Best Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe
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Air Fryer Grilled Cheese is so simple to make, you’ll never want to use a pan again! Enjoy one for a quick and easy meal that’s mess-free too. This simple recipe creates the perfect comfort food! It’s time to take your grilled cheese to the next level!
If you’re thinking that making grilled cheese on the stovetop is easy enough, let me tell you that air fried grilled cheese is life changing!
Using the air fryer basket is a simple way to create that perfect melty cheese without the mess. With a quick cooking time, it literally is the perfect recipe.
Who knew that air fryer could create the best grilled cheese sandwiches? I’m obsessed with making this easy lunch!
The golden bread and the melted cheese are the best!
This is one of those easy air fryer recipes that the whole family will love.
I never actually thought that I’d love the air fryer method better, but turns out it’s an actual game changer when it comes to the grilled cheese game.
It toasts the slices of bread in the most perfect way, making a classic comforting meal that will produce literally zero leftover sandwiches.
I also love that this recipe takes a super short amount of time to make, and that you need a few simple ingredients to make it.
I like to sometimes change things up and add some crispy bacon or tomato slices, because any option is a great option!
The recipe card below shows you how simple it is to make this grilled cheese recipe – you’re going to be hooked!
Table of Contents
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
With perfectly toasted bread and a gooey center, who could resist making grilled cheese in the air fryer?
There’s less fat, the cheese melts better, and you end up with those perfectly crisp edges that make the best grilled cheese!!
If this recipe is too simple for your taste, check out my gourmet version that’s stuffed with bacon, tomatoes, and arugula.
Or, try a crispy Monte Cristo with raspberry jam – just like the kind you can get at Disneyland!
How to Air Fry Grilled Cheese
- Use plenty of cheese. This recipe calls for 3 slices per sandwich so you can really taste the flavor.
Adjust the amounts as needed, especially if you plan to use a bolder variety or a combination of both. - Assemble carefully. Be sure to keep the slices of American away from the edges of the bread. If any hangs over, it tends to get hard or spill down through the basket.
- Toothpicks are your friend! Stick one through each sandwich to prevent any sliding or separation at first.
You can remove it once it’s ready to flip since the air fryer grilled cheese sandwich will be melty enough to hold together. - Have leftovers? While these are best when freshly cooked, you can keep extras in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
Reheat grilled cheese in the air fryer until warm and crispy again.
Serving Suggestions
Pair your air fryer grilled cheese sandwich with a bowl of creamy tomato basil soup. It’s a classic comfort food combo for a reason!
Too hot for soup? Make a batch of sweet potato chips or crispy fries. Even a simple salad or seasonal fruit would be delicious with air fryer grilled cheese.
Air Fried Grilled Cheese FAQ
Not at all! In fact, you’re guaranteed perfectly crunchy bites when you air fry grilled cheese sandwiches.
Because of the circulation in the basket, each sandwich gets nice and crisp all around the outer layer.
Yes, feel free to use whichever you prefer. The flavor difference shouldn’t be too noticeable.
Mayonnaise and butter are the two most commonly used spreads for this type of sandwich, and either will create a crispy texture on the outside of the bread.
This really comes down to preference, and there’s no right or wrong answer. Get creative with different combinations and try two different cheeses at once if you would like!
If you do use a thinner or less dense variety of bread, keep an eye on your sandwich towards the end of cooking. You may need to pull it early so it doesn’t become too dark or crispy.
Breads: Italian, whole wheat, honey wheat, ciabatta, rye, Texas toast, garlic bread, French bread, brioche bread, sourdough bread, any white bread
Cheeses: Velveeta, sharp cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese, American cheese, Havarti, fontina, gruyere, Monterey Jack cheese slices – or any types of cheese that you want
You can really use any type of high quality cheese or aged cheeses with your preferred pieces of bread. Most cheese will make a good melting cheese to pair with your favorite bread. Some people prefer a thicker bread to balance out the slices of cheese.
All bread will come out perfectly golden brown so you can pick and choose the bread slices that you want to use. The hot air makes air frying bread a breeze no matter if it’s wheat bread, white bread, etc.
Enjoy this quick lunch in any delicious way that you want!
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Air Fryer Recipes
Best Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 slices sourdough bread
- 6 slices American cheese
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, divided
- serve with dill pickle spear and tomato soup, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer at 350°F for 4 minutes.
- Spread 1/2 tablespoon of mayo on one side of a slice of sourdough bread. Place bread mayo-side down in the air fryer basket. Repeat for a second slice.
- Place 3 slices of American cheese on top of each of the bread slices, keeping the cheese away from the edges.
- Spread 1/2 tablespoon of mayo on a new slice of sourdough bread. Place the bread, mayo-side up on top of the cheese slices of the first sandwich. Repeat for the second sandwich. Secure the sandwich stack together with a toothpick.
- Cook at 350°F for 10 minutes, removing toothpicks and flipping halfway through.
- Flip one more time and cook an additional 1-2 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
- Remove promptly from the air fryer and cut in half. Serve with a dill pickle spear and a bowl of tomato soup. Enjoy!
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published September 2021, updated and republished January 2025
Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.
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We’re Donna and Chad, the dream team behind The Slow Roasted Italian. Our focus is on taking complicated OUT of the kitchen. Life is busy enough, making meals should be fast and easy, to help make your life as simple as possible. Read More >>
List of ingredients (2 pieces bread) & instructions (4 pieces bread) don’t seem to coordinate?
Hi Kathleen,
We have fixed the ingredients, thank you for letting us know. Have a great day!
TSRI Team Member,
Holli
This was so quick and easy. Honestly tastes better than a pan fried one!
Made with Gouda cheese & thin slices of Granny Smith apples…served along with roasted pepper tomato soup.
I don’t think it will work in my ninja air fryer….☹️😢