Air Fryer Grilled Cheese is a simple recipe that even the kids can make. Perfectly toasted bread with melted cheese, a classic sandwich that can be paired with many different side dishes for a delicious meal.
We love serving this air fryer sandwich with Air Fryer French Fries or Air Fryer Tator Tots for a fun family dinner.
My air fryer has been working overtime lately. There are so many things you can easily make in it and best of all, even my kids can use it to cook. I like that they don’t have to turn on the gas stove, they just add food to the fryer basket and go.
After making these grilled cheese in the air fryer, I don’t think I will be going back to the skillet.
Why these sandwiches are delicious
- Forget the skillet, the bread get beautifully toasty in the air fryer.
- A quick and satisfying snack or meal.
Ingredients needed
I have found that there are two different kinds of people, those who make grilled cheese with butter and those that make it with mayonnaise. I’m still not sure which way I prefer so this recipe includes both in the ingredient list.
Bread – Use your favorite like sandwich bread, french bread or sourdough.
Cheese – For this recipe I used one slice cheddar and one slice Havarti. Some of the best cheeses to use are ones that melt well like Provolone, Mozzarella, Swiss and American. Feel free to also use your favorite shredded cheese.
Butter OR Mayonnaise – They are both so good, you can’t go wrong.
How to make air fryer grilled cheese
Scroll to bottom for full printable recipe, ingredients and video.
- Spread: Spread one side of each piece of bread with either softened butter or mayonnaise.
- Build: Place bread spread side down in the fryer basket. Top with cheese and then top with another piece of bread, spread side up.
- Cook: Air fryer on 370 degrees F for 4 minutes, flip the sandwiches over and cook at 370 degrees for another 4 minutes.
Recipe tips
- I did not preheat my air fryer for this recipe but if you machine requires it, preheat for 3-5 minutes.
- Be sure not to overcrowd the basket. Two sandwiches should be able to fit depending on the bread size.
- If the bread you are using is thin, you might want to insert a toothpick in the center of the sandwich to prevent the bread from coming off while cooking. Air fryers cook by circulating hot air and if the bread is light and then it could possibly blow off.
Variations
- To reduce calories and fat, replace butter with a light spray of olive oil.
- Change it up by trying different breads and cheeses.
- Try adding bacon or mustard to the sandwich.
Best air fryer to use
There are so many great options on the market today. I use a Cosori 5.8 quart, you can read all about my experience and review here. A few other options to consider:
- OMORC – 5.8 quart basket with a great price point.
- Ninja Foodie – This machine is an air fryer, slow cooker and pressure cooker in one.
- Instant Vortex – Made by Instant Pot, this is a 6-quart fryer.
More easy air fryer recipes
- Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs – Tender, meatballs that work well for a variety of recipes.
- Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus – A wonderful side dish to impress guests.
- Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Smokies – A favorite appetizer for parties.
- Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken – Make your own rotisserie style chicken at home
- Air Fryer Chicken Breasts – These cook up fast.
- Air Fryer Meatloaf – Tender meat with a slightly sweet sauce.
***If you made this sandwich recipe, feel free to leave a comment and star rating below.
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 4 pieces sandwich bread
- 4 slices cheese I used 2 cheddar and 2 Havarti
- 3 tablespoons butter could also use mayonnaise
Instructions
- Spread butter or mayonnaise on one side of each piece of bread.
- Lay a piece of bread, spread side down, in air fryer basket. Top with 2 slices of cheese and place another piece of bread, spread side up, on top of cheese.
- Cook sandwiches at 370 degrees F for 4 minutes, flip the sandwiches over and cook at 370 degrees for another 4 minutes or until desired toast.
- Serve warm.
This makes me want to get an air fryer.
How can a sandwich using two slices of bread have only 2 g of carbs?? Not possible.
My crust was way too crispy for my taste I don’t know what I did wrong. I have the basket I cooked at proper temp 4’mins each side (400*). What am I doing wrong with the crust?
Each air fryer can cook a little differently. If you make one again I would try checking the sandwich at about 2 minutes on each side and add more time depending on how you like your crust.
This worked great for us. I believe the recipe said 370 degrees, which is quite a lot less than 400. My son and I tried our first sandwiches in the air fryer. He used a LOT more butter on the outside of his sandwich than I did. Mine was crunchier, and his was a little too soft. Probably, somewhere in the middle would be perfect for him. I need less calories, and I LOVED the exterior texture of my sandwich. Thank you for the recipe.
Just tried this today, i love how delightfully crispy crunchy it makes the bread! I used a slice of baby swiss cheese for mine and had intended on also putting dill pickles in it but unfortunately i was out of pickles, next time, though! Definitely saving this recipe for future use because its so easy!
So glad you enjoyed it!
this is a great recipe love it
Thank you!!
Love the recipe; such a good idea to air fry the sandwich, but the bread alone has more that 2 g of carbs
I made them and the top piece of bread did blow around. The next time, I put one piece down, with the cheese on top, air pried it for a minute, then put the other piece down and flipped it over. Continued to air fry for 4 minutes, flipped it back over for 3 more minutes and it came out perfectly!
Air fried*
Another recipe I was looking at said to use a toothpick to secure the top slice of bread to the sandwich. Hope that helps!
Or you can put toothpicks in the sandwich to hold it together
Great way to do grilled cheese sandwiches
Do you preheat the air fryer?
It depends on your machine but I don’t preheat mine for grilled cheese.
Temps & time’s are Wonderful; but what about watt’s? No one is telling me what wattage I need to use. My machine has the different ones.
Yummy! I am in heaven with my air fryer especially now that I can grill cheese.
Dry & hard….. hot air dried it out. Won’t do sandwiches again but still love my air fryer!
Each air fryer cooks a little different. If you do try it again, I would recommend shortening the cooking time and maybe lowering the temperature a little bit.
Same. I followed directions exactly and it was dry. I will stick with grilling in a pan.
Put Put more Butter on your slices.
We love grilled cheese& I would’ve never thought to make them in the air fryer, but they were so good! The crusts were a little too crispy for our liking, but the not so crispy that we couldn’t eat them. I always cook my grilled cheese with butter on the outside& mayo on the inside which makes for a creamier sandwich in my opinion. The best part was I didn’t have to sit& watch it to make sure it was cooking right. I just popped it in& walked away, except to flip it at 4 min. Even when I sit& watch my sandwiches on the skillet I’ve never had the bread toast or cheese melt so perfectly.
Super easy and something I never thought I could make in the air fryer!!
Quick and easy lunchtime food. Add a little chutney between the cheese slices for added flavour Mmmm
Sandwich was good but I prefer one done in a skillet.
Grilled cheese in the air fryer is sooo good! I am a mayo on the bread kind of girl and the sandwiches came out perfectly! I too have the Cosori air fryer and I am totally in love! So much more to learn to do with my air fryer. One of my friends just used her air fryer for green fried tomatoes!
I love the mayo too! Fried green tomatoes sounds so good! I am going to have to try that next!!
YUM- delicious! Cheesy goodness, and I loves using the air fryer!
Loved the blend of havarati and cheddar cheese! Looking forward to making these for my kids today; they love a delicious grilled cheese sandwich!
grilled cheese is a favorite and made in the air fryer, it’s magical