Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich

You won’t believe how easy it is to make this classic sandwich in your air fryer! Same ingredients, new and improved method that’s less time consuming than the stovetop. Here’s how to make an Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich!

If you don’t love a good grilled cheese, can we even be friends? I’ll take one any way, with basically any cheese, and I even like to get fancy with it (pesto grilled cheese anyone?!). 

This is an ode to a classic while upgrading things a bit with the air fryer! Air fryer = upgrade. If you don’t have one yet, what are you waiting for?!

Watch how to make Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe (1 minute):

What ingredients do you need to make an air fryer grilled cheese sandwich?

Aside from needing an air fryer to make an air fryer grilled cheese sandwich, you’ll also need these three ingredients:

• bread – I used a homemade white loaf bread, but most not too fancy bread options will work here. Make sure your bread isn’t too light or thin, or it will fly around in the air fryer. If that does happen, use a toothpick to secure the sandwich together. Remove toothpick before eating!
• cheese – Use your favorite melty cheese! I used classic cheddar cheese, but something fancy or flavored would work too. There are a lot of opinions on the internet about the best grilled cheese cheese, but you should follow your cheesy heart! Any cheddar, jack style, gouda or fontina would work. The only thing to avoid would be pre-shredded cheese, as that often has additives that prevent it from sticking together (and make it less melty).
• butter – Or oil! Or mayo! I prefer the butter option but I will go mayo if I’m out of butter! Spray oil is quickest and will also work if you are out of butter. You’ll quickly find your favorite option after trying them out.

How do you make an air fryer grilled cheese sandwich?

Making a grilled cheese sandwich in your air fryer is super easy, even easier than doing it on the stove on my opinion!

Most importantly, you’ll need an air fryer. Keep reading for my recommendation!

Start by buttering one side each of two slices of bread, using a butter knife for soft butter or a pastry brush for melted butter. Place one slice of the bread butter side down in the air fryer.

Layer cheese slices on the bread, leaving a tiny gap between the cheese and the edge of bread (so the cheese has more room to melt!).

Place the other piece of bread on top, buttered side up. If your bread is very thin, it may fly off with the fast air movement of the air fryer. Use a toothpick to hold the sandwich together!

Air fry at 375F for 4 minutes, then flip the sandwich carefully and air fry for another 4 minutes. And it’s done! Cheesy, melty, crispy goodness!!

How many grilled cheese sandwiches can you make at once in an air fryer?

If you have a small air fryer, you will most likely only be able to fit one grilled cheese sandwich comfortably. 

If you have a larger air fryer such as the model I have, the Cosori XL 5.8 qt Air Fryer (affiliate link!), you can most likely make two grilled cheeses at a time!

Using Butter Vs. Oil to make a grilled cheese sandwich:

Butter or oil? I see why this is a debate! Here are my opinions on using butter versus oil as your fat of choice for getting the golden crispy crust!

Butter: Better flavor, more traditional, more golden brown, DELICIOUS, however it is butter 🤷‍♀️

Spray oil: Quicker, faster, probably healthier, but it does not have the restaurant buttery taste 🧈

Mayo: Added this because it’s a common one! I’ve done it and I don’t see the hype, however it is an option if you’re out of butter.

What’s your preference? Let me know in the comments section below!

Can you make a butterless air fryer grilled cheese sandwich?

Yes, it is possible to use spray oil or mayo to make your grilled cheese, instead of using butter. Give them each a try or make the grilled cheese with whatever you have!

You’ll figure out what you like best after giving them each a try!

Best Cheese for Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

There are a lot of opinions on the internet about the best grilled cheese cheese, and like I said earlier, you should follow your cheesy heart!

I used Tillamook Cheddar because it’s what I had in the fridge and it’s a classic!

You can any cheddar, jack style, gouda or fontina would work. Any cheese you would normally try to make grilled cheese with will work for this method too.

The air fryer is also really good at:

I’ve had a couple different air fryers over the last 2 years, and I’ve learned what the air fryer is really good at! Here are some things you should try:

• Faster than the oven: Air fryers cook foods faster than the oven, and you don’t have to wait for anything to preheat. Making frozen tater tots in the air fryer is so much quicker than the oven!
• Frozen foods crispy: The air fryer is really good at making frozen foods crispy! Even larger things like these Freezer Friendly Air Fryer Breakfast Burritos.
• Quick dinners: They make cooking veggies and proteins together SO easy! Everything cooks like a dream, especially this Easy Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables.
• CHIPS!: You can make chips! Check out my apple chips recipe!
• Not preheating the oven: Roast veggies quicker and without turning on the oven! You can roast squash and even roast garlic!

Which air fryer do you recommend?

I have only tried two different air fryers in my life, and I upgraded purely to have a larger size basket so I can air fry more foods at once. 

The air fryer I use now, and the one that is pictured in this post is the Cosori XL 5.8 qt Air Fryer (affiliate link!). If you’re going to invest in an air fryer to cook things for 2 or more people, you should opt for a larger size. For air fryers, bigger is better!