Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Are Golden, Gooey, and Absolutely Foolproof

The air fryer is the answer for always crispy, always gooey grilled cheese sandwiches. Joe Lingeman/TCA

Anyone else grow up heating bread and cheese in the microwave on unsupervised afternoons at home? The results were always terrible, with mushy bread and melted cheese that got everywhere—but hey, you had a hot cheese sandwich to hold you over until dinnertime, and you didn’t have to turn on the stove.

Thinking back on those early ’90s afternoons, I really wish the air fryer had been around. I could have made the perfect air fryer grilled cheese sandwiches that my own kids make today, which turn out incredible every single time—even when they use pre-grated cheese and basic sandwich bread.

Here’s how to make them—and maybe teach your kids to make them, too.

Why You’ll Love It

• You’ll have perfectly crispy bread and gooey, melted cheese. The air fryer is the answer to always crispy, always gooey grilled cheese sandwiches.
• They’re incredibly easy to make. If you’ve got a busy weeknight, pair the grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup for an easy dinner.
• Key ingredients for air fryer grilled cheese
• Unsalted butter: Let the unsalted butter sit at room temperature until softened.
• Cheese: Use a combination of flavorful cheese like sharp cheddar and a nice melting cheese, like Monterey Jack, Gruyère, or low-moisture mozzarella.
• Bread: Use rustic bread, country white, or whole-wheat sandwich bread.

Helpful Tips

• If your air fryer has a strong fan, the top slice of bread might fly off. Secure each sandwich with a toothpick before air frying, then remove the toothpick before flipping halfway the sandwiches.
• This recipe uses a generous amount of butter and cheese, but if your slices of bread are smaller, feel free to use less butter and cheese.

Air Fryer Grilled Cheese

Serves 2

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated
• 4 ounces Monterey Jack, Gruyere, or low-moisture mozzarella cheese, grated
• 4 slices rustic bread, or country white or whole-wheat sandwich bread

1. Let 2 tablespoons unsalted butter sit at room temperature until softened. Heat an air fryer to 375 degrees F.

2. Grate 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese and 4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese on the large holes of a box grater (about 1 cup each). Toss together in a medium bowl.

3. Assemble the sandwiches. (If your air fryer can only fit one sandwich at a time, butter the bread and assemble the second sandwich after the first sandwich is cooked.) Spread the butter onto one side of each of four slices bread. Flip two of the slices over and divide the cheese evenly over these slices. Close the sandwiches with the remaining two bread slices butter-side up. Press the sandwiches slightly to close.

4. Place the sandwiches in the air fryer (do one at a time if they will not fit in a single layer with some space around them) and air fry for 3 minutes. Flip the sandwiches and air fry until the top is golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes more. If the bottom of the sandwich is still not golden brown, flip the sandwich again and air fry for 1 to 2 minutes more.

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