The Perfect Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich

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There’s something about a classic grilled cheese sandwich that makes it the perfect comfort food. And to make it even easier (who knew it was possible?), make one in an air fryer, and it gets even better! An Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich is crispy and cheesy, simple to make, and doesn’t require standing over a stove.

Air Fryer Grilled Cheese

Every time I come across a new way to use my air fryer, I fall a little more in love with it. Nothing can beat a crispy, golden crust with ooey-gooey cheese melting inside, and all without the need for a ton of butter or standing over a hot skillet.

If you’ve ever wondered… can you make grilled cheese in an air fryer? The answer is YES!!

In fact, using an air fryer means making grilled cheese a bit easier – plus faster cleanup – this grilled cheese recipe might just become your new favorite. It’s simple, satisfying, and downright delicious in that familiar comfort-food way.

air fryer grilled cheese cut in half and stacked on a gray plate

Best Way to Make Grilled Cheese

For as long as I can remember, we’ve made grilled cheese sandwiches in a skillet on the stove top or on a griddle. It required a lot of butter, paying careful attention, and flipping them at just the right time to achieve the best crispy crust and perfectly melted cheese without burning the bread.

Until now. Making an air fried grilled cheese is the best way to make the perfect grilled cheese sandwich.

air fryer grilled cheese cut in half and being held over bowl of tomato soup

Equipment Needed

Air fryer. This is the air fryer used for this recipe: https://go.magik.ly/ml/38yv8/. I’ve recently upgraded to this larger air fryer and we love it too!
Butter Knife
Plate

Ingredients

You only need three (or four, if you count two types of cheese) simple ingredients to make a grilled cheese in air fryer.

Sourdough Bread. If you don’t love sourdough, you can use your favorite type of bread for an air fryer grilled cheese sandwich . This sandwich was tested, and also photographed with, was thick sourdough bread. Other breads may not take as long in an air fryer, so keep that in mind and reduce the time as needed. Our favorite is always some kind of thick-sliced white bread.
Butter, softened to room temperature. Or, use unsalted butter, if you prefer. Whatever you usually use for grilled cheeses is fine.
Sliced Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Sliced Mozzarella Cheese

Note about cheese: Trying different combinations, we’ve decided a mixture of cheddar or Monterey Jack and mozzarella works best; however, if you have a different favorite cheese, you can mix and match other cheeses (that you know melt well). We also like American cheese sometimes when making our grilled cheese in an air fryer.

How to Make Grilled Cheese in Air Fryer

This grilled cheese air fryer recipe could not be easier!

Start by preheating your air fryer to 375℉.
While the air fryer is preheating, butter the slices of bread with 1 tablespoon of butter per slice – or a thin layer of butter on each side, if you don’t want to measure.
Place on a plate or cutting board, butter side down, add 1 slice of cheddar cheese to one side, then the mozzarella, then the second cheddar, and then place the top slice of bread on top, butter side up.
Once the air fryer is preheated, place the sandwich in the air fryer basket and air fry for about 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, and air frying until golden brown on both sides.

a slice of buttered sourdough bread and a slice with cheddar cheese on it

a slice of buttered sourdough bread and a slice with cheddar and mozzarella cheese on it

a slice of buttered sourdough bread and more cheddar cheese on top of a second slice

stacked sourdough bread buttered on the outside with slices of cheese in between

air fryer grilled cheese sandwich on a gray plate

Enjoy alone or with a bowl of hot tomato soup or a handful of your favorite potato chips!

slice of grilled cheese sandwich on the side of a bowl of tomato soup

Note: This sandwich tastes best fresh from the air fryer.

Tips

Pre-grated cheese is not recommended. It doesn’t melt well because anti-caking agents and low moisture prevent the shreds of cheese from blending smoothly when heated. Fresh shredded cheese would work if you’d like to use that instead of cheese slices.
No butter? You could make an air fryer grilled cheese with mayo spread on the bread instead of butter.
For Easy Cleanup… grilled cheeses have the risk of leaking cheese in an air fryer as the cheese melts. Consider air frying with parchment under the sandwich in the air fryer for a quicker clean-up time.
Cooking times will vary for different air fryers – not all air fryers cook the same. If your sandwich looks completely golden on one side when you flip, reduce the amount of time and check again after a couple of minutes to see if it’s done.
Storage: This sandwich tastes best fresh from the air fryer. Storing leftovers is not recommended.

air fryer grilled cheese sandwich cut in half with cheese pull between the halves

FAQ

Can I make multiple sandwiches at once?

Absolutely! Most air fryers should be able to fit at least 2 sandwiches in them at once with there still being plenty of space for the hot air to heat it, cans crisp it, up nicely. At the end of the day, it really depends on the size of your air fryer!

Can I use fillings other than cheese in this?

Yes! Feel free to use deli meat, cooked bacon, pepperoni slices, or different kinds of cheese. I think a grilled ham and cheese in an air fryer sounds amazing!

air fried grilled cheese sandwich half being dipped in tomato soup

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