If you love all things cheese, then you’re sure to love Trader Joe’s Brazilian cheese bread in the air fryer. These cheese-filled balls of dough cook up perfectly from frozen in under 10 minutes! They make a great snack or side dish, and they’re gluten free as well!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Brazilian cheese bread, also known as pão de queijo, are poppable bites of a tapioca flour based dough filled with melty cheese. That makes them naturally gluten free, but no less delicious!
They taste somewhere like mochi meets a savory dinner biscuit. They remind me a bit of mozzarella bites actually.
Anyway, if you love cheese, you’re going to love Brazilian cheese bread. It’s a perfect snack or side dish, and these little cheese bread balls are served at breakfast with coffee or alongside savory dishes for other meals.

Thanks to Trader Joe’s, there is no prep required other than perhaps preheating your air fryer. They cook directly from frozen in under 10 minutes!
What You’ll Need

- Trader Joe’s Brazilian cheese bread (frozen)
- Dipping sauce if desired (optional)
Ingredient Notes and Tips
- While I’m using Trader Joe’s Brazilian cheese bread there are other brands available as well if you don’t live near a TJ’s. Brazi Bites, Forno de Minas, and Cheeziños are other popular brands
- These cheese bread balls are delicious on their own. However, if you’d like a dipping sauce, I recommend marinara or chimichurri for accompaniments, or embrace the caramel cheddar popcorn vibes and serve with dulce de leche!
Trader Joe’s Brazilian Cheese Bread Air Fryer Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F
- Remove Trader Joe’s Brazilian cheese bread from all packing and place into preheated air fryer basket in a single layer

- Cook on the air fry setting for 5-6 minutes at 350°F, or until heated through
- Enjoy alone, or with your favorite dipping sauce if desired!

What to Serve With Brazilian Cheese Bread
- Soups (creamy or bisque)
- Green salad
- Empanadas
- Chili
- Grilled steak
- Pork carnitas
- Ham
- Corn on the cob
- Black beans
- Avocado
- Fried plantains
- Papaya
- Applesauce
- Marinara
- Chimichurri
- Dulce de leche
- Guava paste
- Eggs
- Brazilian coffee
Brazilian cheese bread should be treated much like any other dinner rolls. You can serve them as a side to soups, salads, and other entrees.
Try your air fryer Trader Joe’s Brazilian cheese bread with my equally easy recipe for Trader Joe’s Frozen Empanadas in the Air Fryer, alongside Air Fryer Ham Steak, or as a gluten-free swap in for the bread in Air Fryer Eggs Benedict.
Recipe FAQs
How Do You Air Fry Trader Joe’s Brazilian Cheese Bread?
You air fry Trader Joe’s Brazilian cheese bread for 5-6 minutes at 350°F.
They cook right from frozen and do not need to be defrosted in advance.
How Do You Reheat Trader Joe’s Brazilian Cheese Bread?
To reheat Trader Joe’s Brazilian cheese bread, air fry for about 3 minutes at 350°F, or until warmed through.
This assumes that you are reheating previously cooked bread from a refrigerated state.
Can I Air Fry Brazi Bites?
Yes, you can air fry Brazi Bites. Generally, Brazi Bites cook for 10-15 minutes at 340°F in the air fryer.
They take slightly longer than other brands since they often come with different fillings which require more time.
Can You Microwave Brazilian Cheese Bread?
You can microwave Brazilian cheese bread. However, it will not crisp at all, and tends to have a gummier texture.
To heat in the microwave, cook for 30 seconds from refrigerated or 45-60 seconds from frozen.
Can I Make Brazilian Cheese Bread in the Oven Instead of the Air Fryer?
Yes, you can make Brazilian cheese bread in the oven instead of the air fryer. Cook in a conventional oven at 350°F for 6-8 minutes.
While the cooking time is similar to the air fryer, the preheating process takes significantly longer with a standard oven.
How Many Servings Does This Recipe Make?
Trader Joe’s Brazilian cheese bread comes in a box of 12, with 2 per serving, for a total of 6 servings if you make the whole box.
You may cook as few or as many servings at a time as you like with no change to cooking time required, so long as you can fit all of the cheese bread balls in a single layer in your air fryer.
Recipe Expert Tips
- You do not need to flip Brazilian cheese bread during cooking
- No oil is needed as there is enough naturally from the cheese in the bread
- Brazilian cheese bread should be slightly crispy on the outside, with a soft, chewy inside texture
- Mine were perfect after 5 minutes in a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer. Other models of air fryer and other brands of cheese bread may cause this time to vary slightly

Storage and Reheating
- Store any leftover Brazilian cheese bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Do not refreeze once your frozen bread has been cooked once
- To reheat, air fry Trader Joe’s Brazilian cheese bread for about 3 minutes at 350°F, or pop in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Note that the latter method, while quick, will cause the bread to lose its external crispiness
More Easy Trader Joe’s Air Fryer Recipes to Try
- Trader Joe’s Spanakopita in the Air Fryer
- Corn and Cheese Arepas in the Air Fryer
- Trader Joe’s Lava Cake in the Air Fryer
- Crispy Latkes in the Air Fryer
- Trader Joe’s Air Fryer Kibbeh
- Garlic Bread Cheese in the Air Fryer
Final Thoughts
Trader Joe’s Brazilian cheese bread cooked in the air fryer makes a perfect cheesy bite that’s a great side or snack anytime!
These cheese bread balls are naturally gluten free since they’re made with tapioca flour, and delicious whether enjoyed on their own or dipped in your favorite sauces.
I like to serve them alongside a nice creamy soup and a green salad, but you can really swap them in anywhere you’d normally serve rolls. They’re even great for breakfast with your eggs and meats!
The best part is that they cook right from frozen and are ready in less than 10 minutes. That makes for a stress free addition to any meal, all from the convenience of my freezer!

Trader Joe’s Frozen Brazilian Cheese Bread Air Fryer Instructions
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 Ounce box Trader Joe's frozen Brazilian cheese bread
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F
- Remove Trader Joe’s Brazilian cheese bread from all packing and place into preheated air fryer basket in a single layer12 Ounce box Trader Joe's frozen Brazilian cheese bread
- Cook on the air fry setting for 5-6 minutes at 350°F, or until heated through
- Enjoy alone, or with your favorite dipping sauce if desired!
Notes
- While I’m using Trader Joe’s Brazilian cheese bread there are other brands available as well if you don’t live near a TJ’s. Brazi Bites, Forno de Minas, and Cheeziños are other popular brands
- These cheese bread balls are delicious on their own. However, if you’d like a dipping sauce, I recommend marinara or chimichurri for accompaniments, or serve with dulce de leche for a caramel cheddar popcorn vibe!
- You do not need to flip Brazilian cheese bread during cooking
- No oil is needed as there is enough naturally from the cheese in the bread
- Brazilian cheese bread should be slightly crispy on the outside, with a soft, chewy inside texture
- Mine were perfect after 5 minutes in a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer. Other models of air fryer and other brands of cheese bread may cause this time to vary slightly
- Store any leftover Brazilian cheese bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Do not refreeze once your frozen bread has been cooked once
- To reheat, air fry Trader Joe’s Brazilian cheese bread for about 3 minutes at 350°F, or pop in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Note that the latter method, while quick, will cause the bread to lose the external crispiness
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any sauces or sides added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition

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