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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.
Claudia-Cristina says
Just made the air fryer grilled cheese—crispy, gooey, and ready in minutes. So simple and delicious!
Jacqueline. says
Such an easy way to make grilled cheese toast. I made some together with my grandson and now he wants to make them every time he comes to visit!
Sonja says
The toothpick idea was genius! I kept wondering how to hold the top of the grilled cheese in place in my air fryer and this really solved it. Came out beautiful.
Krystle says
This is good I’ll never make my grilled cheese in a skillet again!
Clarice says
Wow!I have never thought about making grilled cheese sandwich on my airfryer but I would love to give it a try. This looks really delicious. Will make one when I get home later.
Greta says
Never tried it with in air-fryer but I’m not going to make it differently from now. So easy and quick!
Vidhya says
This grilled cheese sandwich was really so good! I served with tomato sauce, yum!
Azlin says
Never thought to make grilled cheese in the airfryer – it turned out beautifully, thanks!
Madison says
This grilled cheese was so easy to make! turned out great in my air fryer.
Maria says
These are pure perfection. There is no better way to make grilled cheese than in the air fryer.