Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich (cooks in under 10 minutes!) (2024)

Air Fryer grilled cheese is one of the easiest recipes to make with an air fryer. Plus, we have the secret to keeping your sandwich together while it cooks!

Ingredients in Air Fryer Grilled Cheese

These ingredients are perfect to keep on hand and make more than once a week! It is the perfect lunch, snack, or quick dinner. Kids to adults love this grilled cheese made in the air fryer. Create the best grilled cheese sandwich next time you get your air fryer out!

• Bread – Really any bread will work for grilled cheese. I like to use a thick white sandwich bread. Texas toast also works well. For extra flavor try sourdough bread or rye bread.
• Cheese – The star of the show! See below for the best cheese for air fryer grilled cheese.
• Butter – Butter adds flavor to the sandwich while preventing burning and sticking in the air fryer basket. Use garlic butter or herb butter for even more flavor!

What Cheese is Best for Grilled Cheese?

Almost any cheese will work on a grilled cheese sandwich. However, you want to stay away from cheeses that don’t melt or slice well. Additionally, avoid using pre-shredded cheese. It is best to have sliced cheese or slice your own off of a block! Some of my favorite cheeses for air fryer grilled cheese are below.

• Sharp Cheddar – Always a favorite cheese that is semi-hard with all the flavor. It melts slowly and works great on grilled cheese sandwiches.
• Muenster – Similar to provolone cheese. It is a semi-soft cheese with a mild buttery flavor.
• Havarti – A smooth and semi-soft cow’s cheese.
• Provolone – Comes in a tubular shape and slices come in circles rather than squares.
• Swiss – The holy cheese that comes in white-colored slices. It is a medium-hard cheese that is from Switzerland.
• Mozzarella – It is a popular Italian cheese made from buffalo milk. It is fresh and softer than other cheeses.
• Fontina – Semisoft to hard in texture type of cheese.
• Gruyere – Similar to Swiss cheese without holes in the sliced cheese. It has a yellow-white coloring with a salty flavor and grainy texture.
• Pepper Jack – Add a little bit of spice with this pepper jack cheese.
• Monterey Jack – Semihard cheese made from cow’s milk. It has a sweet and savory taste.
• Colby Jack – A mixture of cheese from Monterey Jack and American cheese. It is colored orange and white marbled cheese.
• Brie – A soft Italian cheese that is a classic cheese in France. It is made from cow’s milk and is super delicious!
• Gouda – A sweet and creamy cheese that is semi-hard cheese. It is wrapped in a red rind with a buttery texture.
• American cheese – A traditional cheese that tastes amazing in all grilled cheese recipes.

Helpful Tips for Making Easy Grilled Cheese

Skip the pan frying and try this perfect air fryer grilled cheese! It is a classic meal that is taken one step further by making it even easier with an air fryer. Get that melty cheese every time by using these helpful tips and substitutions for the best air fryer grilled cheese recipe!

• Cheeses – It is best to avoid feta, blue cheese, goat cheese, queso blanco, and white cheddar. They are too soft and do not melt properly.
• Pre-shredded cheese – is coated with a material that stops it from sticking together in the bag. Unfortunately, that material also causes it to not melt as well. It will be grainy and lumpy.
• Mayonassie – Try something new by using mayo instead of butter on the outside of your slice of bread! Mayo is closely related to butter but already has that smooth texture. Add an extra flavor by replacing mayo with your butter side of bread.

Variations

Create the best air fryer grilled cheese with all your favorite toppings and condiments! It is the perfect combination to add to your deli meats, sliced avocado, or add vegetables and lettuce. Make your grilled cheese just the way you like it. The variations are endless!

• Meat – Ham, turkey, bacon, and pepperoni are all great deli meats. Packaged meats layer perfectly on top of each other.
• Fruit – Slice tomatoes, apple slices, or avocados to add to the grilled cheese.
• Veggies – Take your grilled cheese to the next level with caramelized onions or mushrooms already prepared. These pair well with white cheeses and taste delicious!
• Lettuce – Arugula, pesto, spinach, or any green leaf salad you love this is the best way to add a light and tasty touch to every bite.

Recipe Tip

Since the air fryer cooks by circulating hot air through the basket, sometimes food can get knocked around in the air current. If you don’t secure your sandwich with toothpicks, then the top piece of bread might fly off during cooking.

“This makes the perfect grilled cheese! I love that it is so hands off, no chance that I will get distracted and burn it!”

-Wilhelmina

Frequently Asked Questions

Storing Air Fryer Grilled Cheese

Make ahead or have leftovers these grilled cheese sandwiches are perfect for storing for one to two days. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When ready to reheat, place back in the air fryer or cook in a pan over the oven to warm up. Same great taste the very next day!

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How to Make Air Fryer Grilled Cheese