This simple air fryer grilled cheese takes minutes to make and comes out golden exterior, completely melted inside, with a satisfying crunch and massive strings of gooey cheese! It doesn’t get higher.
When you’ve mastered this basic grilled cheese within the air fryer, take it up a notch with a spicy sizzling Buffalo hen grilled cheese!


Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
I’ve used my air fryer to cook dinner all the pieces from hen tenders to chocolate chip cookies, so it was solely a matter of time earlier than I made air fryer grilled cheese! I don’t know if I’ll ever return to a skillet on the range. There are some things that I search for in an ideal grilled cheese sandwich, and this air fryer recipe nails it:
- Further crispy. The air fryer makes it tremendous simple to get that coveted golden exterior, for an additional crispy, crunchy grilled cheese sandwich.
- Massive, gooey strings of cheese. Once I slice and pull aside a freshly grilled cheese sandwich, I really like seeing loads of ooey-gooey, melted cheese stretching from in between the bread slices. Because the sizzling air circulates, the air fryer is a fast and simple shortcut to grilled cheese that’s completely melted inside.
- Simple. I believe probably the greatest elements about an ideal grilled cheese is its simplicity! This recipe doesn’t have any fancy components and the tactic is tremendous simple, even for rookies. Plus, it’s approach quicker than a skillet!


Components You’ll Want
There are actually simply 3 components wanted to make a basic grilled cheese: bread, butter, and cheese! I’ve included some notes beneath. Scroll all the way down to the recipe card for a printable listing with the total recipe quantities.
- Butter – Take the butter out of the fridge forward of time in order that it softens sufficient to unfold simply over the bread.
- Bread – Any bread you’d like! I take advantage of sourdough. My one advice for selecting bread for grilled cheese is to keep away from an excessively robust, laborious crust (it’ll solely get tougher after it’s cooked).
- Cheese – For the most effective grilled cheese, you’ll wish to use a mixture of shredded cheddar and one other melty cheese, like mozzarella, Gruyere, or Monterey Jack.
The way to Make Grilled Cheese Within the Air Fryer
If you happen to’re new to air frying, a basic grilled cheese is a good place to begin! I even have a helpful information on the way to use an air fryer that walks you thru the fundamentals. Then, observe the fast steps right here. You’ll additionally discover the printable directions within the recipe card beneath the publish.






- Assemble. Whereas the air fryer preheats to 370ºF, butter two slices of bread, after which assemble your grilled cheese within the air fryer with the buttered sides going through out. You may be beneficiant with the shredded cheese!
- Cook dinner. Air fry the grilled cheese for 4-5 minutes per aspect till it’s golden and toasty and the cheese is absolutely melted.


Recipe Suggestions and Variations
- Maintain the sandwich collectively. If you happen to’re working with thinner bread slices, think about sticking a toothpick into the grilled cheese to carry it collectively whereas it cooks.
- Olive oil as a substitute of butter. If you happen to’d choose to make your air fryer grilled cheese with olive oil, drizzle a small quantity over every bread slice. Then, sprinkle a pinch of salt (my favourite is Maldon sea salt) over the oiled aspect of the bread for additional taste. A bit salt additionally helps the surface of the grilled cheese crisp up. You are able to do this should you’re utilizing unsalted butter, too.
- Ham and cheese. Make a ham and cheese grilled cheese by layering deli ham or thinly sliced leftover baked ham over the cheese. You may also add tomato slices.
- Pesto. Unfold the within of the bread slices with basil pesto, sun-dried tomato pesto, or tapenade.
- Pizza. Make pepperoni pizza grilled cheese with mozzarella, pepperoni slices, and tomato sauce.
- Extra add-ins. Add cooked bacon slices or caramelized onions. I additionally love making grilled cheese with skinny apple slices for a sweet-savory distinction.


Regularly Requested Questions
Sure, it’s best to flip your grilled cheese midway by cooking in order that it browns evenly on either side. If one aspect isn’t fairly golden brown, flip and cook dinner for an additional 1-2 minutes extra.
Butter provides taste, however you may as well use olive oil or mayo. Making grilled cheese with mayo as a substitute of butter provides to the flavour and offers the surface of the bread a pleasant, golden brown shade.


What to Serve With Grilled Cheese
Nothing brings me straight again to my childhood than a gooey, crispy grilled cheese dunked right into a bowl of creamy tomato soup. Or, just about any soup for that matter, from vegetable soup to Zuppa Toscana and even good old school hen noodle soup. Simply add a aspect of inexperienced salad and lunch is served!


Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Refrigerate. Grilled cheese will all the time style the most effective when it’s contemporary from the skillet or air fryer! That being mentioned, if in case you have leftovers, you may retailer them hermetic and hold them within the fridge for a day or two.
- Reheat. The best approach to reheat grilled cheese is to return it to the air fryer at 350ºF till it’s sizzling and melted once more.
Description
This simple air fryer grilled cheese takes minutes to make and comes out crispy and golden exterior, completely melted inside, with massive strings of gooey cheese!
- 3 Tablespoons Butter, softened
- 4 slices of Bread (I used sourdough)
- 3 ounces Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 3 ounces Mozzarella cheese, Gruyere, or Monterey Jack cheese
- Preheat the air fryer to 370F.
- Unfold one slice of bread with butter, protecting one aspect fully.
- Place the bread butter aspect down on the air fryer grate.
- High with equal quantities of each cheeses.
- Butter one aspect of the second slice of bread and place it on prime of the cheese, with the butter aspect up.
- In case your bread is skinny, add a toothpick to maintain the bread from blowing off.
- Cook dinner for 4-5 minutes, then flip and cook dinner for an additional 4 minutes. If you happen to like your bread extra toasted, you may add one minute at a time.