My air fryer grilled cheese gets that perfect amount of crispiness every time. My recipe is ideal to set and forget so I can focus on the rest of lunch or dinner!
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My Family Loved Recipe For Grilled Cheese in the Air Fryer
I first created this air fryer grilled cheese to make things easier on my husband. While I am the main cook in the house, my husband Ben loves to help out when he can. He usually takes on the simpler dinner nights like our grilled cheese and tomato soup, which my kids love.
I realized he was burning at least one grilled cheese in the skillet every time. I decided to try using the air fryer and see if this would be an easier way to make them, and it worked! Now, he can just focus on the tomato soup and I can enjoy letting him cook dinner a little more relaxed knowing he’s not burning the bread.
My recipe is set-and-forget, so even when I’m in charge of grilled cheese nights, it’s easier for me to cook! Plus air frying a grilled cheese gets that extra crispiness that the skillet and oven just can’t replicate.
And, if you love an easy air fryer lunch recipe, try my recipes for air fryer hot dogs, air fryer chicken tenders, air fryer burgers, air fryer nachos, and taquitos in the air fryer.
Ingredients to Air Fry Grilled Cheese
- Cheese – I love using American cheese or thinly sliced cheddar cheese on my sandwiches.
- Bread — I use sandwich bread for ease, but most types of bread cut into thin slices will work. My second favorite is a nice sourdough bread.
- Butter – I’ve also used mayo and margarine in place of the butter and they both work great.
How to make Grilled Cheese in an Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Preheat the air fryer to 340 degrees F.
STEP TWO: Butter one side of each slice of bread and place a piece of cheese on the non-buttered side. Place a second piece of bread on top of the cheese with the butter side facing upward.
STEP THREE: Place the sandwich in the air fryer basket or tray and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, flipping the sandwich halfway through air frying. It’s ready when the bread is crispy and golden brown!
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Butter the bread in even layers. The butter is what makes the grilled cheese that perfect amount of crispiness. I find that if I miss a section on the bread, that part gets overly crispy.
- Preheat the air fryer before placing the food inside. I find this works better for all foods when air fried, especially grilled cheeses.
- Be mindful about the amount of cheese on the sandwich. I love a loaded sandwich, but if the grilled cheese is overflowing with cheese, the extra cheese will burn.
- Use a toothpick to pin the bread slices and cheese together until the cheese starts to melt. I’ve tried my recipe in a few different air fryers and some will cause the bread to fly around and some will keep it in place.
- Flip the grilled cheese halfway through cooking. I find this delivers the best evenly cooked crispy sandwich.
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Variations and Substitutions
- Add some cooked protein like ham, bacon, or prosciutto. I love a good bacon and cheese sandwich when I have some leftover!
- Layer on fresh ingredients like tomato, spinach, avocado, or even sliced granny smith apples. I love using bacon, lettuce, and tomato in the summer for a BLT, and love adding apples with cheddar cheese in the fall!
- Spread some pesto on the inside of the bread with some mozzarella and tomato slices for a caprese style sandwich. This is one of my favorite lunches to eat in the summer!
- Add in some roasted garlic, caramelized onions, and sun-dried tomatoes for gourmet style.
- Give the sandwich some spiciness by adding a layer of sliced jalapenos or a little red pepper flakes.
What to serve with a Grilled Cheese Sandwich in the Air Fryer
My go-to side dish to serve with grilled cheese has always been tomato soup. I just love dipping the sandwich into the soup.
When I make this as a dinner, I do like to include one more side such as air fryer french fries, air fryer tater tots, air fryer sweet potato fries, or grape salad.
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese FAQs
The best Types of Cheese to Air Fry Grilled Cheese
I love using a good sharp cheddar cheese or the classic American cheese on my grilled cheese sandwiches. I’ve also tried mozzarella, Monterey jack, Havarti, provolone, Swiss, Gruyere, and pepper jack cheese. Of those, pepper jack is my favorite!
how do I make my Air Fryer grilled cheese Sandwich crispy
Honestly, air frying a grilled cheese will immediately make it crispy. Air fryers are designed to circulate hot air and allow food to get crispier than when cooked in the oven or even in a skillet. I do recommend to use some sort of fat, like butter, on the bread or the bread gets too crispy to eat.
How Long to Cook Grilled Cheese in the Air Fryer
I find it takes just 6 to 8 minutes to cook a grilled cheese sandwich in a preheated air fryer at 340 degrees F.
How to reheat Grilled Cheese in the Air Fryer
I usually only make the number of grilled cheeses my family will eat in one sitting, but if I do have a half or full sandwich left, I reheat it for 3 to 4 minutes in a preheated air fryer at 340 degrees F.
Do You Use Mayo or Butter For Grilled Cheese?
I’ve made my recipe with both butter and mayo. Mayo spreads nice and thick to cover the bread so there are no uncovered part. While if I’m using a hard butter, it’s hard to spread. This is where I say to get a butter bell because it always gives me nice spreadable butter.
More Easy air Fryer Recipes
- Air fryer garlic bread
- Air fryer squash
- Frozen salmon in the air fryer
- Air fryer meatloaf
- Air fryer buffalo wings
- Air fryer boneless pork chops
- Air fryer brats
- Air fryer steak bites
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Crispy Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter room temperature (or mayo)
- 2 slices cheese American or cheddar works best
- 2 slices bread I like sandwich bread, but sourdough works great
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 340 degrees.
- Make a sandwich with the bread, placing the two pieces of cheese on the inside.
- Spread both sides of the outside of the sandwich with the butter.
- Place in the air fryer basket or tray and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, flipping the sandwich halfway through cooking. It's done when it's golden brown.
Notes
- Reheat leftovers in a preheated air fryer at 340 degrees F for 3 to 4 minutes.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
Mine looked absolutely nothing like that. It didn’t colour the bread at all!
Make sure you are putting enough butter on the bread and letting the air fryer preheat fully.