Air Fryer Grilled Cheese | Cookies & Cups

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Grilled Cheese

I’ve used my air fryer to cook everything from chicken tenders to chocolate chip cookies, so it was only a matter of time before I made air fryer grilled cheese! I don’t know if I’ll ever go back to a skillet on the stove. There are a few things that I look for in a perfect grilled cheese sandwich, and this air fryer recipe nails it:

• Extra crispy. The air fryer makes it super easy to get that coveted golden exterior, for an extra crispy, crunchy grilled cheese sandwich. 
• Big, gooey strings of cheese. When I slice and pull apart a freshly grilled cheese sandwich, I love seeing plenty of ooey-gooey, melted cheese stretching from in between the bread slices. Since the hot air circulates, the air fryer is a quick and easy shortcut to grilled cheese that’s perfectly melted inside.
• Easy. I think one of the best parts about a perfect grilled cheese is its simplicity! This recipe doesn’t have any fancy ingredients and the method is super easy, even for beginners. Plus, it’s way faster than a skillet!

Ingredients You’ll Need

There are really just 3 ingredients needed to make a classic grilled cheese: bread, butter, and cheese! I’ve included some notes below. Scroll down to the recipe card for a printable list with the full recipe amounts.

• Butter – Take the butter out of the fridge ahead of time so that it softens enough to spread easily over the bread.
• Bread – Any bread you’d like! I use sourdough. My one recommendation for choosing bread for grilled cheese is to avoid an overly tough, hard crust (it’ll only get harder after it’s cooked).
• Cheese – For the best grilled cheese, you’ll want to use a mix of shredded cheddar and another melty cheese, like mozzarella, Gruyere, or Monterey Jack.

How to Make Grilled Cheese In the Air Fryer

If you’re new to air frying, a classic grilled cheese is a great place to start! I also have a handy guide on how to use an air fryer that walks you through the basics. Then, follow the quick steps here. You’ll also find the printable instructions in the recipe card below the post.

Recipe Tips and Variations

• Hold the sandwich together. If you’re working with thinner bread slices, consider sticking a toothpick into the grilled cheese to hold it together while it cooks.
• Olive oil instead of butter. If you’d prefer to make your air fryer grilled cheese with olive oil, drizzle a small amount over each bread slice. Then, sprinkle a pinch of salt (my favorite is Maldon sea salt) over the oiled side of the bread for extra flavor. A little salt also helps the outside of the grilled cheese crisp up. You can do this if you’re using unsalted butter, too.
• Ham and cheese. Make a ham and cheese grilled cheese by layering deli ham or thinly sliced leftover baked ham over the cheese. You can also add tomato slices.
• Pesto. Spread the inside of the bread slices with basil pesto, sun-dried tomato pesto, or tapenade.
• Pizza. Make pepperoni pizza grilled cheese with mozzarella, pepperoni slices, and tomato sauce.
• More add-ins. Add cooked bacon slices or caramelized onions. I also love making grilled cheese with thin apple slices for a sweet-savory contrast.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to Serve With Grilled Cheese

Nothing brings me straight back to my childhood than a gooey, crispy grilled cheese dunked into a bowl of creamy tomato soup. Or, pretty much any soup for that matter, from vegetable soup to Zuppa Toscana and even good old-fashioned chicken noodle soup. Just add a side of green salad and lunch is served!

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

• Refrigerate. Grilled cheese will always taste the best when it’s fresh from the skillet or air fryer! That being said, if you have leftovers, you can store them airtight and keep them in the fridge for a day or two.
• Reheat. The easiest way to reheat grilled cheese is to return it to the air fryer at 350ºF until it’s hot and melted again.