Tandoori Paneer Naan Pizza Oven Air Fryer Spice Cravings

Enjoy this Indian pizza baked until crisp in the oven or air fryer for a delicious weeknight meal in under 30 minutes. Is there anything better than pizza? Yup, Indian Pizza!!

For me, it’s the best of both worlds- big bold Indian flavors meet crusty and delicious pizza!
It’s no secret how much my family loves paneer (including my meat-loving hubby 🙂 Dishes like Paneer Tikka Masala, Palak Paneer, Paneer Butter Masala, and Paneer Biryani are on rotation in my home. Now, we’ve added this Paneer Pizza to our repertoire. Loaded with tandoori-style paneer and crisp veggies, this recipe requires minimal prep and comes together in 20 minutes using store-bought naan. I assemble one naan per serving, then these individual pizzas are baked in the oven or air fryer to achieve crisp, charred goodness. It’s a quick and easy vegetarian pizza dinner ready in no time!

Ingredients - Notes & Substitutions

The quantity and topping measurements are good for four 8-inch naan/pita breads or two 10-11 inch cooked pizza bases. You may need to adjust the sauce and toppings to suit your needs. Paneer: Paneer is a fresh, non-melting Indian cheese that’s made from curdled milk and a fruit or vegetable acid, such as lemon juice. You can make your own using this easy recipe for homemade paneer, or buy brands like Verka, Gopi, Haldiram, or Sach. Look for it in the cheese section of larger grocery stores, such as Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, or Costco Yogurt: I prefer 2% Greek yogurt for this recipe, but whole milk will do as well. Aromatics, lime juice & oil: Use fresh ginger, garlic, lemon or lime juice, avocado oil (or olive oil). Spices: Commonly used Indian spices are what we need, including, salt, turmeric, Kashmiri red chili powder, ground coriander, garam masala, and chaat masala. Pizza Sauce: There are four different sauce options to choose from - store-ready pizza sauce, a mix of ketchup and sriracha, cilantro chutney, or a combination of ketchup and cilantro chutney (my preference!). Toppings: I love using sliced onions, peppers, shredded mozzarella cheese, and fresh cilantro. Feel free to switch up the toppings based on your liking. (Topping options mentioned below) Flatbread: Use your favorite store-bought naan- garlic naan, whole wheat naan, or plain. Alternatively, use pita bread, lavash bread, flatbread or cooked pizza base work too. Scroll to the recipe card for a detailed list of ingredients and quantities.

How To Make Paneer Naan Pizza

This easy pizza requires a quick marinade and prep. Then, all you have to do is build and bake in the Oven or Air Fryer until crispy and golden!

Marinate Paneer

Marinate paneer: In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients listed for the marinade and toss in the paneer cubes. Keep aside while you prepare onions and peppers for topping (Pic 1). Season Veggies: Toss the sliced onions and peppers with a pinch of salt, pepper, and Kashmiri red chili powder. (Pic 2). Marination Tip: If you have the time, marinate paneer in the refrigerator from 30 minutes- overnight.

Assemble the Pizza

Pick your choice of sauce (see choices in recipe card) and spread about one tablespoon or more on the naan. Using a pastry brush or the back of a wide spoon, spread it evenly to coat the pizza, leaving about ½-inch from the edges. Adjust the sauce quantity to your liking (Pic 3). Add shredded cheese to your preference. I add about a ¼-⅓ cup per pizza depending on the pizza base size. Spread the cheese evenly (Pic 4). Add paneer & veggies: Top each pizza base with marinated paneer, followed by sliced onions and peppers. Top with chopped cilantro (Pics 5 & 6). Brush the edges with avocado (or olive) oil and bake using the oven or air fryer as follows:

Oven-Baked Naan Bread Pizza

Place the naan pizzas on a parchment or aluminum-lined baking sheet. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, until the edges look crisp and the cheese has melted. Rest for 3-5 minutes, slice, and enjoy!

Air Fryer Pizza

Place one pizza at a time in the fryer basket and bake at 325°F for 7-8 minutes until the edges look crisp and the cheese melts. (no preheating needed) Check at 7 minutes and, if needed, put it back in for another 1-2 minutes. Rest for 3-5 minutes, slice, and enjoy!

Topping Variations for Naan Pizza

My family and I love onions and peppers on our paneer tikka pizza. But part of the fun is topping the pizzas with your favorite veggies or those that are in season. You could also try:

Sliced zucchini or summer squashSweet corn kernels or baby cornPitted or sliced olivesSliced jalapenos

How to Store

Wrap any leftover pizza in aluminum foil or an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. When ready to use, reheat in the air fryer at 350F for 2 minutes.

Recipe Tips

Prep and marinate the paneer while you gather the rest of the ingredients. If you have the time (and for optimal flavor), feel free to marinate the paneer overnight, which will allow the paneer to soak up even more flavor.Change up the sauce from time to time. A store-bought pizza or marinara sauce is classic, but I love to use a mix of ketchup and sriracha, cilantro chutney or a combo of ketchup and cilantro chutney for a colorful variation.Use your favorite flatbread for the pizza base. I love plain naan, but feel free to also try garlic naan, whole wheat naan, pita bread, lavash bread, flatbread, or cooked pizza base. Adjust sauce & ingredients: If using another base for pizza. keep in mind the topping measurements are good for four 8-inch naan/pita breads or two 10-11 inch cooked pizza base. You may need to adjust the sauce and toppings to suit your needs.Pick your favorite toppings or use veggies in season. Onions and peppers are the most common, but you can use any ingredient you would put on a pizza. Some of my other favorites include sliced zucchini or summer squash, sweet corn kernels or baby corn, olives or jalapenos.Mozzarella and paneer are the best cheesy combo! But feel free to use any kind of shredded cheese you have on hand, such as cheddar or cheese blend. Add more or less depending on your preference.There is no difference in taste or texture in the oven vs air fryer. If you are cooking for 1-2 people, I recommend the air fryer. For a family of 4 or larger crowd, you can cook more in the oven. If you’d like a crisper cheese finish, broil in oven for 2-3 minutes after baking.For a tandoori chicken naan pizza variation, use cooked chicken strips (poached or rotisserie) in place of the paneer. Marinate in the yogurt and spices just as you would the paneer.