Air Fryer Ham And Cheese Toastie: Quick And Easy!

Making a ham and cheese toastie in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to create a delicious, comforting meal. Using an air fryer is a convenient alternative to a traditional toastie machine or pan, as it provides a more hands-off approach with a reliable cooking time and temperature. The result is a toastie with a golden, crispy exterior and a soft, melted centre.

Recommended ingredients

The beauty of a ham and cheese toastie is that you can use up whatever you have in your fridge. It's a great way to use up leftovers, and you can mix and match ingredients to make the perfect toastie for you. Here are some ideas for ingredients to get you started:

Bread

For the bread, you want something that will toast well in the air fryer. Thick slices of bread work well, and white bread is a popular choice. Sourdough is an option, but it may not toast as well as other types of bread. You could also try making your own bread, like Grandad's Cheddar and onion bread!

Butter/Margarine

Butter or margarine is essential for that golden, crispy exterior. Spread a layer of butter on the outside of your bread slices. If you prefer, you can use mayonnaise instead—it adds extra richness and helps the sandwich stick together.

Cheese

When it comes to cheese, you want something that melts well. Cheddar is a popular choice and goes well with a variety of other cheeses like Red Leicester or Gruyère. You could also try Swiss cheese, Cooper® Sharp White American Cheese, or Velveeta.

Ham

Use leftover ham or wafer-thin slices from a packet. You could also use deli ham, leftover roast ham, or peppered ham.

Extras

For a little extra flavour, try adding a thin layer of honey mustard mayo to your toastie. You could also add some pickled jalapeños, tomatoes, or crisp bacon.

Assembly instructions

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of white bread (soft and thick)
• Butter (salted)
• Mayonnaise
• Mustard (e.g. Dijon, English, or a mix of honey and mustard)
• Cheese (e.g. Cheddar, Red Leicester, Swiss, or a mix)
• Ham (e.g. wafer-thin, pre-sliced, or leftover cooked ham)

Method:

• Prepare the bread: Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread. Place the slices butter-side down on a board or plate.
• Make the sauce: In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise with your choice of mustard. You can also add honey to make a honey mustard mayo sauce.
• Layer the fillings: Spread the sauce on the upper side of one slice of bread. Then, add your desired amount of cheese, followed by the ham. You can tear the ham into pieces to allow the cheese to melt more easily. Finish with another sprinkle of cheese.
• Complete the sandwich: Spread the remaining sauce on the second slice of bread and place it, sauce-side down, on top of the filling. Press the sandwich together. Finally, spread butter on top of the sandwich.
• Air-fry: Place the sandwich in the air fryer basket. Cook at around 190-200°C for about 5 minutes, keeping a close eye on it to prevent burning. After 30 seconds to 1 minute, check to ensure the top slice hasn't flown off. Flip the sandwich and air-fry for another 2-3 minutes, or until golden and crisp.
• Serve: Carefully remove the toastie from the air fryer using tongs. Slice it in half, and serve with your favourite sides.

Tips:

• Bread options: While thick, soft white bread is a popular choice, you can also experiment with sourdough, homemade cheddar and onion bread, or typical white sliced bread.
• Cheese options: Cheddar is a good melting cheese, but you can use any cheese you like, such as Red Leicester, Swiss, or a mix of cheeses.
• Ham options: Wafer-thin, pre-sliced, or leftover ham are all suitable. You can also use peppered ham or leftover roast ham.
• Prevent dryness: Adding a sauce layer, such as honey mustard mayo, not only enhances the flavour but also helps prevent the toastie from drying out.
• Prevent burning: Ensure all the filling is tucked inside the sandwich, as exposed ham or cheese can burn.
• Making multiple toasties: If you have a single-drawer air fryer, cook one toastie at a time, or ensure there's enough space between them.
• Sides and extras: Serve your ham and cheese toastie with chips, French fries, or crisps. You can also add extra fillings like chutney, jalapeños, tomatoes, or bacon.

Cooking instructions

Ingredients:

• Butter
• Bread (thick slices, preferably white)
• Mayonnaise
• Mustard (Dijon or English)
• Honey (optional)
• Cheese (grated cheddar, or a mix of cheddar and Red Leicester)
• Ham (pre-sliced, leftover cooked ham, or peppered ham)

Method:

• Start by spreading butter on one side of each slice of bread. Place the slices butter-side down on a board or plate.
• Mix mayonnaise with mustard, and honey (if using) in a separate bowl.
• Spread the mayonnaise-mustard mixture on the slices of bread. You can also add other sauces or seasonings, such as chilli flakes, at this stage.
• On two of the slices, add cheese, then fold in the ham, and finish with another layer of cheese.
• Place the remaining slices of bread on top, butter-side up. Press the sandwiches together gently.
• Preheat the air fryer to 190°C (375°F). Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper.
• Place the sandwiches in the air fryer basket, leaving some space around them. You may need to cook them in batches if your air fryer is small.
• Air-fry the sandwiches for 5 minutes, checking after 30 seconds to 1 minute to ensure the top slice hasn't flown off.
• After 5 minutes, flip the sandwiches and air-fry for another 2-3 minutes, or until golden and crisp.
• Remove the sandwiches from the air fryer using tongs and slice them in half. Serve warm.

Tips:

• Keep an eye on the sandwiches after flipping to prevent them from burning.
• Ensure all the filling is tucked inside the sandwich to avoid any exposed ham or cheese burning.
• Be generous with the cheese to get that oozy, melty effect.
• You can add extra fillings or toppings like chutney, jalapeños, tomatoes, or bacon to suit your taste.

Serving suggestions

The beauty of a ham and cheese toastie is that it can be served with a variety of sides. You could go for a classic combination of chips or French fries, or get creative with some cheese and onion crisps. If you're looking for something a little healthier, a side salad or some sliced tomatoes could be a good option.

For a heartier meal, you could serve your toastie with a bowl of soup or a side of coleslaw. If you're feeling adventurous, you could even experiment with different types of bread, cheese, and ham to create your own unique toastie.

For a more indulgent treat, why not try adding some extra fillings to your toastie? You could include some pickled jalapeños, tomatoes, or crisp bacon. If you're a fan of condiments, you could also try spreading some honey mustard mayo on your bread before adding the fillings. This will not only add a flavour boost but also help prevent your toastie from drying out.

Finally, don't forget to serve your toastie warm so that the cheese is nice and melted. You can even slice it in half to showcase that gooey, cheesy goodness!

Tips and tricks

Bread

The type of bread you use is important. Thick, soft white bread is a popular choice for toasties as it crisps up nicely. However, you can use any bread that toasts well in an air fryer, such as sourdough or typical white sliced bread. Avoid using sourdough if you want your bread to be crunchy.

Butter or Mayonnaise

You can spread butter or mayonnaise on the outside of the bread to get a crispy, golden finish. Butter is the traditional choice, but mayonnaise is a good alternative as it helps the sandwich stick together and adds extra flavour.

Cheese

Use a cheese that melts well, such as cheddar, gruyère, or Swiss cheese. You can also mix different types of cheese for a combination of colours and flavours. Be generous with the cheese to get a gooey, oozy toastie.

Ham

Use wafer-thin slices of ham, or leftover cooked ham that you've thinly sliced yourself. Peppered ham or leftover gammon are also good options.

Sauce

Consider adding a sauce to your toastie to enhance the flavour and prevent it from drying out. A thin layer of honey mustard mayo or honey, mustard, and mayo can be spread on the inside of the bread.

Filling

Feel free to add extra fillings to your toastie, such as pickled jalapeños, tomatoes, or bacon, onion, or sliced gherkins. You can also add some chopped chives to the cheese.

Cooking

Preheat your air fryer to 190°C/375°F or 200°C, depending on your model. Cook your toastie for 5-10 minutes, checking regularly to prevent burning. Flip the toastie after 3-4 minutes to ensure even cooking on both sides.

Serving

Remove the toastie from the air fryer using tongs and slice it in half to reveal the melted cheese. Serve with your favourite sides, such as chips or French fries.

Frequently asked questions