Salads & Sandwiches

Air Fryer Grilled Cheese

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Air Fryer Grilled Cheese is absolutely the best way to make these beloved sandwiches! Once you do them the your air fryer you will be hooked for life.

Grilled cheese sandwich on crumpled up waxed paper.Pin
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese

This air fryer grilled cheese sandwich is life changing! I kid you not. Once you try it, you will never go back to pan frying.

Grilled cheese is an easy sandwich beloved by kids and adults alike. We still love dipping a melty grilled cheese in our tomato soup! Perfect comfort food.

What you need

  • bread – your favorite store bought or homemade bread. See below for suggestions.
  • cheese – see below for suggestions on types of cheeses to use
  • mayonnaise
Ingredients for grilled cheese; bread, cheese, mayonnaise.Pin

Why mayonnaise instead of butter? Mayo gives your grilled cheese the most wonderful crunchy texture on the outside. It also doesn’t make the bread soggy like when you use too much butter.

Optional additions

  • sliced green onion or chives
  • tuna
  • ham
  • bacon
  • jalapenos
  • tomato
  • caramelized onions
  • avocado
  • mushrooms
  • pepperoni (make a pizza grilled cheese with mozzarella)

What are the best cheeses to use?

Lots of cheeses will work for grilled cheese. The thing you need to think about is that you want a hard cheese so that it doesn’t soften too much and leak out of the bread before the bread is toasted. Some great cheeses include;

  • cheddar cheese – mild, medium or sharp cheddar cheese will work. Sharp cheese will take the longest to melt.
  • gouda cheese
  • gruyere cheese
  • Swiss cheese
  • sharp provolone

How to make it

  1. Spread mayonnaise on one side of each piece of bread.
  2. Repeat with all slices.
  3. Place one slice mayonnaise side down in air fryer basket. Add cheese on dry side of bread.
  4. Top with any additional toppings and the second piece of bread, with the dry side down.
  5. Air fry 4-5 minutes until golden brown.
  6. Flip. Air fry an additional 4-5 minutes.
  7. Cheese should be melty and bread golden. Serve hot.
Step by step photos of process. See details in recipe below.Pin

What types of cheeses to use?

Your choice of cheese is basically endless for delicious grilled cheese sandwiches. Pick your favorites. Mix and match several different types.

  • American cheese
  • cheddar (use mild for melting and a bit of sharp for flavor)
  • Monterey Jack
  • pepper jack
  • colby
  • gouda
  • brie
  • fontina
  • Swiss
  • mozzarella
Hand dipping grilled cheese sandwich in tomato soup.Pin

Types of bread to use

Whatever type of bread you choose, get the best quality you can find. It makes all the difference.

2 sandwiches with melted cheese.Pin

Pro tips for the perfect grilled cheese

  • For hard cheeses, grate cheese rather than slicing. It melts faster and more evenly.
  • I like to let a bit of cheese hang off of the bread. It gets crispy, crunchy and browned.
  • Know your air fryer. Air fryers cook at different wattages and therefore will be done at different rates. Closely check the sandwich the first time you make it in your air fryer to ensure it isn’t getting too brown.
  • Turn sandwich half way through the cooking process for better browning.
Close up of melty cheese.Pin

Other delicious air fried recipes

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I hope you enjoyed the recipe today!

Enjoy. And have fun cooking!

Binky's signature
Melted cheese pulling inside sandwich.Pin

Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Air Fryer Grilled Cheese is absolutely the best way to make these beloved sandwiches! Once you do them the your air fryer you will be hooked for life.
See Step by Step Photos Above!Most of our recipes have step by step photos and videos! Also helpful tips so that you can make it perfectly the first time and every time! Scroll up to see them!
5 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Sandwich
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 13 minutes
Servings: 4 sandwiches
Calories: 167kcal
Author: Beth Neels
Cost: $2

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Spread one side of each slice of bread with a little mayonnaise.
  • Place in air fryer basket mayonnaise side down. Then build sandwich with cheese, meat if you choose and additional items you would like. Top with the second slice of bread basted with the mayonnaise, (mayonnaise side up).
  • Air fry for 4-5 minutes at 400°F until golden brown.
  • Once the first side is golden brown, flip and brown the second side 4-5 minutes until second side is browned and cheese is melted.
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Video

Notes

Air fryer can be preheated for 2-3 minutes which will lessen frying time.
Best made fresh.
Serve with your favorite soup (tomato is delicious) and chips.
Air fryer notes
Different air fryers cook with different wattages. Some air fryers have a set temperature control, that can not be changed! My air fryer is the Cuisinart TO-60A. It has a temperature control setting, so for this recipe, I set the temperature at 400°F.
Depending on your Air Fryer, the times, in particular, may vary from mine! When you are learning how to use your air fryer, make sure you keep a vigilant eye on your food! The air fryer cooks so much faster than traditional cooking methods, it is easy to let food go too long and burn it!
Once you get the knack of your particular air fryer, you will be able to approximately gauge the timing of whatever you are cooking!
Additional items to add to grilled cheese
  • sliced green onion or chives
  • tuna
  • ham
  • bacon
  • jalapenos
  • tomato
  • caramelized onions
  • avocado
  • mushrooms
  • pepperoni (make a pizza grilled cheese with mozzarella)
Types of cheeses to use
  • American cheese
  • cheddar (use mild for melting and a bit of sharp for flavor.
  • Monterey Jack
  • pepper jack
  • colby
  • gouda
  • brie
  • fontina
  • Swiss
  • mozzarella

Nutrition

Calories: 167kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 231mg | Potassium: 33mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 289IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 208mg | Iron: 1mg
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Originally published February 3, 2021.

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10 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This grilled cheese looks so ooey-gooey good! I never would have thought of using mayonnaise instead of butter! Great trick!

  2. 5 stars
    I really enjoyed this grilled cheese in the air fryer. I am always looking for new ways to use this appliance, and this was a winner! The mayo was a great touch.

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