Air Fryer English Muffins

An air fryer is a convenient way to prepare English muffins toasted to golden brown perfection. Air fryer English muffins toast in less than five minutes, and they are a perfect accompaniment to breakfast entrees like Moroccan shakshuka or to use for toasted breakfast sandwiches.

Can You Heat a Muffin in an Air Fryer?

• Using an air fryer is a fast, convenient, and foolproof way to toast English muffins.
• The English muffins are ready in less time than it takes to prepare a bowl of fruit or scrambled eggs to eat with it.
• Unlike using the toaster, you don’t need to worry about burning your fingers trying to get the toast out or losing bits of the muffin in the toaster.
• Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you can toast more than one English muffin at once.

If you’re looking for more air fryer breakfast recipes, try my crispy air fryer home fries!

Ingredients You’ll Need

• English Muffins: Since the edges of store-bought English muffins are perforated, use the twist-and-turn method for opening them. For homemade English muffins, I recommend using a fork to poke holes in the side so you can split the English Muffins in two before using them in the recipe.
• Butter: Spread butter over the toasted English muffins, or you can do it 1 minute before the end of the cooking time.

Tools Used to Make This Recipe

Make the easy breakfast side dish using an air fryer. Air fryers are the perfect way to toast English muffins, regardless of model. They circulate hot air to cook. I used an Instant Pot Vortex Air Fryer with a large basket.

Expert Tips

• Twist and turn the English muffins to split them in half or use a fork to pry them apart rather than cutting them with a knife; this preserves the texture of the muffins so the butter can pool into all those nooks and crannies.
• There should be enough space in the air fryer basket to circulate the hot air, so don’t overcrowd the basket or overlap the muffins. My air fryer can hold two English muffins at one time.
• Toasting plain English muffins in the air fryer doesn’t require a long cooking time. However, if you make a breakfast sandwich by adding eggs, bacon, and cheese to the English muffin, increase the cooking time to 4-6 minutes and check them frequently. Remove the sandwiches from the air fryer basket once the cheese has melted and the English muffins are visibly crispy.

If you enjoy English muffins, try one of these breakfast recipes!  

Air Fryer Sausage Patties

Cinnamon Rolls in the Air Fryer

Air Fryer Soft Boiled Eggs

Air Fryer Chicken Sausage

Serving Suggestions

You can’t go wrong with spreading creamy butter over the crispy air fryer English muffins, but try other toppings like fig jam, bone marrow butter, honey, cream cheese, avocado, or peanut butter. You can use toasted English muffins to make meals like sausage and egg sandwiches, eggs Benedict, ham and cheese sandwiches, and muffin breakfast pizzas with all the fixings.

What to do with the Leftovers

• Storage: English muffins are best served toasted. You can keep them in an airtight container on the counter for 3-5 days.
• Freeze: Freeze toasted air fryer English muffins in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to three months. However, they won’t be as crispy. 

Frequently Asked Questions

More Bread Recipes:

• Pao de Sal
• Sourdough Banana Muffins
• Easy Banana Bread Recipe
• Banana Carrot Muffins