Air Fryer Grilled Cheese: Quick, Easy, And Delicious

The air fryer is a popular appliance for making grilled cheese sandwiches. It yields an evenly toasted exterior with crisped frico edges and a perfectly melted middle. The convection heat of the air fryer results in the ideal grilled cheese with minimum effort and in record time. The air fryer grilled cheese sandwich is also easy to make and can be paired with tomato soup for a quick and easy dinner.

Air fryer grilled cheese: a quick and easy recipe

Air fryer grilled cheese is a quick, easy, and foolproof way to make a delicious, crispy, and gooey grilled cheese sandwich. It's perfect for busy weeknights or as a satisfying snack for kids. Here's a detailed guide on how to make it.

Ingredients:

• Unsalted butter (softened at room temperature)
• Cheese (a combination of sharp cheddar and a melting cheese like Monterey Jack, Gruyère, or low-moisture mozzarella)
• Bread (rustic bread, country white, whole-wheat sandwich bread, or thicker-cut bread like Texas toast)
• Mayonnaise (optional, can be substituted with butter)

Instructions:

• Preheat your air fryer to 370-400°F.
• If using, spread mayonnaise on one side of each slice of bread. You can also use butter if preferred.
• Place one slice of bread, mayo or butter-side down, in the air fryer basket.
• Top with grated cheese. Grating the cheese helps it melt faster and gives you a better cheese pull.
• Place the second slice of bread on top, mayo or butter-side up.
• Air fry for 3 minutes, then flip the sandwich and air fry for another 3-4 minutes until the top is golden brown.
• If the bottom is not golden brown, flip again and air fry for an additional 1-2 minutes.
• Serve with your favorite soup or enjoy as is!

Tips:

• If your air fryer has a strong fan, secure the sandwich with a toothpick before air frying to prevent the top slice from flying off. Remove the toothpick before flipping.
• Adjust the cooking time as needed, depending on your desired level of toastiness and your air fryer model.
• For a crispy exterior and melty cheese, cook at 400°F.
• You can personalize your grilled cheese with additional toppings like sliced tomatoes, bacon, or pulled pork.

How to get the perfect crunch

The air fryer is a great way to achieve a grilled cheese with the perfect crunch. Here are some tips to ensure your sandwich turns out crispy and golden:

• Preheat your air fryer to the right temperature. Most recipes recommend preheating your air fryer to around 370-400°F. This will ensure the hot air is circulating and help you achieve the desired level of crispness.
• Choose the right bread. Thicker-cut bread, such as Texas toast, potato bread, French bread, or sourdough, works well in the air fryer. However, you can also use sandwich bread or rustic bread if that's what you have on hand.
• Use a combination of cheeses for the best flavour and melt. Cheddar is a classic choice for grilled cheese, but you can also try Havarti, Monterey Jack, Gruyère, or American cheese. For the best melt, grate your cheese beforehand.
• Spread butter or mayonnaise on the outside of each slice of bread. This will promote browning and help you achieve a crispy, golden exterior. If you prefer, you can also spray the bread with oil after placing the sandwich in the air fryer.
• Secure your sandwich with a toothpick before placing it in the air fryer. This will prevent the top slice of bread from flying off due to the strong fan of the air fryer. Remove the toothpick before flipping the sandwich.
• Cook your sandwich for around 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Depending on your air fryer and desired level of crispness, you may need to adjust the cooking time. Flip the sandwich halfway through to ensure even cooking.
• If making multiple sandwiches, cook them in batches to ensure even cooking.
• For a personalised touch, try adding additional toppings such as sliced tomatoes, bacon, or pulled pork. You can also experiment with different types of cheese or a sprinkle of brown sugar on top.

Butter vs mayonnaise

Taste

Butter is known for its creamy, decadent taste, and when cooked, its milk solids transform into brown butter, giving off a nutty, toasty flavour. On the other hand, mayonnaise has a more neutral flavour profile, allowing the cheese and other fillings to shine.

Texture

Butter is a solid fat and can be extremely firm straight out of the fridge. It needs to be left at room temperature to soften before it can be spread. Mayonnaise, on the other hand, has a similar fat content to butter but is spreadable straight from the fridge.

Browning

Butter can burn very quickly, and it takes skill and practice to get the timing right so that the butter browns at the same rate as the bread toasts and the cheese melts. Mayonnaise, being an emulsion of oil and acid, can withstand higher temperatures, giving you more time to brown your sandwich without burning it.

Practicality

Mayonnaise is also more practical than butter as you don't need to worry about burning milk solids, and you don't need to wait for it to soften before spreading.

Celebrity endorsements

Celebrities like Joanna Gaines, Antoni Porowski, and Martha Stewart swear by mayo as the secret to their grilled cheese sandwiches.

While butter has a more distinctive taste, it is harder to work with and can burn more easily. Mayonnaise is more practical, spreads more easily, and is less likely to burn. Combining the two can give you the best of both worlds, but it is more time-consuming. Ultimately, the choice is yours, and you can always experiment to see which you prefer.

The best types of cheese and bread to use

The best grilled cheese sandwiches start with the cheese and bread. For the best results, you want to use a combination of cheeses that will provide flavour and melt well. A good melting cheese will give you that gooey, stretchy cheese pull when you bite into the sandwich.

Cheese

A good melting cheese is essential for a grilled cheese sandwich. Some cheeses that melt well include:

• Cheddar (sharp)
• Monterey Jack
• Mozzarella (low moisture)
• Gruyère
• Havarti
• American
• Provolone
• Swiss
• Fontina

Bread

The type of bread you use is also important. You want something that will toast and crisp up nicely in the air fryer without drying out. Some recommended options include:

• White sandwich bread
• Potato bread
• French bread
• Sourdough bread
• Rustic bread
• Country white bread
• Whole-wheat sandwich bread
• Texas toast
• Sara Lee Artesano bread

You can also use thicker-cut bread or a more rustic loaf, but keep in mind that these may not toast and brown as easily in the air fryer.

Serving suggestions

The classic comfort meal of a grilled cheese sandwich is best served with a bowl of roasted tomato soup, creamy tomato basil soup, or this instant pot tomato basil and spinach tortellini soup. You can also serve it with minestrone soup, vegetable soup, or chicken noodle soup. For a more indulgent treat, serve with a side of chicken nuggets.

If you're looking to add a little spice, serve your grilled cheese with a side of jalapeno jelly or sliced jalapenos. You can also add sliced or sundried tomatoes, bacon, pulled pork, or sliced ham to your sandwich for a heartier meal.

For a more sophisticated take, try pairing your grilled cheese with a glass of wine. A crisp white wine like a Pinot Grigio or a Sauvignon Blanc will cut through the richness of the cheese, while a sparkling wine like a Prosecco or a Cava will complement the sandwich's crispy texture.

Finally, if you're serving your grilled cheese as part of a larger spread, consider offering an assortment of condiments and spreads on the side, such as gochujang, kimchi, or sauerkraut.

Frequently asked questions