฐF. The time to air fry garlic knots decreases as temperature increases, as does external browning.
How Do You Cook Frozen Garlic Knots?
You cook frozen garlic knots in a conventional oven for 4-5 minutes at 425ยฐF, in a toaster oven for 5-6 minutes at 375ยฐF, or in an air fryer for about 6 minutes at 350ยฐF.
All will give you relatively equal results. However, the air fryer preheats the quickest and heats up your house the least of the options.
Can You Microwave Frozen Garlic Knots?
It is not recommended to microwave frozen garlic knots.ย They will defrost, but will have a terrible, gummy texture to them that is undesirable.
That said, the microwave is excellent for reheating previously cooked knots, using just a short 30-second burst of cooking time to warm them up.
Can You Reheat Garlic Knots in an Air Fryer?
Yes, you can reheat garlic knots in an air fryer. Cook for 2-3 minutes at 350ยฐF or until warmed through.
This method works for previously cooked frozen garlic knots or leftovers from homemade or a restaurant.
Recipe Pro Tips
- My frozen garlic knots were perfect after 6 minutes in a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer. Other brands of air fryer may differ slightly
- Note that if you prefer a darker brown, crustier exterior, you may bump the temperature to 390ยฐF and cook for 3-4 minutes instead. I prefer my garlic knots to be soft, which is why I stick with a lower temperature

Storage and Reheating Tips
- Once cooled, store leftover garlic knots in an airtight container or zippered bag at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 4 (but they will get harder this way). Do not refreeze once they have been cooked once. Note that you should not store them at room temperature if you have added dairy to them (such as cheese)
- Reheat garlic knots in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 350ยฐF, or until warmed through. You may also microwave for 20-30 seconds, but they will be gummier and lose the crunchy edges this way
Other Air Fryer Frozen Breads to Try
Final Thoughts
These frozen garlic knots in the air fryer come out warm, garlicky, buttery, and most importantly, delicious! Theyโre perfect as a savory side to a ton of pasta and Italian dishes, soups, salads, and more.
Heat some up for an easy and tasty snack or appetizer when you pair your knots with some delicious marinara or garlic sauce for dipping.
Itโs so easy to make just one or two for a portion, or heat up a whole bunch to feed your family. You donโt even need to fire up the oven and heat up the house. Air fryer frozen garlic knots are one of my favorite simple sides for those busy weeknight meals!

Best Frozen Garlic Knots in the Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredientsย ย
- 1 Frozen garlic knot, any brand (such as New York Bakery)
- 1 Tbsp marinara sauce for dipping (optional)
Instructionsย
- Preheat your air fryer to 350ยฐF
- Remove the frozen garlic knots from all packaging. Place them garlic butter side up into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer, allowing some air space between so they can expand during cooking1 Frozen garlic knot, any brand
- Cook on the air fry setting for 6 minutes. I do not recommend flipping them, as youโll lose some of your tasty toppings if you do so
- Check to see if they are warmed through using a thermometer, or by depressing the center with your finger to see if it feels hot and gives easily. Add additional cooking time in 1-minute increments as needed (or for additional browning)
- Serve with your favorite entrees or with dipping sauce as a snack!1 Tbsp marinara sauce for dipping
Notes
- Any brand of frozen garlic knots works. I have New York Bakery brand here, but have used Great Value (Walmart), Marketside, LโOven Fresh (Aldi), and Furlani before as well
- You can cook however many servings you want based on how many people youโre feeding!ย Cooking time doesnโt change based on quantity as long as you have enough space in the air fryer basket to hold the knots
- If you plan to serve your garlic knots as an appetizer or snack, then I recommend adding a dipping sauce. Marinara and garlic sauce are my two favorite choices!
- My frozen garlic knots were perfect after 6 minutes in a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer. Other brands of air fryer may differ slightly
- Note that if you prefer a darker brown, crustier exterior, you may bump the temperature to 390ยฐF and cook for 3-4 minutes instead. I prefer my garlic knots to be soft, which is why I stick with a lower temperature
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients, any sauces or toppings added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition

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