These air-fried grilled cheese sandwiches are made with three ingredients — bread, cheese, and butter. They are deliciously crispy, melty, and totally mess-free!
Looking for an air fryer? We absolutely adore this Cosori air fryer. We use it for a multitude of dishes, including this one.
Stovetop vs Air Fried Grilled Cheese
Grilled cheese is a highly-loved classic sandwich. It consists of layers of cheese between two slices of bread. Grilled cheese is commonly made using a frying pan on the stovetop or in a panini press, but air frying is a lesser-known but completely worthy method to make the sandwiches, too.
Compared to stovetop grilled cheese, air fried grilled cheese has a crunchier bread exterior due to the hot air circulating in the fryer. The crisp of the bread paired with the gooey melted cheese is a feat that even stovetop grilled cheese cannot reach. Next time, choose the air fryer to make these sandwiches. You and your family will love you for this one!
How To Make Grilled Cheese In Air Fryer
Grilled cheese is one of the first and easiest recipes most everyone learns how to make. Similar to the stove-top version, before turning on the air fryer, pre-slice the bread and soften the butter for easy spreading.
- Layer the cheese: Place cheese slices between two slices of bread. Cut off any edges of cheese hanging off the sides of the bread.
- Apply the butter: Spread the butter on the outer side of each piece of bread.
- Air fry: Place the whole sandwich into the air fryer basket, then cook at 380°F for seven minutes.
- Flip the sandwich: Flip the sandwich over and air fry for an additional three minutes. The sandwich is done when it’s golden brown and crispy on the outside. Enjoy!
Hot tip: To save on time, prep the sandwiches a day ahead of time. Store in the fridge until ready to air fry.
Tips For The Best Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
The technique of air frying is known for making all foods crispy. To make your grilled cheese the crispiest, tastiest, and gooiest sandwich, heed these tips.
- Choose a high-quality cheese: Avoid skimping on the quality of the cheese. The success of the grilled cheese truly depends on it! The best cheeses are provolone, gruyere, mozzarella, havarti, Swiss, American, or this homemade cheese. Feel free to mix two or three of your favorite types of cheeses. Avoid shredded cheese as it usually does not melt well.
- Pick the best bread: Pick a bread that is good for grilled cheese sandwiches. Country-style bread, sourdough bread, or no-knead bread make the best grilled cheese.
- Use butter: Although the air fryer ensures the sandwich will turn out crispy, add more butter to the side of each slice of bread to enhance the flavor and add even more crisp.
- Cut off excess cheese: Make sure the cheese is fully between the bread slices so it doesn’t melt over the edges. Cut off the excess cheese and place those small “scraps” inside the sandwich.
- Preheat the air fryer: For even frying, preheat the air fryer to 380°F. Once preheated, add in the sandwich.
- Secure the sandwich: Use a toothpick to pin the sandwich and prevent the top bread slice from flying off in the air fryer.
- Fry one sandwich at a time: Unless you have a large enough air fryer to fit multiple sandwiches in a single layer, fry only one sandwich at a time. Stacking grilled cheese sandwiches doesn’t allow them to become as crispy.
- Flip halfway through: Flip the grilled cheese halfway through frying to make sure both sides brown and crisp-up equally.
- Check on it frequently: Avoid making a burnt grilled cheese sandwich, so check in frequently with the air fryer. Different types of bread and cheese crisp up and melt at different speeds.
Hot tip: Keep in mind not all air fryers are created equal. Cooking times may vary depending on the air fryer you use.
Ways To Serve
Grilled cheese is great as an appetizer, snack, or a side dish. Nothing complements a grilled cheese sandwich quite like a bowl of soup. Our favorite is tomato soup, followed closely by creamy potato soup and chicken gnocchi soup. For a few non-soup pairings, offer the sandwich with beet, carrot, and cabbage salad and/or air fryer french fries
Storage & Reheating
Grilled cheese sandwiches are always best when eaten right away — they’re freshly crisp with hot melty cheese inside. But — if you’re making a few extra sandwiches to enjoy for lunch the next day, follow these storing and reheating tips for the best result.
- Refrigerator: To store for up to 3-5 days, place the grilled cheese in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Reheating: For the best reheated sandwich, use the air fryer again. Reheat at 380°F for 1-2 minutes or until the cheese is melty and bread is crispy again. For a quicker reheat, use the microwave, although the bread will not be as crispy.
FAQ
Why doesn’t my cheese melt in the air fryer?
If the cheese isn’t melting in the air fryer, it may be because the slice of cheese is too thick, it is not a good melty-cheese, or you are using shredded cheese. All of these may cause the cheese not to melt enough in a grilled cheese sandwich.
Is it okay to put cheese in the air fryer?
It is best not to put cheese alone into the airfryer; however, cheese inside of a sandwich, like a grilled cheese sandwich is complete safe!
How long should I air fry grilled cheese?
It takes about 10 hands-off minutes to air fry grilled cheese sandwiches.
Other Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Steak Bites — Steak…in the air fryer? That’s right! It’s tender, juicy, and fast!
- Air Fryer Asparagus — Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside
- Air Fryer Chicken — Want some quick protein on your salad? Let’s make that happen
- Air Fryer Cod — Air fried cod comes out moist and flaky each time
Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 slices of bread
- 16 oz cheese slices
- 4 tbsp softened butter
Instructions
- Place cheese slices between two pieces of bread. Cut off the enges of cheese thta hang off the sides of the bread.
- Apply butter on the outside of the bread.
- Place it in an air fryer basket, air fry at 380 °F for 7 minutes.
- Flip it over and air fry for 3 more minutes. The sandwich should be golden brown and crispy on the outside. Enjoy!
I love this grilled cheese! I didn't have the bread so I used Dave's 21 whole grain and seeds organic bread and a bit less butter it was so crunchy and delicious ! I'm thinking of making them at our next neighborhood Gathering so easy ! Thank you
Hi Linda, Thank you so much for sharing! I am glad the recipe was a success. Your neighbors will go crazy for your grilled cheese. Enjoy!
I have the TOA-60! Love it! I altered your recipe somewhat because I’m trying to cut back on calories.
Instead of butter, I used spray olive oil with zero calories. I sprayed one side of the Sourdough Wheat bread (110 calories per slice). I used 1 Slice Havarti (80 per slice) and 1 slice Swiss cheese (70 per slice) and 4 pieces of peppered Salami (130 calories)
Put it in my Cuisinart for about 5 minutes on Broil/ air fry then took it out, sprayed the other side and cooked it for another 3 minutes. Usually I cannot eat the whole thing but…. Oops… it’s gone. Delicious!!
Thank you for your recipe and guidance. Try mine next time. I took a picture but it said “ image uploads currently disabled”
Hi Dale - OOPS! Lol. That's weird, the same thing happened to my grilled cheese. It just...disappeared. 😉 Love the cheese mixture you used - that sounds bomb. Will have to try it. Thanks for all the feedback!
WHY DO I NEED BUTTER FOR GRILLED CHEESE??CAN I AIR FRY IT W/O BUTTER??
Hey Karen – It’s nice to spread some butter on the outside of each bread slice. If you don’t want to use butter, you can spray the bread with your favorite cooking spray to help it develop that signature grilled cheese crust. Hope this helps and brings you closer to gooey, grilled cheese goodness!
I have the Cuisinart TOA-60 Convection Toaster Air Fryer and I love it. I have had it for several months and am constantly finding new ways to use it. I highly recommend it.
Thank you for your tip, Judy!!
I have the cuisinart air fryer combo I love it. It does everything even has a toaster boils bakes air fryer
Air fryers are amazing tools!
Do you mean that, while in for 7 minutes flip when 3 minutes are left? Cause with the directions about my top bread got all burnt
Hey dear, we needed to do 7 minutes and 3 more after flipping it. Some air fryers run hotter than others. I would suggest lowering the temperature next time.
I recently bought the Cuisinart TOA-60 and am loving it! It's my first air fryer, so I can't compare it to others, but I imagine having a window is a game changer. It may be a little bigger than some, but I was able to get rid of my toaster to make room. A very versatile appliance!
Yes!! You are going to love the air fryer, Andrea! It is the most amazing tool, welcome to air fryer food, you will love it 😊
I have a Cuisinart and have given two as gifts. Everyone loves it because it not only is an air fryer but does so much more as well. I can make a frozen pizza in it in a half or a third of the time and less energy. As for the comment on air fryer burning things, I think most air fryers run hot, you have to look and smell rather than rely on time, that's why the Cuisinart is nice, it has a window to check through.
Thank you for the tip, Bob! We love the air fryer as well, such a great tool!
I have the Cuisinart Air Fryer oven and I absolutely love it. Perfect for so many things. I barely use my regular gas oven any more!
Right?! It is such an incredible tool! I hope you find more recipes you love 🙂
Hello! I have the Cuisinart toaster oven/air fryer and I can confirm, it's awesome. I just made grilled cheese in it based on your directions and it turned out great! I'll never pull a pan out again, haha. I did lower the temp a little and I found that the flip side didn't need but a couple minutes. Thanks for the tips and I look forward to using more of your recipes. 😊
Hi Erica, I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for your feedback, welcome to the blog I hope you find many more recipes you love 🙂
Reduced heat by 10°F and 6 min first side. Heavily buttered bread.
Top piece of bread flew off and burned cheese.
Sandwich became stiff toasted board.
Everything I cook in the 7.5qt XL turns out burned even when reducing heat and time.
I want to.like this air fryer but it only successfully cooks whole chicken which can take a little over heating.
you sound like you got a defective machine can you return it for another one? let the company know..
Hey John, what brand of air fryer do you use? Just wondering because I never had this issue.
Brilliant! I never thought to make a grilled cheese in the air fryer!
Lauren, Hope you love it!
I love that I can make this in my air fryer! It was so good!
Toni, thank you for sharing! SO happy to hear.
My air fryer is the most used small appliance in my kitchen. I love everything cooked in it and this grilled cheese is no exception! Such a great trick I didn't even think about was possible!
Hey Julia, yes, we love it so much. Hope you love it also.
What a brilliant idea! Can’t wait to try that!
Inna, I hope you love it! 🙂