Air-Frying Grilled Cheese: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Air fryers are a great alternative to stovetops when making grilled cheese sandwiches. They are easy to use, require less clean-up, and produce a more evenly toasted exterior with a perfectly melted middle. The ideal air-fried grilled cheese sandwich should have a crispy exterior and gooey, melted cheese in the middle. The cooking time for grilled cheese in an air fryer can vary from 7 to 16 minutes, depending on the model and the desired level of browning.

Air fryer grilled cheese with mayonnaise

Ingredients

• 2 slices of bread (white, sourdough, rustic, country white, whole-wheat sandwich bread, or brioche)
• 2 slices of cheese (melting cheese such as sharp cheddar, American, pepper jack, or low-moisture mozzarella)
• 1-2 tablespoons of mayonnaise
• Optional: butter, salt, pepper, and fillings of your choice (such as sliced apples, tomatoes, caramelized onions, mushrooms, cucumbers, avocados, sliced sandwich meat, or pepperoni)

Instructions

• Spread mayonnaise on one side of each slice of bread. You can also add butter to the mayonnaise for extra flavor and easier spreading.
• Place one slice of bread, mayonnaise side down, in the air fryer basket.
• Add your desired amount of cheese on top of the bread.
• Top with the second slice of bread, mayonnaise side up.
• Cook in the air fryer at 360-400°F (175-200°C) for 3-5 minutes.
• Flip the sandwich and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes, or until the sandwich is golden and crusty all over, and the cheese is melted.

Tips:

• If your air fryer has a strong fan, secure the sandwich with a toothpick before air frying to prevent the top slice of bread from flying off.
• Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the sandwiches in batches.
• Air fryer temperatures vary, so keep an eye on your sandwich to prevent burning.
• For extra flavor, sprinkle salt and pepper on the outside of the sandwich before air frying.

Enjoy your crispy and gooey air fryer grilled cheese!

Air fryer grilled cheese with butter

Ingredients

• 2 slices of bread (white, wheat, sourdough, rustic, country white, or whole-wheat sandwich bread)
• 2 slices of cheese (cheddar, Swiss, Gruyère, Monterey Jack, American, or a combination)
• Butter (salted or unsalted), softened at room temperature
• Toothpicks (optional)

Instructions

• Preheat your air fryer to between 360°F and 400°F.
• Butter one side of each slice of bread.
• Assemble the sandwiches by placing one slice of cheese on the non-buttered side of one slice of bread.
• Top with the other slice of bread, ensuring the buttered sides are facing out.
• Secure the sandwich with toothpicks (optional but helps keep the sandwich together during cooking).
• Place the sandwich(es) in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer and not overlapping. You may need to cook them in batches.
• Air fry at 360°F to 400°F for 2-3 minutes. Keep an eye on them to ensure they don't burn and that the top slice of bread hasn't blown off.
• Flip the sandwich(es) and cook for another 2-4 minutes, or until they reach your desired level of brownness.
• Remove the toothpicks (if used) and serve immediately.

Tips:

• If you don't have butter, you can use mayonnaise or oil as an alternative.
• For extra flavour, try adding a thin slice of ham or some pimento cheese to your sandwich before cooking.
• If using thinner, softer bread, it may be more prone to falling apart, so securing with toothpicks is recommended.
• Every air fryer is different, so keep an eye on your sandwich(es) while cooking and adjust the timing as needed.

Air fryer grilled cheese with toothpicks

Air fryers are a great way to make grilled cheese sandwiches with a deliciously crispy exterior and a perfectly melted middle. The convection heat of an air fryer means you can achieve the ideal grilled cheese with minimal effort and in record time.

Ingredients

• Unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
• Cheese: a combination of flavoursome cheese, such as sharp cheddar, and a good melting cheese, like Monterey Jack, Gruyère, or low-moisture mozzarella
• Bread: rustic bread, country white, or whole-wheat sandwich bread. You could also use sourdough, white bread, or sliced multigrain bread
• Toothpicks

Optional Ingredients

• Mayonnaise
• Ham
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Tomatoes
• Crispy bacon

Method

• Spread butter onto one side of each slice of bread.
• Grate the cheese and divide it evenly over two of the slices. Close the sandwiches with the remaining two slices, with the buttered side facing up. Press the sandwiches down slightly to close.
• Secure each sandwich with a toothpick in each corner to prevent the top slice of bread from flying off in the air fryer.
• Place the sandwiches in the air fryer and cook at 375ºF to 400ºF for 3 minutes.
• Remove the toothpicks and flip the sandwiches. Air fry for a further 3 to 4 minutes until the top is golden brown. If the bottom of the sandwich is still not golden brown, flip the sandwich again and air fry for another 1 to 2 minutes.
• Remove the sandwiches from the air fryer and serve.

Air fryer grilled cheese with pre-shredded cheese

The air fryer is a great way to make grilled cheese sandwiches with pre-shredded cheese. It's quick, easy, and results in a perfectly crispy and gooey sandwich. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you make delicious grilled cheese sandwiches using pre-shredded cheese in your air fryer.

Ingredients:

• Bread (thick-sliced white bread, rustic bread, country white, or whole-wheat sandwich bread)
• Pre-shredded cheese (a combination of sharp cheddar and a melting cheese like Monterey Jack, Gruyère, or low-moisture mozzarella)
• Butter (unsalted or salted) or mayonnaise
• Optional: ham, pimento cheese, or your favorite condiment

Instructions:

• Preheat your air fryer to 370-380°F (175°C).
• Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread. You can also use mayonnaise instead of butter.
• Place one slice of bread, butter or mayo side down, in the air fryer basket.
• Top the bread with your desired amount of pre-shredded cheese. For a classic grilled cheese, use two slices of cheese.
• Add a thin slice of ham or a spread of pimento cheese, if desired.
• Place the second slice of bread on top, butter or mayo side up.
• Air fry the sandwich for 3-4 minutes. If your air fryer has a strong fan, secure the sandwich with a toothpick to prevent the top slice from flying off.
• Flip the sandwich and air fry for an additional 3-4 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
• If the bottom of the sandwich is not yet golden brown, flip it again and air fry for another 1-2 minutes.
• Remove the toothpick and serve the grilled cheese sandwich.

Feel free to experiment with different types of bread and cheese combinations to find your favorite! You can also add condiments like gochujang, kimchi, or sauerkraut to spice up your grilled cheese. Enjoy your perfectly toasted and crispy grilled cheese sandwich, made easy with your air fryer!

Air fryer grilled cheese with two types of cheese

Ingredients for 1 Serving

• 2 slices of bread (white, wheat, sourdough, rustic, country white, or whole-wheat sandwich bread)
• 1 teaspoon butter, at room temperature (or mayonnaise)
• 2 slices of cheese (a combination of sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack, Gruyère, or low-moisture mozzarella)

Optional Ingredients

• Toothpicks
• Condiments (e.g. gochujang, kimchi, or sauerkraut)

Method

• Preheat your air fryer to between 360°F and 400°F.
• Spread butter or mayonnaise on one side of each slice of bread.
• Place one slice of bread, butter or mayonnaise-side down, in the air fryer basket.
• Top with 2 slices of cheese. You can grate the cheese first to help it melt faster and give a better cheese pull.
• Place the second slice of bread on top, butter or mayonnaise-side up.
• Air fry for 3 minutes, then flip the sandwich and air fry for an additional 1 to 4 minutes, until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
• If your air fryer has a strong fan, secure the sandwich with toothpicks before air frying to prevent the top slice from flying off. Remove the toothpicks before serving.

Tips

• For a more lightly toasted sandwich, flip after 2 minutes.
• If making two sandwiches at the same time, you may need to increase the cooking time by 1-2 minutes per side.
• Personalize your grilled cheese with additional toppings such as sliced or sundried tomatoes, bacon, pulled pork, sliced ham, or a sprinkle of brown sugar.

Frequently asked questions