Best Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe
This Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich recipe is next-level delicious! It’s classic comfort food especially when dunked in a big bowl of savory homemade bacon tomato soup. In all the years I’ve owned an air fryer and it never occurred to me to make grilled cheese in the air fryer. But we are currently in the middle of an ongoing, never-ending kitchen remodel and our meal options are limited and sometimes experimental, lol!
To my surprise, this garlicky Grilled Cheese Sandwich made in the air fryer could be my new favorite way to make it from now on. This sandwich came out golden brown and toasty and the melted cheese ooze is a thing of beauty.
All you need are the basics: good bread, delicious cheese, real butter, and an air fryer, that’s it!
Why I Love this Grilled Cheese Recipe
I love an ooey, gooey golden brown grilled cheese sandwich, especially with a big bowl of homemade tomato soup and you will love this quick and easy foolproof method.
Quick and Easy: A classic grilled cheese sandwich is perfect for a quick lunch, an easy after-school snack, or a light dinner with a big bowl of steaming hot tomato soup.
Great flavor, texture, and Goo: This classic sandwich is loaded with 3 kinds of cheese melted in between two sturdy sourdough bread slices and smeared with garlic butter. You’ll get a crunchy, melted, gooey cheese, and savory garlic butter experience in every delicious bite! Making this sandwich in the air fryer instead of using a skillet allows the whole sandwich to crisp up instead of just one side.
Burn Proof: Have you ever made a grilled cheese and burned one side? This won’t happen in an air fryer. Set the timer for 10 minutes, flip the sandwich after 5 minutes, and ta-da, you have the perfect grilled cheese sandwich. This method is so simple even kids, big and small, can make a perfect grilled cheese sandwich.
Less Mess to Clean: Making a grilled cheese in an air fryer does not create a lot of mess…maybe a few crumbs but other than that, not much. I usually wipe the bottom with a wet paper towel or cloth.
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich Ingredients
What you’ll need…
- sandwich bread: 2 slices of sourdough wheat bread
- real butter, softened: 1 stick, 1/2 cup
- garlic paste: 1 heaping tablespoon
- cheese: 2 slices of sharp cheddar cheese, 1 slice of pepper jack cheese, and 1 slice of Swiss cheese.
- Air Fryer
How to Make a Grilled Cheese Sandwich in an Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer for about 3 minutes at its pre-set temperature
Step 1: Mix Garlic Butter. Measure one heaping tablespoon of garlic paste. Mash garlic paste into the soft butter with the back of a spoon or a rubber spatula.
Step 1: Sandwich Assembly.
- While the air fryer is preheating, butter one side of each piece of bread. Spread the garlic butter evenly. Make sure to butter the edges.
- Layer the cheese slices on the buttered side of one piece of bread. Top with the remaining buttered bread slice, buttered side against the cheese. Both outside bread pieces should be unbuttered at this point.
- Butter the top bread piece, all the way to the edges. Place the sandwich, buttered side down in the air fryer basket of the preheated air fryer. Butter the top bread piece of the sandwich in the air fryer. Repeat sandwich assembly instructions if frying more than one.
Step 2: Air Fry the Sandwich. Set the air fryer to 400F/200C for 10 minutes and close the basket. After 5 minutes, pull the air fryer basket out and flip the sandwich. Continue cooking for the remaining 5 minutes. If the sandwich isn’t golden brown, flip again and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
Step 3: Slice and Serve.
Recipe Variations
Good Quality Cheese: The best cheeses in a grilled cheese sandwich are American cheese, cheddar cheese, sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack cheese, Gouda cheese, and Swiss cheese…any semi-hard cheese slices will work. In this recipe, I used 2 slices of sharp cheddar cheese, 1 slice of pepper jack cheese, and 1 slice of Swiss cheese.
Bread Slices: Just like cheese, any bread is good bread. In this recipe, I used wheat sourdough bread, I like the crunch it adds when it’s toasted. White sandwich bread, wheat bread, French bread, Brioche bread, or even Rye bread would be delicious.
Extras: Add a few slices of crispy bacon, deli ham, sliced turkey, or bologna! Green chili pepper, chopped red onions, or a big slice of a juicy homegrown tomato.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can I use mayonnaise instead of butter?
A: Yes, some people prefer mayo or use a combination of both.
Q: Can I substitute grated cheese for cheese slices?
A: Yes, but please use fresh grated cheese from a cheese block. Pre-packaged shredded cheese has fillers (usually gluten fillers) added to the package which makes the cheese drier and in my opinion, doesn’t melt as well. Plus, grated cheese is messy if it falls out before it’s air-fried.
Q: Why isn’t my grilled cheese golden brown and toasty?
A: Your air fryer heat wasn’t hot enough or the sandwich needs a few more minutes to “grill”.
Q: Should I cover the bottom of the air fryer basket with parchment paper or foil?
A: No, covering the bottom of the basket would prevent the bottom side of the sandwich from browning.
Q: Should I spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray?
A: This is up to you but since the bread is buttered, I don’t find it necessary.
Kitchen Tools Used in this Recipe
One Touch Digital Display Power XL
5PCS Silicone Rubber Spatula Set
Soup Recipes You’ll Love With Grilled Cheese
Delicious Homemade Bacon Tomato Soup
Creamy Yellow Summer Squash Soup with Parmesan
Light and Creamy New England Clam Chowder
Sweet and Savory Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 slices sandwich bread
- 1 stick real butter, softened about 2 tbsp for each sandwich
- 1 tbsp garlic paste
- 4 slices cheese 2 slices of sharp cheddar cheese, 1 slice of pepper jack cheese, and 1 slice of Swiss cheese.
Instructions
- Preheat the airfryer for 3 minutes.Mix Garlic Butter. Measure one heaping tablespoon of garlic paste. Mash garlic paste into the soft butter with the back of a spoon or a rubber spatula.
- Sandwich Assembly. While the air fryer is preheating, butter one side of each piece of bread. Spread the garlic butter evenly. Make sure to butter the edges. Layer the cheese slices on the buttered side of one piece of bread. Top with the remaining buttered bread slice, buttered side against the cheese. Both outside bread pieces should be unbuttered at this point.Butter the top bread piece, all the way to the edges. Place the sandwich, buttered side down in the air fryer basket of the preheated air fryer. Butter the top bread piece of the sandwich in the air fryer. Repeat sandwich assembly instructions if frying more than one.
- Air Fry the Sandwich. Set the air fryer to 400F/200C for 10 minutes and close the basket. After 5 minutes, pull the air fryer basket out and flip the sandwich. Continue cooking for the remaining 5 minutes. If the sandwich isn't golden brown, flip again and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
- Slice and Serve.
