This easy air fryer grilled cheese takes minutes to make and comes out golden outside, perfectly melted inside, with a satisfying crunch and big strings of gooey cheese! It doesn’t get better.
Once you’ve mastered this classic grilled cheese in the air fryer, take it up a notch with a spicy hot Buffalo chicken grilled cheese!
Want to save this recipe? Enter your email below and we'll send the recipe straight to your inbox!
You'll also sign up to get new recipes in your inbox.
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
I’ve used my air fryer to cook everything from chicken tenders to chocolate chip cookies, so it was only a matter of time before I made air fryer grilled cheese! I don’t know if I’ll ever go back to a skillet on the stove. There are a few things that I look for in a perfect grilled cheese sandwich, and this air fryer recipe nails it:
- Extra crispy. The air fryer makes it super easy to get that coveted golden exterior, for an extra crispy, crunchy grilled cheese sandwich.
- Big, gooey strings of cheese. When I slice and pull apart a freshly grilled cheese sandwich, I love seeing plenty of ooey-gooey, melted cheese stretching from in between the bread slices. Since the hot air circulates, the air fryer is a quick and easy shortcut to grilled cheese that’s perfectly melted inside.
- Easy. I think one of the best parts about a perfect grilled cheese is its simplicity! This recipe doesn’t have any fancy ingredients and the method is super easy, even for beginners. Plus, it’s way faster than a skillet!
Ingredients You’ll Need
There are really just 3 ingredients needed to make a classic grilled cheese: bread, butter, and cheese! I’ve included some notes below. Scroll down to the recipe card for a printable list with the full recipe amounts.
- Butter – Take the butter out of the fridge ahead of time so that it softens enough to spread easily over the bread.
- Bread – Any bread you’d like! I use sourdough. My one recommendation for choosing bread for grilled cheese is to avoid an overly tough, hard crust (it’ll only get harder after it’s cooked).
- Cheese – For the best grilled cheese, you’ll want to use a mix of shredded cheddar and another melty cheese, like mozzarella, Gruyere, or Monterey Jack.
How to Make Grilled Cheese In the Air Fryer
If you’re new to air frying, a classic grilled cheese is a great place to start! I also have a handy guide on how to use an air fryer that walks you through the basics. Then, follow the quick steps here. You’ll also find the printable instructions in the recipe card below the post.
- Assemble. While the air fryer preheats to 370ºF, butter two slices of bread, and then assemble your grilled cheese in the air fryer with the buttered sides facing out. You can be generous with the shredded cheese!
- Cook. Air fry the grilled cheese for 4-5 minutes per side until it’s golden and toasty and the cheese is fully melted.
Recipe Tips and Variations
- Hold the sandwich together. If you’re working with thinner bread slices, consider sticking a toothpick into the grilled cheese to hold it together while it cooks.
- Olive oil instead of butter. If you’d prefer to make your air fryer grilled cheese with olive oil, drizzle a small amount over each bread slice. Then, sprinkle a pinch of salt (my favorite is Maldon sea salt) over the oiled side of the bread for extra flavor. A little salt also helps the outside of the grilled cheese crisp up. You can do this if you’re using 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 can also add tomato slices.
- Pesto. Spread the inside 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.
- More add-ins. Add cooked bacon slices or caramelized onions. I also love making grilled cheese with thin apple slices for a sweet-savory contrast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you should flip your grilled cheese halfway through cooking so that it browns evenly on both sides. If one side isn’t quite golden brown, flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes more.
Butter adds flavor, but you can also use olive oil or mayo. Making grilled cheese with mayo instead of butter adds to the flavor and gives the outside of the bread a nice, golden brown color.
What to Serve With Grilled Cheese
Nothing brings me straight back to my childhood than a gooey, crispy grilled cheese dunked into a bowl of creamy tomato soup. Or, pretty much any soup for that matter, from vegetable soup to Zuppa Toscana and even good old-fashioned chicken noodle soup. Just add a side of green salad and lunch is served!
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Refrigerate. Grilled cheese will always taste the best when it’s fresh from the skillet or air fryer! That being said, if you have leftovers, you can store them airtight and keep them in the fridge for a day or two.
- Reheat. The easiest way to reheat grilled cheese is to return it to the air fryer at 350ºF until it’s hot and melted again.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 13 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Description
This easy air fryer grilled cheese takes minutes to make and comes out crispy and golden outside, perfectly melted inside, with big strings of gooey cheese!
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 370F.
- Spread one slice of bread with butter, covering one side completely.
- Place the bread butter side down on the air fryer grate.
- Top with equal amounts of both cheeses.
- Butter one side of the second slice of bread and place it on top of the cheese, with the butter side up.
- If your bread is thin, add a toothpick to keep the bread from blowing off.
- Cook for 4-5 minutes, then flip and cook for another 4 minutes. If you like your bread more toasted, you can add one minute at a time.
