Air Fryer Grilled Cheese

This Air Fryer Grilled Cheese is a fail-proof method to make a perfectly crispy, hot, and melty cheese sandwich for lunch. This grilled cheese is real comfort food, and great even for the pickiest eaters.

Now back to basics, there’s nothing better than a melty hot grilled cheese sandwich for lunch or to enjoy as a snack. But sometimes I don’t feel like making a mess in my kitchen and doing this over a skillet. So that’s where the Air Fryer saves my life!

Making grilled cheese in the Air Fryer is as easy as building the sandwich (you only need 3 ingredients), putting it in the Air Fryer basket, and setting the temperature and the timer on! It’s much easier than using the stovetop and perfect for a quick feel-good snack or a delicious lunch!

Why using the Air Fryer is the Perfect Way to Make Grilled Cheese?

Once you make it in the Air Fryer, you won’t go back to your habitual way of making it using the stove or panini press. The reasons for that are countless, and I’m mentioning a few here:

• It’s quicker and easier to make in the Air Fryer.
• You don’t need to add any oil.
• It’s almost impossible to burn the grilled cheese in the Air Fryer.
• It’s a mess-free method, and you won’t end up cleaning greasy pans afterwards.
• It won’t heat up your kitchen, as compared to using the stove or the oven.
• The Air Fryer is a small gadget!

Ingredients for Air Fryer Grilled Cheese

In the grilled cheese world, there is no right or wrong. I mean, by all means, use your favorite ingredients! But in my opinion, the best grilled cheese is made with white bread, American cheese, and butter.

• White sandwich bread – use your favorite bread, go for artisan or crusty bread if you prefer.
• Cheese – go with the classic American cheese, or if you’re feeling fancy then go for quality cheese and you can even mix two or more cheeses together. Good options are provolone, sharp cheddar, Swiss cheese, mozzarella, fontina, and pepper jack.
• Butter – softened. It can be substituted by a spray of olive oil or mayonnaise (which are easier to spread over your bread and have a higher smoke point that allows the sandwich to be crispier from the outside and fluffier from the inside). But I also LOVE the buttery flavor of a good grilled cheese, so choose your favorite.

How to Make Grilled Cheese in the Air Fryer

• Preheat the Air Fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes.
• Add cheese to one slice of sandwich bread.
• Put another slice on the top and press them gently together.

• Generously butter both sides of the sandwich (or use mayo or oil) and put it in the Air Fryer basket.
• Set the timer to 3 minutes.

• When the timer goes off, flip the sandwich to the other side and set the timer to 2 minutes to fry until golden brown and toasted all around.
• Remove the grilled cheese from the Air Fryer, slice it into 2 halves and serve hot!

What to Serve with Grilled Cheese?

The options for what pairs perfectly with grilled cheese are unlimited. Just use your imagination. I love pairing grilled cheese with:

• Tomato soup – nothing better than this class combo! I cut the grilled cheese into squares and call them grilled cheese croutons.
• Pumpkin Soup – so cozy and good!
• Curried Cauliflower Soup
• A fresh simple salad.
• Coleslaw, the creamy type.
• Dip in homemade marinara sauce.
• French Fries – Best combo ever! I make mine in the Air Fryer.
• Olives and pickles.
• Ketchup and mustard.

What Can You Add to Grilled Cheese?

The classic way for making grilled cheese as described above is amazingly delicious as is. But you can make it even richer and more flavorful by varying the bread and adding different combinations of cheeses.

Another way to upgrade your grilled cheese is by adding your favorite ingredients to the classic sandwich. Options for possible ingredients are countless, but examples can be:

• Fried egg, avocado slices, tomatoes, caramelized onions, crispy bacon, pickles, peppers, fried mushrooms, grilled jalapenos, capers.
• Greens: such as arugula or basil.
• Sauces: mayo, sriracha, mustard, pesto, peanut butter, or a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.
• Fruit: add fresh fruit like slices of apple, pear, blackberry, blueberry, kiwi, peach, strawberry, or grilled banana. You can also add dried fruit such as raisins, apricots, cranberries, and currants.

Storing Tips

Grilled cheese is like French fries, best eaten when hot and freshly made. However, if you make grilled cheese ahead of time to serve later, you can safely store it following these tips:

• Fridge: Once cooled down to room temperature, you can store grilled cheese in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• To reheat, put in the air fryer and air fry for 2 minutes or until warmed up.

Top Tips

• Generously butter the bread from the outside to get a nice and crispy grilled sandwich.
• Butter can be substituted with olive oil spray or mayonnaise if that’s what you have on hand. These variation will give you different flavor options, but are easier to spread over your bread and have a higher smoke point that allows the sandwich to be crispier from the outside and fluffier from the inside.
• Pay attention to put all the cheese inside the bread slices, so it doesn’t leek on the Air Fryer.
• If using a thick slice of cheese, you’ll need to cook the sandwich for longer but on lower heat, to melt the cheese all the way.
• If bread slices are thin and light, you can use a toothpick to fix the top slice to prevent it from flying off the sandwich with the hot air coming out of the Air Fryer.
• I use this Air Fryer which I keep recommending in all my Air Fryer posts (in the pictures you’ll see a different one, but I have upgraded since I took these pictures). It’s really good because it has a large square air fryer basket that can fit a lot of food.
• Keep in mind that not all Air Fryers cook the same, so check halfway to see if grilled cheese is almost done and – if necessary – adjust cooking time accordingly.
• Avoid overcrowding the Air Fryer basket which might prevent the hot air from circulating properly and leave the food undercooked or not crispy enough.

If you try this recipe, please don’t forget to rate it and share a picture on social media, tagging #NourishPlate in your posts. I would really love to see your creations. Bon appetit!