Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
Jun 18, 2020, Updated Nov 01, 2023
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Air Fryer Grilled Cheese is a simple recipe that even the kids can make. Perfectly toasted bread with melted cheese, a classic sandwich that can be paired with many different side dishes for a delicious meal.
We love serving this air fryer sandwich with Air Fryer French Fries or Air Fryer Tator Tots for a fun family dinner.
My air fryer has been working overtime lately. There are so many things you can easily make in it and best of all, even my kids can use it to cook. I like that they don’t have to turn on the gas stove, they just add food to the fryer basket and go.
After making these grilled cheese in the air fryer, I don’t think I will be going back to the skillet.
Why these sandwiches are delicious
- Forget the skillet, the bread get beautifully toasty in the air fryer.
- A quick and satisfying snack or meal.
Ingredients needed
I have found that there are two different kinds of people, those who make grilled cheese with butter and those that make it with mayonnaise. I’m still not sure which way I prefer so this recipe includes both in the ingredient list.
Bread – Use your favorite like sandwich bread, french bread or sourdough.
Cheese – For this recipe I used one slice cheddar and one slice Havarti. Some of the best cheeses to use are ones that melt well like Provolone, Mozzarella, Swiss and American. Feel free to also use your favorite shredded cheese.
Butter OR Mayonnaise – They are both so good, you can’t go wrong.
How to make air fryer grilled cheese
Scroll to bottom for full printable recipe, ingredients and video.
- Spread: Spread one side of each piece of bread with either softened butter or mayonnaise.
- Build: Place bread spread side down in the fryer basket. Top with cheese and then top with another piece of bread, spread side up.
- Cook: Air fryer on 370 degrees F for 4 minutes, flip the sandwiches over and cook at 370 degrees for another 4 minutes.
Recipe tips
- I did not preheat my air fryer for this recipe but if you machine requires it, preheat for 3-5 minutes.
- Be sure not to overcrowd the basket. Two sandwiches should be able to fit depending on the bread size.
- If the bread you are using is thin, you might want to insert a toothpick in the center of the sandwich to prevent the bread from coming off while cooking. Air fryers cook by circulating hot air and if the bread is light and then it could possibly blow off.
Variations
- To reduce calories and fat, replace butter with a light spray of olive oil.
- Change it up by trying different breads and cheeses.
- Try adding bacon or mustard to the sandwich.
Best air fryer to use
There are so many great options on the market today. I use a Cosori 5.8 quart, you can read all about my experience and review here. A few other options to consider:
- OMORC – 5.8 quart basket with a great price point.
- Ninja Foodie – This machine is an air fryer, slow cooker and pressure cooker in one.
- Instant Vortex – Made by Instant Pot, this is a 6-quart fryer.
More easy air fryer recipes
- Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs – Tender, meatballs that work well for a variety of recipes.
- Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus – A wonderful side dish to impress guests.
- Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Smokies – A favorite appetizer for parties.
- Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken – Make your own rotisserie style chicken at home
- Air Fryer Chicken Breasts – These cook up fast.
- Air Fryer Meatloaf – Tender meat with a slightly sweet sauce.
More from Food Lovin Family
***If you made this sandwich recipe, feel free to leave a comment and star rating below.
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 4 pieces sandwich bread
- 4 slices cheese I used 2 cheddar and 2 Havarti
- 3 tablespoons butter could also use mayonnaise
Instructions
- Spread butter or mayonnaise on one side of each piece of bread.
- Lay a piece of bread, spread side down, in air fryer basket. Top with 2 slices of cheese and place another piece of bread, spread side up, on top of cheese.
- Cook sandwiches at 370 degrees F for 4 minutes, flip the sandwiches over and cook at 370 degrees for another 4 minutes or until desired toast.
- Serve warm.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Its 2022, can we skip the 17 paragraphs of nonsense thats pure ego and just post recipes… orrrr do you think people give a crap?
Great info on a sandwich, but that’s what it is. A sandwich…
I have a Jump To Recipe button at the top you can use and only one intro paragraph 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
What setting do I use on the air fryer? i.e., air fry, broil, etc.
You can use the air fryer setting. Hope you enjoy!
I’m new to the air fryer and I have the same cosori one. It was too toasted for me so I think if I try it again I will adjust the time and temp.
Thank you for this recipe! It is delicious! I am new to air fryers, and looking for good recipes!
As a type 1 diabetic I have to look at the carbohydrates all of the time, and the carbs in this recipe seem really low.. just an fyi.
Thanks again!!
Debby
When I make grilled chees sandwiches in the air fryer they taste good but the cheese drips down into the bottom and the grill and then has to be washed and scrubbed out. I’m going to try parchment paper. Do I have to use the kind with holes already in it? Can I
use foil?
You can use regular parchment and just poke a few holes in it. You could place foil on the very bottom of the basket to catch any cheese for easier clean-up. Enjoy!
One of the best hacks I’ve seen for cleaning the air fryer when it gets really messy is to put dish soap (leave the grill part in) then add water to about half way and start up the air fryer for 5 minutes or so and all that stuff comes off really easily!!
Tried this today. I will probably stick to the stove top. It was crunchy but didn’t achieve the color I prefer. I have a Philips and cooked it at 375° for 4 minutes per side. Used a mixture of butter and olive oil spray. Maybe I needed more butter. It was good but the color was off for me.
These were absolutely delicious I put a little salad dressing on one side and added bread and butter pickles the bread stayed nice and fresh. Will definitely keep this recipe
i put mayo inside and butter on outside the way we were raised in alabama
I would like to put a slice of tomato between the cheeses. Will that affect the cooking time? This is a delicious recipe, but I like tomato inside mine
I think the cooking time should be fine with the tomato. You might want to check on it a minute early.
Made 2 perfect grilled cheese sandwiches!! Not burned or soggy like I typically do with a skillet!! Loved our sandwiches and plan on making them again soon!!!
Just tried this recipe in my air fryer and love it. The cheese was evenly melted and the browning of the bread was uniform … something I can’t get when I make it with a skillet. Best of all, my 4 year old son gave it two thumbs up and suggested we have it again tomorrow.