Let’s be honest – finding easy side dishes that please everyone at the dinner table can feel like an impossible task some nights. Between juggling work deadlines, helping with homework, and trying to get a decent meal on the table, the last thing anyone needs is a complicated recipe with a mile-long ingredient list.
That’s why these air fryer crescent rolls have become my go-to solution: they’re quick and simple, come out perfectly flaky every time, and pair well with practically any main dish you’re serving. Plus, they only need about 6 minutes in the air fryer, which means you can focus on the rest of dinner prep while they cook.
Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Crescent Rolls
- Quick cooking time – These crescent rolls are ready in just 15 minutes – perfect for those busy weeknight dinners or when you need fresh bread in a hurry.
- Two-ingredient recipe – With just a can of crescent rolls and an optional pinch of topping, this recipe couldn’t be more straightforward.
- Crispy texture – The air fryer creates perfectly golden-brown rolls with a crispy outside and soft, fluffy inside – better than your regular oven!
- Energy efficient – No need to heat up your whole oven for a few rolls, making this method perfect for small batches and summer cooking.
What Kind of Crescent Rolls Should I Use?
For air fryer crescent rolls, you’ll find several options in the refrigerated section of your grocery store. The standard Pillsbury original crescent rolls are the most common choice and work perfectly in the air fryer, but store brands will also do the job just fine. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try the butter flaky variety or even the reduced-fat version – they all crisp up nicely in the air fryer. Just make sure you’re grabbing regular crescent rolls and not the sheets of dough, since you want those classic triangles that are ready to roll. Keep an eye on the expiration date when you’re shopping, and store them in the fridge until you’re ready to use them.
Options for Substitutions
When it comes to this simple air fryer recipe, there are a few ways you can mix things up:
- Crescent rolls: While canned crescent rolls are the easiest option, you can use other refrigerated dough like puff pastry sheets (cut into triangles), pizza dough (rolled thin and cut into triangles), or even homemade crescent dough. Just keep in mind that different doughs might need adjusted cooking times.
- Salt/sugar topping: Instead of the basic salt or sugar topping, try everything bagel seasoning, cinnamon sugar, garlic powder, or even herbs like rosemary. You can also skip the topping completely for plain rolls.
- Additional note: If using homemade dough, make sure it’s well-chilled before working with it, and you might need to adjust the cooking temperature down by 25°F to prevent over-browning.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking
The biggest mistake when making air fryer crescent rolls is overcrowding the basket – make sure to leave enough space between each roll so they have room to expand and get crispy on all sides. Another common error is not preheating your air fryer, which can lead to uneven cooking and a doughy center – always give your air fryer 3-5 minutes to heat up before adding the rolls. The temperature setting is crucial too – cooking these at too high heat will burn the outside while leaving the inside raw, so stick to 325°F for perfectly golden-brown results. For extra-flaky layers, try chilling your crescent rolls for 10 minutes before air frying, and remember to check them a minute or two before the suggested cooking time since air fryers can vary in strength.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Crescent Rolls?
These warm, flaky crescent rolls are super flexible and can work for pretty much any meal of the day! For breakfast, serve them alongside scrambled eggs and crispy bacon, or spread them with butter and your favorite jam. At dinner time, they’re perfect for soaking up sauces and gravies from main dishes like pot roast or chicken stew. You can also turn them into a quick appetizer by serving them with spinach dip or a cheese board – they’re way better than regular crackers for this!
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: Once your air fryer crescent rolls have cooled down, pop them in an airtight container or zip-top bag. They’ll stay good at room temperature for about 2 days. If you want them to last a bit longer, keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Make Ahead: While these are best fresh from the air fryer, you can make them a few hours before serving. Just keep them covered at room temperature until you’re ready to enjoy them. They’re perfect for breakfast prep or afternoon snacks!
Refresh: To bring back that fresh-baked taste, pop them in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes at 300°F, or give them a quick 10-second zap in the microwave. They’ll taste almost as good as when they first came out of the air fryer!
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 5-7 minutes |
| Total Time | 15-22 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 200-250
- Protein: 4-6 g
- Fat: 8-12 g
- Carbohydrates: 30-35 g
Ingredients
- 1 can refrigerated crescent dough
- Salt or sugar, a pinch (optional)
Step 1: Prepare the Crescent Dough
- 1 can refrigerated crescent dough
Pop open the can of refrigerated crescent dough and carefully unroll the sheet onto a piece of parchment paper or a cutting board.
Separate the dough along the perforated lines to create individual triangles.
Step 2: Shape the Crescent Rolls
- separated crescent dough triangles from Step 1
Take each triangle and, starting from the wide end, roll it up towards the narrow point to form a classic crescent shape.
Arrange the rolled crescents aside as you work through the batch.
Step 3: Prepare the Air Fryer and Add Seasoning
- shaped crescent rolls from Step 2
- salt or sugar, a pinch (optional)
Brush or spray the air fryer basket with oil, or line it with air fryer parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Place the shaped crescent rolls into the basket, making sure to leave space between each one so they can expand as they cook.
If you like, sprinkle a little pinch of salt or sugar on top of each roll for extra flavor.
I usually go with a sprinkle of flaky salt for a savory touch, but a little sugar makes them taste like a treat!
Step 4: Air Fry the Crescent Rolls
- seasoned crescent rolls from Step 3
Set the air fryer to 330°F (165°C) and cook the crescent rolls for 5 to 7 minutes, or until they are puffed and lightly golden.
Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the rolls in batches to avoid overcrowding.
Step 5: Serve the Crescent Rolls
Once the crescent rolls are finished cooking, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before serving.
Enjoy them warm for the best texture.
