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GLUTEN-FREE Cheese Bread
Chewy, gluten-free cheese bread with just three ingredients
Why this recipe works
This is cheese bread stripped down to its essentials. Three ingredients, one bowl, no yeast, no rising time. The mozzarella melts and binds, the tapioca flour gives it that signature chewy stretch, and the egg holds everything together. It's inspired by Brazilian pĂŁo de queijo but simplified to the bare minimum.
Tapioca flour is what makes this work. Unlike wheat flour, it creates a stretchy, almost gummy texture when baked with cheese, giving you that pull-apart chew that makes cheese bread addictive. Because there's no gluten, these are naturally gluten-free.
The air fryer bakes these into golden, puffy bites with crisp exteriors and soft, cheesy centers. They come together faster than you can preheat a conventional oven, and you can have a batch ready in 15 minutes from start to finish.
Ingredients
- 1 cup grated mozzarella (250g)
- 1/3 cup tapioca flour (50g)
- 1 large egg
Notes on ingredients
Use low-moisture mozzarella for the best texture. Fresh mozzarella has too much water and will make the dough wet and hard to shape. Tapioca flour and tapioca starch are the same thing, so either label works. Don't substitute cornstarch or regular flour. The stretchy texture depends on tapioca specifically. Grate your own cheese if possible, since pre-shredded mozzarella has anti-caking agents that can affect how it melts.
Instructions
Preheat
Set the Fritaire to 180°F and let it preheat while you mix the dough.
Mix the dough
In a medium bowl, combine the grated mozzarella, tapioca flour, and egg. Mix until you reach a smooth, cohesive texture. The dough will be sticky and stretchy. If it's too wet to handle, add a little more tapioca flour a teaspoon at a time.
Shape the balls
Using a tablespoon-sized spoon, scoop the dough and roll it into balls with your hands. The dough is sticky, so lightly oil your hands before rolling to prevent it from sticking to your palms.
Arrange on the Air Stand
Line the Air Stand with parchment paper. Place the cheese bread balls on the parchment, leaving a little space between each one so air can circulate.
Bake
Bake for 10 minutes, or until the cheese bread is golden brown. Serve warm and fresh from the Fritaire.
Pro tips
1. Use low-moisture mozzarella
Fresh mozzarella releases too much water and makes the dough impossible to shape. Stick with low-moisture mozzarella for the right consistency.
2. Oil your hands
This dough is very sticky. Lightly oiling your hands before rolling makes shaping much easier and keeps the dough from sticking everywhere.
3. Don't overcrowd
Leave space between the balls so air can circulate. Crowding prevents even browning and can make them stick together.
4. Serve them fresh
Cheese bread is best eaten warm right out of the Fritaire when the centers are still soft and chewy. They firm up as they cool.
Variations
1. Add herbs
Mix in dried oregano, rosemary, or Italian seasoning for extra flavor. Fresh chopped herbs work too.
2. Try different cheeses
Swap part of the mozzarella for parmesan, cheddar, or a mix. Harder cheeses add sharper flavor but keep at least half mozzarella for the stretch.
3. Add garlic
Stir in 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or a clove of minced garlic for a garlic cheese bread version.
4. Make them spicy
Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or finely diced jalapeño to the dough for a little heat.
5. Stuff them
Press a small cube of cheese into the center of each ball before baking for a molten cheese center.
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Storage and reheating
Cheese bread is best fresh, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They'll lose their chewy texture as they sit. To reheat, pop them in the air fryer at 300°F for 3 to 4 minutes to bring back some of the softness. You can also freeze the shaped raw dough balls and bake them straight from frozen, adding a couple extra minutes to the cook time.
What to serve with them
These work as a snack, side, or appetizer. Pair them with:
- Marinara or pizza sauce for dipping
- Soup or chili
- A fresh green salad
- Coffee for a Brazilian-style breakfast
- Garlic butter for dipping
They also work alongside pasta dishes or as part of an appetizer spread.
FAQ
Can I use regular flour instead of tapioca flour?
No. Tapioca flour is essential for the chewy, stretchy texture. Regular flour or cornstarch will give you a completely different result that won't resemble cheese bread.
Why is my dough too sticky to shape?
This dough is naturally sticky. Oil your hands before rolling. If it's truly too wet, your mozzarella may have too much moisture. Add a little more tapioca flour to firm it up.
Can I make these dairy-free?
It's difficult because the cheese is the main structural ingredient. A dairy-free mozzarella alternative might work, but the texture and melt will be different. Results vary by brand.
Are these gluten-free?
Yes. Tapioca flour contains no gluten, so as long as your other ingredients are gluten-free, these cheese breads are naturally gluten-free.
Can I double the recipe?
Yes. Just scale the ingredients up and cook in batches if needed so you don't overcrowd the Air Stand.
Why this recipe works in the Fritaire
The Air Stand gives the cheese bread balls a flat, even surface to bake on, and the glass bowl lets you watch them puff and turn golden so you can pull them at the perfect moment. And because there's no coating breaking down at baking temps, you're not wondering what's leaching into your food during the cook. Just cheese, tapioca, egg, and heat doing what they're supposed to.
Final take
This is about as simple as baking gets. Three ingredients, one bowl, and 15 minutes. No yeast, no rising, no special equipment beyond your Fritaire. The tapioca flour and mozzarella do all the work, giving you chewy, golden cheese bread that disappears fast.
They're naturally gluten-free, which makes them a good option for anyone avoiding wheat. But they're worth making regardless because they taste great and come together with ingredients you probably already have.
If you want warm, cheesy bread without the effort of traditional baking, this is the recipe to keep on hand.
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