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Making grilled cheese in the air fryer is so easy; it’s one of the first hot lunches my kids learned to make themselves. Here, I’ll show you the 5-minute method my teen uses for crispy bread, melted cheese, and a sandwich that stays together while it cooks.
Grilled Cheese in the Air Fryer
My youngest started making grilled cheese in the air fryer after mastering air fryer Uncrustables, and now it's his go-to when he's making lunch for himself or a friend. It takes about the same amount of time as on the stove, but there's no skillet to watch and the bread gets evenly crisp on both sides.
If I'm feeding a bunch of his friends, I’ll bake a batch of grilled cheese in the oven; but for one or two sandwiches, the air fryer is hard to beat.
How to Make Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
- Assemble
Make your grilled cheese as usual, then butter or lightly spray the outside of both slices of bread. - Secure it
Push a toothpick through the center so the top slice doesn't lift or move around once the air starts circulating. - Air fry
At 370F for about 5 minutes, flipping it over halfway through.
Laura’s Tips for the Best Grilled Cheese in the Air Fryer
As many as your air fryer will fit in a single layer without stacking. Most air fryers will fit about 2, depending on the bread you’re using.
Push a toothpick through the sandwich before cooking. The strong airflow inside some air fryers can lift the top slice of bread before the cheese has melted enough to hold everything together. If you don’t have toothpicks, you can place a metal spoon on top of the sandwich, but you’ll need to use kitchen tongs to lift it out when flipping and at the end because it will be hot!
No, but a light coating of butter or cooking spray before air frying it helps the bread turn golden and crisp. Otherwise, the bread will get toasted without that crisp buttery exterior.
I recommend it. Flipping halfway through helps both sides toast evenly, especially if your air fryer heats more strongly from the top. Use kitchen tongs since it will be hot.
Yes. Let it cool completely before putting it in a lunch container so steam doesn't soften the bread. It won't stay hot and crispy for hours, but it still makes a great packed sandwich. Here is how I pack grilled sandwiches for school.
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My Teen’s Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Recipe
Watch How It’s Made:
Ingredients
- 2 slices sandwich bread
- 2 slices cheese, your favorite
- Butter or spray, for grilling
Instructions
Prep:
- Preheat the air fryer to 370°F (185C) for 5 minutes.
Make the sandwich:
- Place the sliced bread on a flat surface and butter both slices of bread. Flip the bread slices over, place the cheese, and close the sandwich, buttered sides out.
- Take a toothpick and slide it through the middle of the sandwich to keep it together inside the air fryer.
Air Fry:
- Place the cheese sandwich in the preheated air fryer. If making more than one grilled cheese at a time, make sure not to stack them.
- Air fry it for 2 minutes on the first side, open the air fryer and flip the sandwich over. Air fry the second side for another 2 to 3 minutes.
Serve:
- Remove the toothpick and serve the grilled cheese sandwich.
Karen says
Crispy on the outside, melty on the inside, and easy to make is a WIN! Definitely adding this to my go-to list for simple, comforting meals!
Stacie k says
This is the PERFECT meal for my child. I just cant believe I didn’t think of this myself!
Jaleah says
This grilled cheese is so delicious!! I love the convenience of putting it together in the air fryer.
Nicole says
This air fryer grilled cheese is so delicious! Such an easy way to get lunch done for the kiddos this summer.
Andrea says
Came out perfectly crisp—super easy and the cheese was nice and melty. Great for a quick lunch.
Swathi says
Air fryer grilled cheese looks delicious. I have made it, my kids loved it.
Dana says
Great recipe!!
Erica says
These grill cheese sandwiches in the air fryer are super easy and perfect every time. My kids make these by themselves and they Love it. So glad I found this recipe.
Vanessa says
This air fryer grilled cheese was so easy and yum!
Brittany says
My daughter made this air fryer grilled cheese for herself this afternoon and LOVED IT! Turned out perfect and it was so much easier for her than the traditional method.