Making a frozen pot pie in the air fryer is easy, and it works whether you’re cooking a Banquet pot pie or a Marie Callender’s. With a golden, flaky crust and a filling that’s hot all the way through, it’s the answer for a night when you want something comforting without waiting on the oven to preheat and bake.
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ℹ️ Introduction
The microwave leaves you with a soggy crust and a filling that’s still cold in the center. The air fryer solves both problems at once – the hot circulating air crisps the crust while the filling cooks through evenly, so you get a pie that’s ready in under 40 minutes with none of the sad microwave texture.
These are personal-size pies in a box, cooked in one air fryer basket. There’s no need to heat up an big oven for a single serving.
🫙 Ingredients
➡ Get the complete list of best frozen foods for air fryer!
💡 Recipe Tips for Making Air Fryer Pot Pie From Frozen
Cooking Technique
Preheat the air fryer before adding the frozen pot pie. It crisps the crust better than starting cold.
Keep the pie frozen until you’re ready to cook it. Don’t thaw it first.
Set a small foil tray under the pie to catch any filling that bubbles over, and wrap a foil shield around the crust edge so it doesn’t burn before the center’s done.
Brush the top crust with a little olive oil or melted butter partway through cooking for a deeper golden color.
If you’re cooking more than one pie, leave space between them so air can circulate. Crowding leads to uneven cooking.
Check the internal temperature before calling it done. You’re looking for 165°F (74°C) in the filling.
Let the pie rest 5 minutes before cutting in. It keeps the filling from spilling everywhere, and it stays crisp if you leave it in the air fryer basket while it rests.
Banquet vs. Marie Callender’s
Banquet and Marie Callender’s pot pies don’t cook in exactly the same time. Banquet’s pie is smaller with a thinner crust, so it needs less time in the basket – about 22 minutes with the foil shield on. Marie Callender’s needs closer to 27 minutes.
Either way, finish the same way: remove the shield, brush the crust with butter or oil, and air fry 3 to 7 more minutes until the filling hits 165°F (74°C).
❓FAQs
Yes, and it’s actually the best way to reheat one. Cook it straight from frozen. There’s no need to thaw first. The air fryer gives you a crisp, flaky crust and a filling that’s hot all the way through, without the soggy crust you get from a microwave.
370°F (188°C). Preheat the air fryer at that temperature for 4 minutes before you add the pie.
It depends on the brand. Banquet pot pies take about 29 to 31 minutes total, Marie Callender’s about 36 to 38. Air fry with the foil crust shield on first (22 minutes for Banquet, 27 for Marie Callender’s) then remove the shield, brush with butter or oil, and air fry 3 to 5 more minutes for Banquet or 5 to 7 more for Marie Callender’s, until the internal temperature hits 165°F (74°C).
Yes, it’s the brand, not the filling, that determines cook time. Follow the same Banquet or Marie Callender’s times from the ‘How long does it take’ FAQ above for beef or turkey pot pies too.
No, Banquet’s pie is smaller with a thinner crust and cooks faster than Marie Callender’s, in both stages of cooking. See the ‘How long does it take’ FAQ above for the exact minutes for each brand.
⏲️ How to Make Frozen Pot Pie in the Air Fryer
- Use aluminum foil to make a tray to catch any spills.
- Make a pie crust shield with aluminum foil and wrap it around the frozen pie crust.
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F (188 degrees C) for 4 minutes. Place the aluminum foil tray in the air fryer basket, making sure there’s room for air to circulate around it. Place the pie on the foil tray. For Banquet pot pies, air fry for 22 minutes. For Marie Callender’s pot pies, air fry for 27 minutes. Remove the foil crust shield and brush the crust with melted butter or oil. *
- Air fry for another 3 to 7 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
* NOTE: Every air fryer is different. You may need to adjust timing and temperature based on the capacity and wattage of your air fryer. Please check on the food 3 to 5 minutes before the air frying time is up to make sure it’s not burning.
See recipe card below for details
You can air fry all kinds of frozen food in the air fryer like chicken breasts, popcorn chicken, pizza rolls, chicken fries, chicken tenders, and more.
✅ MY FAVORITE AIR FRYER ACCESSORIES
EVO oil sprayer is great for spraying oil on food. This is the best I’ve tried.
An instant-read thermometer is invaluable when air frying meats or frozen foods.
Perforated parchment sheets come in handy when making messy foods.
Banquet or Marie Callender’s Pot Pie (Air Fryer)
Ingredients
- 1 chicken pot pie 10 oz. [See Note 1]
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil or melted butter, for brushing
Instructions
Air Fryer Instructions
- Place the empty air fryer basket in the air fryer and preheat at 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 4 minutes.
- Create a small tray out of aluminum foil to catch spills. Don't make it too big. You'll want air to freely circulate around it.
- Make a pie crust shield to wrap around the edges of the pie crust to protect it from burning. See photos in blog post for more information.
- Place the aluminum foil tray in the air fryer basket and place the frozen pie on the foil tray. – Banquet pot pies: air fry for 22 minutes at 370 degrees F. – Marie Callender pot pies: air fry for 27 minutes at 370 degrees F.
- Remove the foil crust shield and brush the crust with melted butter or oil. Air fry for a further 3 to 7 minutes. Measure the internal temperature of the pie and make sure it's at 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). If not, air fryer for a few more minutes. [See Note 2]
- Let the pie rest 5 minutes before cutting in. It keeps the filling from spilling out, and it stays crisp if you leave it in the air fryer basket while it rests.
Notes
- Note 1: Keep the pot pies frozen until you’re ready to air fry.
- Note 2: For Banquet, air fry an additional 3 to 5 minutes. For Marie Callender’s air fry an additional 5 to 7 minutes.
- Note 3: Nutrition information and cook time is for Marie Callenders.
- Note 4: Every air fryer will vary. The first time you make this recipe, monitor the pies by checking their color and texture. You may need to adjust the air frying time if they’re not golden brown and crispy and the internal temperature hasn’t reached 165 degrees F. Remember, it’s better to check them too early than too late. Use a digital thermometer.
Nutrition
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I am not a certified nutritionist. I provide my best estimate of nutritional information merely as a courtesy to my readers. If you depend on nutritional information for dietary or health reasons, I suggest using your favorite online nutrition calculator to confirm the nutritional value of this recipe based on the actual ingredients that you use.
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I’m Neena, and I’ve spent a lifetime perfecting the recipes I share. My years of practice have honed my skills, resulting in consistently delicious and easy meals. My experience (including hits and misses!) enables me to provide valuable insights, troubleshooting advice, and innovative recipe ideas. Every recipe is tested multiple times, so you can be sure it works the first time!
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