Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Recipe – An Easy Way To Make Your Favorite Sandwich

If you want the best tasting grilled cheese sandwich, then you have to make it in the Air Fryer. I would have never believed it, but after making it myself, I swore I was eating a gourmet sandwich.

The bread turns a light golden brown and crisps up perfectly. And the cheese that is in between the two pieces of bread melts beautifully.

It tastes so much better than a sandwich that is slathered with butter and placed on a griddle. The bread turns out light and airy rather than the pan fried tasted of traditional toasted cheese sandwiches.

However, you may be wondering why you would want to make grilled cheese in an air fryer. And that is a good question.

Why Make Grilled Cheese In An Air Fryer?

Because these iconic melted cheese sandwiches takes just about the same time to make in a skillet or griddle, you may be hesitant to pull out your air fryer. However, you will see that there is a time and place that you will want to make them in your New Favorite Appliance.

If you are making a sandwich for one or two people, it is easier to use the air fryer that is sitting on your counter instead of pulling out a large skillet or griddle.

In addition, you don’t have to keep close attention to the sandwich as it is cooking. Instead of standing over the stove waiting for the perfect time to flip the sandwich, simply place it in the basket and walk away.

Then 5-6 minutes later, open the basket, flip the sandwich and let the other side cook until it is golden brown. Because it cooks by air circulating around the basket, you have little risk of it browning too much.

But the real reason that you should make grilled cheese using this method is simply the taste. Instead of the bread having that grilled butter taste, the bread turns out light and crispy.

And the time that it takes for the bread to turn golden brown is the perfect amount of time for the cheese to become perfectly melted. One bite, and you will see the cheese oozing out between the two pieces of bread.

However, for the best grilled cheese sandwich that requires very little clean up, be sure to follow the recipe below.

Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Recipe

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 teaspoons Whipped Butter Spread
• 2 slices Sourdough or Whole Grain Bread
• 1 slice Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 1 slice White Melting Cheese: such as Gruyere, Gouda, or Provolone cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

The first step in this recipe is to preheat the air fryer to 360°F (182°C). Although some brands of air fryers don’t require you to preheat, it is recommended that you do so before making your grilled cheese sandwiches.

Simply turn the air fryer on at the recommend temperature for 5 minutes. While it is heating up, prepare your sandwiches.

Although you could use standard white or wheat bread for your sandwiches, if you truly want a gourmet grilled cheese experience, use a good quality bread. I prefer sourdough or whole grain bread, however you could also use rye, pumpernickel, or multigrain bread as well.

Make Your Sandwich

Place the bread on a plate, and butter one side of each bread. Be sure to spread the butter entirely across the surface, edge to edge.

If you want to take your grilled cheese sandwich to the next level, spread the inside of the bread with mayonnaise on one piece of bread, and Dijon mustard on the other piece. Believe me, it sounds strange, but the slight tangy flavor of the condiments pair perfectly with the cheese.

Next, finish making your sandwich by placing one slice of the Cheddar and one slice of the Gruyere (or whatever cheese you are using) on the unbuttered sides of the bread. Depending on the size of your bread and cheese slices, you will need at least 2, but maybe up to 4 slices of cheese for each sandwich.

Once you have your cheese on the bread, place the second slice of the bread on top of the cheese, butter side up. Trim off any cheese that is hanging over the edges of the bread.

This will help prevent a mess as the grilled cheese is cooking in the air fryer. Before placing the sandwich in the basket, you need to secure the top piece of bread.

Secure with Toothpicks

To prevent it from flipping off as the air circulates, secure the bread with toothpicks. Do this by placing two toothpicks though the opposite corners of the sandwich.

Then carefully place the sandwich in the basket of the preheated air fryer. Be sure to place the toothpick side facing upward.

Close the air fryer basket and cook for 4 to 6 minutes. You want the top of the sandwich to turn light golden brown in color.

Then using tongs remove the toothpicks and then carefully flip the sandwich over. Continue cooking for 3 to 4 additional minutes. The grilled cheese is done when the top piece of bread is light golden brown in color and the cheese is melted.

Using a spatula, carefully remove the grilled cheese from the air fryer and place on a plate. Let the sandwich cool a few minutes, then slice and serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use American Cheese?

You can use whatever cheese that you prefer. However, it is always best to use a cheese that melts well, including American cheese.

2. Do I need to soak the toothpicks in water so that they don’t burn?

Because of the short cook time, the toothpicks do not need to be soaked in water. Simply place them in the opposite corners of your grilled cheese sandwich.

3. Can I stack the grilled cheese sandwiches in the air fryer?

Because air circulating around the sandwiches is what makes them cook, do not stack the grilled cheese sandwiches on top of each other. If your air fryer isn’t big enough, you will need to make them in batches.

Now that you know all the tips and tricks to making the best grilled cheese sandwiches, it is time to get cooking!

For all of my other Air Fryer Recipes, be sure to visit the Air Fryer Recipe Page located under the Recipe tab at the top of this article.

Enjoy! Mary

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