This air fryer grilled cheese is the most perfectly toasted bread around slices of stretchy, melted cheese! No more using American cheese for that gooey, cheesy center, as the air fryer melts everything evenly! You'll love how beginner-friendly this recipe is, and these delicious grilled cheese sandwiches are ready to serve in just 10 minutes!
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Recipe
This is another one of my air fryer recipes that is arguably just as good, or better than, the classic method of cooking! I truly love the perfectly toasted sandwich with melted cheesy goodness!
While I do enjoy the smooth melted texture of American cheese as much as any kid, I really do prefer to use sliced cheese like cheddar, Colby, or Colby-jack. You know, a more grown-up version of this sandwich!
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With the skillet-fried method, you can easily get a nice toasted sandwich with cheese that isn't completely melted in the center. When air frying, your grilled cheese sandwich turns out beautifully toasted and completely melted and it's practically effortless!
An air fryer grilled cheese is a classic sandwich assembled and heated to perfection in an air fryer. The bread is buttered on the side facing outward, then layered with sliced or shredded cheese. Then topped with the second slice of buttered bread.
🥘 Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Ingredients
This simple 3 ingredient sandwich is loved by kids of all ages! To make these air fryer sandwiches, you will need the following:
- Bread - 8 slices of bread. Your favorite sandwich bread will work fabulously in these grilled cheese sandwiches. You can upgrade your sandwich quality by using sliced artisan bread, French bread slices, rich challah bread, or tangy sourdough!
- Cheese - 8 slices of cheese (or roughly ½ cup shredded cheese per sandwich).
- Butter - 4 tablespoons of butter (or butter substitute, softened at room temperature).
- Garlic Salt - 1 teaspoon of garlic salt. I typically use some garlic salt on my buttered bread slices to add another bit of flavor to my wonderful toasted sandwiches!
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
In addition to the three basic ingredients for this sandwich, you will need an air fryer. I am using an Instant Pot Vortex Plus, which is a convection oven-style air fryer. Both air fryer styles in their assorted models will need to preheat while you assemble the sandwiches. Then toast and serve for the easiest lunch or super quick dinner ever!
This recipe will make 4 delicious grilled cheese sandwiches! You can easily make more if you work in batches and make sure to not overcrowd your air fryer.
Prep & Air Fry Sandwiches
- Preheat. Preheat your air fryer to 370ºF (188ºC). Select 'AIR FRY' on a convection-style air fryer and set the timer for 8 minutes.
- Butter bread. Butter the 8 bread slices with 4 tablespoons of butter. If using a convection-style air fryer, place half the buttered bread slices onto your air fryer racks with the buttered side facing down.
- Add cheese. Add the 8 cheese slices or shredded cheese portions. You can trim overhanging edges of the cheese, if desired, to prevent a melted mess.
- Finish building grilled cheese. Place the top piece of buttered bread onto the cheese layer. Top with 1 tablespoon of garlic salt, if desired. If using a basket-style air fryer, place the assembled sandwich or sandwiches into the basket. *For air fryers that are not convection oven style, you may need to use a toothpick to hold the top piece of bread in place.
- For convection-style air fryers. When the indicator says to 'ADD FOOD', place the racks with assembled sandwiches into your air fryer and close the door to start the cooking process. Flip your sandwiches and move the top rack to the bottom, and the bottom rack to the top, when the indicator says to 'TURN FOOD.' Close the door and finish the cooking cycle.
For basket-style air fryers. Place the basket with sandwiches into the air fryer and set the timer for 5 minutes. Flip the sandwiches after 5 minutes, and cook for an additional 3 minutes to finish. Cook in batches, if needed.
Serve your air fryer grilled cheese sandwiches with my roasted tomato soup and a few pickles! Or you could make a side salad, coleslaw, tomato soup, or crispy air fryer french fries! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- Preheating is very important, so make sure not to skip this step! Most air fryers require a preheating time and are recommended for the best results when cooking your food.
- Since not all air fryers are the same, you may need to watch your food closely toward the end of the cooking cycle. Your sandwiches may cook quickly or need a minute or two extra, depending on your air fryer model.
- Make sure to use plenty of space. Don't overcrowd your air fryer basket or racks. The air fryers need room to circulate air around your sandwiches to get them melted and toasty.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
These grilled cheese sandwiches are best enjoyed right away but you can re-toast them in the air fryer at 370ºF (188ºC) until they are heated through to your liking.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
If your sandwiches fell apart while air frying, you might want to use a thicker slice of bread. Thin slices of bread can blow off of the top. You can use toothpicks to hold the slices of bread together, then remove them when you flip your sandwiches.
Great question! So many cheeses to choose from! Of course, the iconic cheese of grilled cheese sandwiches is American cheese. It's already pre-sliced and available as yellow and white American cheese. Cheddar cheese is the second most popular, followed by Colby cheese which will look like Cheddar but melts a bit better. Other great cheeses to raise your grilled cheese game are Colby-Jack, Provolone, Gruyere, Monterey Jack, Blue Cheese, Muenster, Brie, Havarti, Gouda, Mozzarella, Swiss, or Manchego cheese!
You can use either salted or unsalted butter that has been softened to room temperature for easy spreading. You don't need much when buttering the bread. A thin layer will do, and my 1 tablespoon per sandwich is a generous amount. If you want to lighten up the calories, you can also use a spray butter substitute like I Can't Believe It's Butter or Molly McButter. The butter helps your sandwich toast to golden deliciousness!
😋 More Cheesy Recipes
Love ridiculously cheesy dishes? Try some of these recipes!
- Smoked Mac and Cheese - If you've never made smoked mac and cheese before, the smokiness adds a wonderful depth of flavor!
- Southern Baked Mac N Cheese - This Southern baked mac n cheese recipe is full of creamy and savory flavor that the whole family will love!
- Mac N Cheese Bites - Baked macaroni and cheese bites are the perfect finger food to enjoy with your kids!
- Sausage Cream Cheese Balls - The next time you need an easy and delicious appetizer for your next party or potluck, these sausage balls won't disappoint!
- Cream Cheese Wontons - These tasty and crunchy cream cheese wontons are incredibly easy to make and everyone will love them!
- Ranch Cheese Ball - Make this savory cheese ball for the holidays and watch how quickly it disappears!
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📖 Recipe Card
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 slices bread
- 8 slices cheese (or roughly ½ cup shredded cheese per sandwich)
- 4 tablespoon butter (softened, at room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 370 degrees F (188 degrees C). For a convection style air fryer, select 'AIR FRY' and set the timer to 8 minutes.
- Butter the slices of bread. For a convection style oven, place half the buttered bread slices onto the air fryer racks facing down.
- Add sliced or shredded cheese portions. Trim excess cheese from edges, if desired.
- Top the sandwich the second buttered slice of bread facing upward. Add garlic salt, if desired.
- For a convection style air fryer: Add the racks with sandwiches when the indicator says to 'ADD FOOD'. Flip the sandwiches when the indicator says to 'TURN FOOD' and move the bottom rack to the top, and the top rack to the bottom for even cooking.For a basket style air fryer: Place the basket with sandwich(es) into the air fryer and set for 5 minutes. When the 5 minute cook cycle is done, flip the sandwich or sandwiches and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
Notes
- Preheating is very important, so make sure not to skip this step! Most air fryers require a preheating time and are recommended for the best results when cooking your food.
- Since not all air fryers are the same, you may need to watch your food closely toward the end of the cooking cycle. Your sandwiches may cook quickly or need a minute or two extra, depending on your air fryer model.
- Make sure to use plenty of space. Don't overcrowd your air fryer basket or racks. The air fryers need room to circulate air around your sandwiches to get them melted and toasty.
Margret says
I really enjoyed this air fried cheese sandwich.
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
That's wonderful to hear, thank you!
Diane says
Grilled cheese was EXCELLENT! Thanks for the great info!
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Thank you Diane! I'm very happy to hear that you enjoyed these easy air fryer sandwiches!