This effortless recipe yields the perfect air fryer grilled cheese. Crispy, melty, and delicious with a garlicky twist - it's the ultimate comfort food!
Making a grilled cheese sandwich is easy and quick. Despite that, you have to take out a skillet, preheat it, watch the sandwich as it cooks to prevent burning, wash the skillet, and sometimes that is more effort than you're willing to put in. The solution? Air fryer grilled cheese. With an air fryer, you assemble, air fry, flip once, air fry again and eat. Best of all, if you line the basket with foil, there is almost no cleanup. I call that a win!
This recipe does take the air fryer grilled cheese up a few notches with garlic butter. However, you can make it in advance and melt it in the microwave when you want a grilled cheese (it stores well in the fridge) or use plain unsalted butter.
Why You'll Love Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
- Crispy bread - Thanks to the air fryer, the bread on this sandwich comes out perfectly crisp and golden brown every time. Have you ever made a grilled cheese on the stovetop only to be left with a soggy, oily mess? You won't have that problem with this recipe.
- Melty cheese - The cheese inside the sandwich melts perfectly, creating a gooey and satisfying texture.
- Quick and easy - This recipe comes together in just minutes, making it an excellent choice for a quick lunch or late-night snack.
- Garlic butter - Although optional, it is highly recommended. The butter adds a bold garlicky flavor and aroma that immediately elevates grilled cheese.
- Endlessly customizable - You can switch up the bread, cheese, and add-ins to create a grilled cheese that suits your taste buds.
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Ingredients
To make air fryer grilled cheese, you'll need the following:
- Bread: Any bread will work, but white sandwich bread is the most popular choice. You can also try whole wheat or sourdough bread.
- Cheese: American cheese is hands down the best cheese for grilled cheese due to its superior melting ability, gooey texture, and mild flavor, so that's what this recipe calls for. However, choose any cheese that you prefer or a combination.
- Butter: Butter adds flavor to grilled cheese and helps the bread crisp. Mayonnaise works too if you're making an easy air fryer grilled cheese sandwich.
- Garlic: Garlic infuses the butter with flavor, making air fryer grilled cheese all the more delicious. Although suggested, it is optional.
A complete ingredients list with amounts is in the recipe card below!
How to Make Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
- Make the garlic butter: Melt the butter in a saucepan, add garlic, cook until softened, then strain but reserve the solids. Afterward, let the butter come to room temperature, then chill so it solidifies slightly.
- Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Butter the bread: Spread both sides of each slice of bread with butter.
- Assemble the sandwich: Layer cheese and some reserved garlic on one piece of bread and top with a second slice of bread.
- Air fry the sandwich: Place the sandwich in the air fryer basket for 4 minutes, flip, and cook for 3 more minutes.
- Serve and enjoy: Remove the sandwich from the air fryer and eat!
For an even easier Air Fryer Grilled Cheese, you just need three ingredients: bread, butter (or mayo), and cheese.
- Spread the butter or mayo onto the outside of each slice of bread.
- Add cheese slices.
- Place in the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 3 to 4 minutes and flip, then cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, until both sides are golden brown.
Variations, Substitutions, and Cooking Tips
Line the air fryer basket with foil - It makes for easy cleanup. Alternatively, lightly spray the basket with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking. Bread is unlikely to stick, but any cheese that escapes might.
Experiment with cheese - If you dislike American cheese, use cheddar, Swiss, gouda, gruyere, or a combination. You can even make your own Velveeta cheese with this easy recipe.
Easy Smoked Grilled Cheese - Add a few drops of liquid smoke to the butter or mayo before spreading on the bread.
Add extra ingredients - Add bacon, tomato, avocado, arugula, mushrooms, sprouts, basil, chili flakes, or pickled jalapenos. You can even try sliced apples, depending on the cheese you select.
Coat the exterior with mayonnaise - Some appreciate the tangy flavor.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
The sandwich is delicious alone. However, to make it a meal, go classic with a hot bowl of tomato soup. You also can't go wrong with a light side such as salad. Another way to go if you're a big fan of crispy food is fries, tater tots, or onion rings.
Make Ahead
Air fryer grilled cheese is best made fresh, so making it ahead of time is neither suggested nor necessary. That said, you can make the butter ahead of time. Once ready, let it cool to room temperature and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The longer it sits, the better. Just sit it out to thaw before use so the butter is spreadable.
Storage and Freezer Tips
Air fryer grilled cheese is best served fresh and hot. However, if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container and refrigerate the sandwich for up to 2 days.
How to Reheat
To reheat, place the sandwich in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes or until heated. Do not freeze air fryer grilled cheese.
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
This effortless recipe yields the perfect air fryer grilled cheese. Crispy, melty, and delicious with a garlicky twist - it's the ultimate comfort food!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoons butter
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed and minced
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 slices sandwich bread
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2-3 slices American cheese
Instructions
Easy Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich Way
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Spread butter or mayonnaise onto the outside of sandwich bread.
- Add the American cheese or favorite cheese, and place in the air fryer for 3-4 minutes, flip, and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Fancy Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich Way
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Toss in the minced garlic once the butter melts and the foam subsides (about 3 minutes). Cook for 3 more minutes or until the garlic is softened and fragrant. You will also notice that the butter is a nice golden color.
- Remove the garlic butter from the heat and strain into a heat-safe bowl but reserve the garlic pieces. Stir the salt into the butter.
- Leave to cool until room temperature, then transfer the butter to the refrigerator for 5 minutes or until it solidifies but is still spreadable.
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Meanwhile, spread both sides of each slice of bread with butter. You will need about 2 tablespoons of garlic butter.
- Add a slice of cheese to one slice of bread, followed by a few garlic pieces, then add the remaining cheese and the second slice of bread.
- Place into the air fryer basket. Air fry for 4 minutes.
- Flip the sandwich and air fry for 2-3 more minutes or until browned to your liking.
- Cut in half and enjoy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 574Total Fat: 39gSaturated Fat: 23gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 108mgSodium: 1803mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 2gSugar: 7gProtein: 17g
This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.
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