Grilled cheese made in the air fryer is a delicious and easy way to make this classic sandwich. The air fryer produces a crispy and golden brown exterior while the cheese inside becomes warm and gooey.
I used to make my grilled cheese on a skillet but now I make them in the air fryer because it is so simple and the air fryer makes the bread nice and toasty! I updated this post with a regular version of grilled cheese for those who don't follow the WW program and my WW version of grilled cheese. ( See recipe below) If you don't want to read through all the mumbo jumbo, click the jump to recipe link at the top of the page. 🙂
If you love air fryer recipes check out these other recipes for Air Fryer Turkey Breast, Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs , and Turkey Cranberry Paninis.
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Ingredients Needed
- Bread - Some popular options for grilled cheese include sourdough, whole wheat, or a thick-cut white bread.
- Cheese - The best type of cheese for a grilled cheese sandwich includes cheddar, American, Swiss, and provolone. It is recommended to choose a cheese that melts well, has a good balance of flavor, and complements the bread used for the sandwich. You can also experiment mixing different types of cheeses together.
- Room temperature butter or mayonnaise - This is also subjective, people like either one. Just use whatever is in your pantry.
- See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to Make Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
Step 1: Place the cheese in the middle of the two slices of bread.
Step 2: Butter or spray 1 side of the bread with cooking spray (or butter). Mayonnaise works as well. Place the butter side down first on the basket and then butter the other side.
Step 3: Set the timer of your air fryer to 5 minutes at 350 degrees. Then butter the other side.
Step 4: When the 5 minutes or done, flip the sandwich over so that the other side of the grilled cheese becomes toasty and golden brown. Air Fry for another 3 minutes. Please note that all air fryers do not cook the same. Might have to adjust cooking time accordingly.
Recipe Tips
The grilled cheese sandwich gets flipped over to the other side so that it gives the other side of the bread to get brown and toasted. Sometimes it won't be brown but the bread is still crispy.
🌟 Air Fryer Tip: When the bread is cooking in the air fryer it will sometimes move around because of the circulating air at the top. Most air fryers come with a trivet that you can place over the bread or find something heavy that is oven safe to set in your air fryer.
What to serve with grilled cheese?
My recipe for 5 Ingredient Tomato Blender Soup or Air Fryer Tomato Soup would be great to serve on the side with this grilled cheese sandwich.
Grilled Cheese Variations
For variations on grilled cheese try adding cooked bacon, deli ham, or sliced tomatoes.
Lower Point Grilled Cheese for WW Use a light bread (I like Village Hearth Light Italian Bread) and reduced-fat or 2% American cheese slice. I will also use I Can't Believe Its Not Butter Spray to spritz on the bread. Under 20 sprays is 0 points. Butter spray comes in a bottle and it is next to the other butter and spreads in the grocery store. The whole sandwich would be 4 smart points and that is for all 3 plans.
Light butter or reduced-fat mayonnaise can also be used instead of regular butter.
Best Air Fryer Tips
The air fryer is so great for cooking simple basic food like air fryer steak, air fryer hard-boiled eggs, and air fryer bacon. Cook up some air fryer chicken breasts for the week and use it chicken quesadillas.
Overcrowding: Do not overcrowd the basket. Place items in a single layer in the air fryer basket or some food will not cook properly or all the way through.
Use a spray oil such as Pam to get food extra crispy and to save on calories.
Use parchment paper on the bottom of your air fryer for easy clean up.
Recipe FAQS
Some air fryers require preheating and some do not. Be sure to check your air fryer manual.
I have two air fryers. The Cosori 4 Qt Air Fryer and Ninja Woodfire Grill which is an outdoor air fryer. It’s pretty awesome! It has 5 different functions on it.
I personally think both methods for cooking grilled cheese are great. The only inconvenience for grilled cheese in the air fryer is that the bread will sometimes move around in the basket.
Any type of bread can be toasted in the air fryer and it doesn't take long at all. Mostly 5 minutes for the bread to get toasted at 350 degrees.
More Air Fryer Recipes
If you tried this Air Fryer Grilled Cheese or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries
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Air Fryer Grilled Cheese with Mayo
- Prep Time: 2 min
- Cook Time: 8 min
- Total Time: 10 min
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Easy
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Description
I used to make my grilled cheese on a skillet but now I make them in the air fryer because it is so simple and the air fryer makes the bread nice and toasty!
Ingredients
- 2 Slices of good crusty bread or regular sandwich bread
- 2 slices of cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoon of room temperature butter or mayonnaise
Instructions
- Place the cheese in the middle of the two slices of bread.
- Butter or spray 1 side of the bread with cooking spray (or butter). Mayonnaise works as well. Place the butter side down first on the basket and then butter the other side.
- Set the timer of your air fryer to 5 minutes at 350 degrees. Then butter the other side.
- When the 5 minutes or done, flip the sandwich over so that the other side of the grilled cheese becomes toasty and golden brown. Air Fry for another 3 minutes.
Serving size: 1 sandwich
Notes
My WW Personal Points: 3 Click here to see in recipe builder (will have to log in)
The grilled cheese sandwich gets flipped over to the other side so that it gives the other side of the bread to get brown and toasted. Sometimes it won't be brown but the bread is still crispy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 1
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Protein: 11
Jenna says
Yay you will love it!
Coleen Robertson says
Getting my new air fryer Friday..cant wait to try these recipes
Jenna says
Yes definitely try it out!
Margaret Carmen says
I love the idea of making grilled cheese in the air fryer! Great advice about preheating and not overcrowding for best results. I will give this a try with mayonnaise, as you suggested. May opt for some other cheese like cheddar or munster.
Tyler says
So easy. One time I made one sandwich and the 5 min flip then 3 min was perfect. This time I did 2 sandwiches and I ended up doing 2 min extra per side. 100% so far.
Sourabh sharma says
Omg! This is such a Awesome Plan
Jenna says
Yep!
JoAnn says
Can you use the block type Velveeta and cut thicker slices of cheese?
Grilled cheese says
I used to hate grilled cheese when I was really young I haven’t ate it since just found this recipe and is the best thing I’ve ever had!!!
Alexandr Lorvinus says
This is such a great idea! Great to prepare on a Sunday for days in the week when you don’t have time! Thanks for sharing.