This simple air fryer grilled cheese takes minutes to make and comes out golden exterior, completely melted inside, with a satisfying crunch and large strings of gooey cheese! It doesn’t get higher.
When you’ve mastered this traditional grilled cheese within the air fryer, take it up a notch with a spicy scorching Buffalo chicken grilled cheese!
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
I’ve used my air fryer to cook dinner all the things from chicken tenders to chocolate chip cookies, so it was solely a matter of time earlier than I made air fryer grilled cheese! I don’t know if I’ll ever return to a skillet on the range. There are some things that I search for in an ideal grilled cheese sandwich, and this air fryer recipe nails it:
Additional crispy. The air fryer makes it tremendous simple to get that coveted golden exterior, for an additional crispy, crunchy grilled cheese sandwich.
Huge, gooey strings of cheese. After I slice and pull aside a freshly grilled cheese sandwich, I like seeing loads of ooey-gooey, melted cheese stretching from in between the bread slices. For the reason that scorching air circulates, the air fryer is a fast and simple shortcut to grilled cheese that’s completely melted inside.
Simple. I feel among the best elements about an ideal grilled cheese is its simplicity! This recipe doesn’t have any fancy substances and the tactic is tremendous simple, even for inexperienced persons. Plus, it’s means sooner than a skillet!
Substances You’ll Want
There are actually simply 3 substances wanted to make a traditional grilled cheese: bread, butter, and cheese! I’ve included some notes under. Scroll right down to the recipe card for a printable checklist with the complete recipe quantities.
Butter – Take the butter out of the fridge forward of time in order that it softens sufficient to unfold simply over the bread.
Bread – Any bread you’d like! I take advantage of sourdough. My one advice for selecting bread for grilled cheese is to keep away from a very robust, exhausting crust (it’ll solely get more durable after it’s cooked).
Cheese – For the most effective grilled cheese, you’ll need to use a mixture of shredded cheddar and one other melty cheese, like mozzarella, Gruyere, or Monterey Jack.
Tips on how to Make Grilled Cheese Within the Air Fryer
If you happen to’re new to air frying, a traditional grilled cheese is a good place to start out! I even have a useful information on how to use an air fryer that walks you thru the fundamentals. Then, comply with the short steps right here. You’ll additionally discover the printable directions within the recipe card under the publish.
Butter the bread slices.Assemble the sandwich.Prepare dinner!
Assemble. Whereas the air fryer preheats to 370ºF, butter two slices of bread, after which assemble your grilled cheese within the air fryer with the buttered sides going through out. You may be beneficiant with the shredded cheese!
Prepare dinner. Air fry the grilled cheese for 4-5 minutes per aspect till it’s golden and toasty and the cheese is absolutely melted.
Recipe Ideas and Variations
Maintain the sandwich collectively. If you happen to’re working with thinner bread slices, think about sticking a toothpick into the grilled cheese to carry it collectively whereas it cooks.
Olive oil as a substitute of butter. If you happen to’d want to make your air fryer grilled cheese with olive oil, drizzle a small quantity over every bread slice. Then, sprinkle a pinch of salt (my favourite is Maldon sea salt) over the oiled aspect of the bread for additional taste. Just a little salt additionally helps the surface of the grilled cheese crisp up. You are able to do this for those who’re utilizing 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 may also add tomato slices.
Pesto. Unfold the within 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.
Extra add-ins. Add cooked bacon slices or caramelized onions. I additionally love making grilled cheese with skinny apple slices for a sweet-savory distinction.
Continuously Requested Questions
Do it’s important to flip a grilled cheese sandwich in an air fryer?
Sure, you must flip your grilled cheese midway by means of cooking in order that it browns evenly on either side. If one aspect isn’t fairly golden brown, flip and cook dinner for an additional 1-2 minutes extra.
Are you able to make grilled cheese with out butter?
Butter provides taste, however you may as well use olive oil or mayo. Making grilled cheese with mayo as a substitute of butter provides to the flavour and provides the surface of the bread a pleasant, golden brown colour.
What to Serve With Grilled Cheese
Nothing brings me straight again to my childhood than a gooey, crispy grilled cheese dunked right into a bowl of creamy tomato soup. Or, just about any soup for that matter, from vegetable soup to Zuppa Toscana and even good old school chicken noodle soup. Simply add a aspect of inexperienced salad and lunch is served!
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Refrigerate. Grilled cheese will all the time style the most effective when it’s contemporary from the skillet or air fryer! That being mentioned, if in case you have leftovers, you may retailer them hermetic and preserve them within the fridge for a day or two.
Reheat. The simplest approach to reheat grilled cheese is to return it to the air fryer at 350ºF till it’s scorching and melted once more.
This simple air fryer grilled cheese takes minutes to make and comes out crispy and golden exterior, completely melted inside, with massive strings of gooey cheese!
3 Tablespoons Butter, softened
4 slices of Bread (I used sourdough)
3 ounces Cheddar cheese, shredded
3 ounces Mozzarella cheese, Gruyere, or Monterey Jack cheese
Preheat the air fryer to 370F.
Unfold one slice of bread with butter, masking one aspect fully.
Place the bread butter aspect down on the air fryer grate.
High with equal quantities of each cheeses.
Butter one aspect of the second slice of bread and place it on high of the cheese, with the butter aspect up.
In case your bread is skinny, add a toothpick to maintain the bread from blowing off.
Prepare dinner for 4-5 minutes, then flip and cook dinner for an additional 4 minutes. If you happen to like your bread extra toasted, you may add one minute at a time.