I’m putting my air fryer to work, and I’m pretty happy about it. And a classic grilled cheese sandwich is one of the best lunches on the planet, so I thought it was time for the appliance and the sandwich to meet and see how they did together. And they did great — you can air fry a fantastic grilled cheese in minutes and get a sandwich with crunchy bread on the outside and ooey gooey melted cheese on the inside (and whatever else you want to layer in!).

If you think making a stovetop grilled cheese is easy, just wait until you try this air fryer version. Or if you find your skillet grilled cheese sandwiches to be a bit too oily, making air fryer cheese sandwiches is the perfect solution!

Serve your air fryer sandwich with a Chickpea salad and Tomato, Orzo, and Dill Soup.

Grilled Cheese in the Air Fryer! The air fryer makes it super easy to get heavenly grilled cheese sandwiches loaded with your favorite add-ins.

Ingredients

• Mayonnaise – Sometimes I use butter, and sometimes I use mayo, but I’ve found mayo adds an extra layer of flavor to any grilled cheese sandwich.
• Country or sourdough bread – I’ve found that country or sourdough adds an elevated feel to my grilled cheeses.
• Bacon – Because why not! Plus, you can use your air fryer to cook the bacon.
• Cheese – The options are endless; check out the note below for some suggestions.

Grilled Cheese Add-Ins

• Bacon
• Prosciutto
• Ham
• James, jellies, and preserves
• Pesto
• Caramelized onions or shallots
• Pickled Things (try sliced or chopped pickled Brussels sprouts!)
• Sliced Roasted Turkey Breast or Roast Chicken
• Green Olive Tapenade
• Roasted Peppers

Best Cheese for Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Pile on some shredded cheese. I used a Mexican blend, which is one of my go-to shredded cheese choices. Any melty cheese will work: sharp cheddar cheese, American cheese (classic!), Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, Gruyere, Provolone, Swiss, Havarti, mozzarella, all possibilities.

Or try soft cheeses. You might also head in another direction, using some slices of brie, for instance, or another soft double or triple crème cheese. Watch these a bit closely since they will probably melt faster, especially if the cheese is at room temperature, and they go from melted to molten in seconds in the air fryer.

How to Cook Grilled Cheese in the Air Fryer

1. Prepare the sandwiches: Spread the mayonnaise on one side of each of the slices of bread. Place two slices of bread in the air fryer basket, mayo side facing down. Sprinkle the cheese on top, add the bacon, and cover the cheese with the remaining slices of bread, mayo side up.

2. Cook: Set the air fryer to 350 F for 6 to 8 minutes. No, you don’t have to flip the sandwiches!

Storage

Store these sandwiches in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days. When you are ready to eat them, you can pop them back in the air fryer for a few minutes until melty and toasty.

What to Serve With Air Fryer Grilled Cheese

Creamy Tomato Soup with Canned Tomatoes

Lentil Tomato Soup

Chicken Tomato Soup

More Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
• Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings
• Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
• Lemon Garlic Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
• Air Fryer Italian Sausage