Yeast and I have a love hate sort of relationship. So, when it comes to pretzels, I tend to shy away from making my own. Thanks to these frozen pretzels in the air fryer though, I don’t need to feel like I’m missing out!

Why You Need This Recipe
Starting with frozen pretzels takes out all the time, work, and the battle with yeast required to create perfect soft pretzels.
Instead, pop this premade version into your air fryer and they’ll come out warm, soft, golden brown, and delicious in under 5 minutes! That’s way faster than baking! Then, serve them up warm with your favorite toppings and dipping sauces.

If you want to enjoy a bite sized version instead of a whole soft pretzel, check out my recipe for Frozen Pretzel Bites in the Air Fryer for those directions!
What You’ll Need

- Frozen soft pretzels, any brand
- Toppings as desired (optional)
- Dipping sauces (optional)
Ingredient Tips and Notes
- Any brand of frozen full-sized soft pretzels works great! I have Appetitos (Aldi) brand here, but I’ve used SuperPretzel, Auntie Anne’s, and PretzelHaus frozen pretzels as well
- Most frozen pretzels come with sea salt for topping. However, if yours doesn’t you’ll want some salt. Alternatively, skip the salt and opt for a brush of butter and some cinnamon sugar, or go savory with shredded cheese, pepperoni, or jalapenos
- Recommended dipping sauces include: nacho cheese, mustard, vanilla frosting, caramel sauce, beer cheese, or honey mustard
How to Cook Frozen Pretzels in the Air Fryer
- Preheat your air fryer to 325°F (or the closest setting your air fryer has) and remove frozen pretzels from all packaging
- Brush the frozen pretzels with water and sprinkle sea salt to taste over top of them (optional)

- Place the pretzels into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer, being careful not to overlap them (cook in batches if needed)

- Cook frozen pretzels on the air fry setting for 3-5 minutes at 325°F, or until they are warmed through and golden brown
- If you would like to add cheese, pepperoni, or jalapenos, add them to the top of the pretzel and heat for another 1 minute, just to warm them or melt the cheese (optional)
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauces

What to Eat Pretzels With
- Beer cheese
- Nacho cheese
- Spicy mustard
- Honey mustard
- Jalapeno popper dip
- Buffalo chicken dip
- Hot crab dip
- Spinach and artichoke dip
- Fondue
- Hummus
- Nutella or chocolate dip
- Bratwurst or other sausages
- Sauerkraut
- Braised cabbage
- German potato salad
Try your air fryer frozen soft pretzels with one of my Best Air Fryer Dip Recipes, savory Air Fryer Kielbasa, hot German Potato Salad in the Air Fryer, or dipped in my easy Microwave Chocolate Sauce for a sweet treat!
Recipe FAQs
Can You Cook a Frozen Pretzel in the Air Fryer?
Yes, you can cook a frozen pretzel in the air fryer.
They should be cooked right from a frozen state and do not require defrosting in advance.
How Long to Cook Frozen Pretzels in the Air Fryer?
On average, how long is needed to cook frozen pretzels in the air fryer is about 3-5 minutes. Times may vary slightly based on pretzel thickness and your specific air fryer.
You’ll know the pretzels are done when the browning on the exterior deepens and the pretzel gives easily when pushed on, indicating that it is heated through.
Can You Reheat Pretzels in an Air Fryer?
You can reheat pretzels in an air fryer. Cook them for 2-3 minutes at 325°F, or just until warmed through.
This method works with leftover restaurant pretzels, as well as cooked previously frozen pretzels. It should be noted that pretzels will lose additional moisture with each reheat, so it’s best to only do so once.
Are Frozen Pretzels Good in the Air Fryer?
Yes, frozen pretzels are good in the air fryer. The outside gets browned while the inside stays soft. They cook very quickly and are best enjoyed warm.
You’ll get a texture similar to baking in the oven, but in far less time.
Recipe Pro Tips
- You do not need to flip the pretzels during cooking. This would only result in knocking off the salt or other toppings (but this is why a single layer is extra important)
- If you don’t have a pastry brush for the water, you can also use a mister, or just run your hands under water and then pat the top of the pretzels with your wet hands
- I can fit two pretzels in each basket of my Ninja Dual Zone air fryer for a total of 4 at a time. Other sizes of air fryer may vary. You can cook as many as you want at a time with no cooking time change, so long as you maintain the single layer
- As pictured, the slightly lighter pretzels were cooked for 3 minutes, and the darker ones were 4 minutes. Adjust the cooking time based on your personal pretzel preference. I wouldn’t go beyond 5 minutes total, or your soft pretzel won’t be so soft anymore!

Other Air Fryer Frozen Breads to Try
- Frozen Croissants in the Air Fryer
- Trader Joe’s Brazilian Cheese Bread
- Frozen Pigs in a Blanket in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Frozen Garlic Knots
Final Thoughts
Making frozen pretzels in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to enjoy a soft pretzel anytime! We like them as a snack, especially on movie night, but they’re perfect as an appetizer, on a charcuterie board, and for game day too!
I like to set out a few different dipping sauces and let everyone pick their favorites. For a heartier option, serve your pretzels alongside some brats and kraut for a German inspired meal!
No matter which way you enjoy them, these soft pretzels take all the hard work out of making them and are ready in only about 5 minutes of cooking. That means you can get to the best part, the eating, all the sooner!

Soft Frozen Pretzels in the Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Frozen soft pretzels (any brand)
- ½ Tsp sea salt (optional)
- 2 Tbsp dipping sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 325°F (or the closest setting your air fryer has) and remove frozen pretzels from all packaging2 Frozen soft pretzels
- Brush the frozen pretzels with water and sprinkle sea salt to taste over top of them (optional)½ Tsp sea salt
- Place the pretzels into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer, being careful not to overlap them (cook in batches if needed)
- Cook frozen pretzels on the air fry setting for 3-5 minutes at 325°F, or until they are warmed through and golden brown
- If you would like to add cheese, pepperoni, or jalapenos, add them to the top of the pretzel and heat for another 1 minute, just to warm them or melt the cheese (optional)
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauces2 Tbsp dipping sauce
Notes
- Any brand of frozen full-sized soft pretzels works great! I have Appetitos (Aldi) brand here, but I’ve used SuperPretzel, Auntie Anne’s, and PretzelHaus frozen pretzels as well
- Most frozen pretzels come with sea salt for topping. However, if yours doesn’t you’ll likely want some salt. Alternatively, skip the salt and opt for a brush of butter and some cinnamon sugar, or go savory with shredded cheese, pepperoni, or jalapenos
- Recommended dipping sauces include: nacho cheese, mustard, vanilla frosting, caramel sauce, beer cheese, or honey mustard
- You do not need to flip the pretzels during cooking. This would only result in knocking off the salt or other toppings (but this is why a single layer is extra important)
- If you don’t have a pastry brush for the water, you can also use a mister, or just run your hands under water and then pat the top of the pretzels with your wet hands
- I can fit two pretzels in each basket of my Ninja Dual Zone air fryer for a total of 4 at a time. Other sizes of air fryer may vary
- As pictured, the slightly lighter pretzels were cooked for 3 minutes, and the darker ones were 4 minutes. Adjust the cooking time based on your personal pretzel preference. I wouldn’t go beyond 5 minutes total, or your soft pretzel won’t be so soft anymore!
- You can cook more or less quantity of pretzels with no change to the cooking time, as long as you maintain the single layer placement
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients, amount of salt added, and any dipping sauces or toppings, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition

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