Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
Jun 18, 2020, Updated Mar 11, 2025
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My air fryer grilled cheese is one of the top made recipes on this website. It’s a simple recipe that can be made in less than 10 minutes. Perfectly toasted bread with melted cheese, a classic sandwich that can be paired with many different sides for a delicious meal.
I have been making grilled cheese in the air fryer for years now and in fact it’s one of the most popular recipes on Food Lovin’ Family. After lots of trial and error, I think I have found the best time and temperature for making the perfect grilled cheese.
Even though this is a simple recipe, I am sharing a few tips and tricks to help you, along with thousands of other readers who have made this recipe, achieve a beautiful, delicious, cheesy grilled cheese.
If you are looking for more air fryer recipes be sure to try my air fryer meatloaf, air fryer thin chicken breasts, and air fryer Alexia sweet potato fries.
*****Reader Review: Made this for me and my bf and he loves it! I can officially say no more skillet grilled cheese. – Ej Marie
Why these sandwiches are delicious
- Perfectly toasty. Forget the skillet, the bread gets beautifully toasty in the air fryer.
- Fast and satisfying. Air fryer grilled cheese sandwiches can be made in minutes and are the perfect quick meal or snack.
- A family favorite. Everyone loves this air fryer grilled cheese. It’s easy to customize with your favorite cheese and is always a hit with family and friends.
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 mine so this recipe includes both in the ingredient list.
- Bread – Use your favorite bread like a sandwich bread, french bread, whole wheat, or sourdough.
- Cheese – I am using one slice of cheddar and once slice of Havarti cheese. Some other options of cheese that melt well are provolone, mozzarella, Swiss cheese, and American 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 the bread spread side down in the air fryer basket. Top with the cheese and then top with another piece of bread, spread side up.
- Cook: Set the air fryer on 370 degrees F and cook 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 your machine requires it, preheat for 2-3 minutes.
- Be sure not to overcrowd the basket. I can usually fit two sandwiches in my air fryer basket depending on the bread size.
- Use a toothpick to prevent the bread from moving. 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, it could possibly blow off.
Variations
- To reduce the fat, you can replace butter with a light spray of olive oil.
- Change it up by trying different breads and cheeses.
- Try adding cooked bacon or mustard to the sandwich.
Serving suggestions
After making and testing so many air fryer grilled cheese sandwiches, I decided to come up with a list of side dishes to make a complete meal. Things like french fries, onion rings, pasta salads, and more. Be sure to check out this list of 25 sides for grilled cheese for more options.
Storage
Store: If you have any leftover air fryer grilled cheese sandwiches you can place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Reheat them in the air fryer at 350 for 3-4 minutes.
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
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
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
Notes
- I did not preheat my air fryer for this recipe but if your machine requires it, preheat for 2-3 minutes.
- Be sure not to overcrowd the basket. I can usually fit two sandwiches in my air fryer basket depending on the bread size.
- Use a toothpick to prevent the bread from moving. 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, it could possibly blow off.
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.