This is how to make grilled cheese in air fryer with mayo so it comes out ooey gooey with crispy bread. Perfect using slices of store bought or air fryer bread loaves for lunch, dinner or just a snack. Make in a Cosori or Ninja Foodi this week.
Did you get one of these fancy appliances this year and now you’re ready to crisp ALL THE THINGS??!! Making grilled cheese in air fryer is probably one of my kids’ favorite things to make themselves. It might be mine too. 😉 Find this and more air fryer recipes we make weekly here.
Whether you make in a pan or this way there are two main ingredients, plus butter on the bread if you like that. There is a trick to making sure this comes out perfectly though. Hot air can cause issues so we are here with a kitchen hack to make it come out perfect every time.
Ninja Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
You can make this in any brand you might have at home, even as one of our easy Ninja Foodi recipes. With this one you’ll use the lid that is attached and the air crisp button. 😉
Ingredient Notes
You want a few slices of Bread, this French loaf was made with love by my aunt and was thicker slices. You can surely use store bought, sliced sourdough bread, or make homemade. I mean for less carbs you could use Air fryer quesadillas too.
Sliced Cheese, I like to shred both sharp cheddar cheese and Monterey jack. If you want a thicker inside make slices thin and pile them on, they’ll melt easier that way. Honestly though I use what I have on hand, some like American cheese slices (Kraft style but I prefer the real stuff)
Is Gouda good for grilled cheese?
3 other great cheeses for cooking a grilled cheese sandwich when melted are; gouda, gruyére or manchego. If you’re looking for the BIG ooey gooey cheesy pull try adding these! Only have a convection oven? Yes you can make this in there too at about 425 degrees for the same time frame. Follow the same directions as instructed here, just set it a bit hotter and ensure rack is on the lowest level.
The best way to make this is with mayonnaise spread on the outsides of both sides of bread. You could sprinkle a bit of garlic salt on top of that if you like those flavors too.
Olive oil spray is handy for easier cleanup. Once you have your cheese grated and ready you’ll need to prepare your slices of bread. On each of the sides facing out you’ll want to spread some butter, or use mayonnaise y’all.
Variations
You can first make air fryer bacon until super crispy, then wipe out the basket just a bit. Leave a little brush of it so you won’t need non stick spray and this will offer a lot more flavor for your sandwich anyway.
How Long to Cook Grilled Cheese in Air Fryer
This air fryer sandwich will take 5-7 minutes for the cheese to melt and bread to get golden brown and crispy. Of course there will be a cook time variation depending on how close your pieces are to the heating coils and how thick your bread is but generally about 6 minutes does it!
Mistakes to Avoid
If using racks, put them on the lowest level in your machine so they don’t get too too crispy before cheese melts. Ours typically doesn’t brown but still becomes crispy on the top and bottom, feel it rather than looking for browning.
FAQ
The possibilities are endless really! I wouldn’t add ingredients that you don’t want to be warm, like lettuce or anything but beyond that go for it! My girls most favorite version would be Pizza Toast with all your favorite toppings like pepperoni and olives on top.
1. Precooked bacon is great
2. Slices of tomato go quite well
3. Thin slices of leftover ham
4. Brie with thin slices of apples
5. Caramelized onions and/or sauteed mushrooms
Yes, great idea, it will add protein and more texture to the meal. I do this a lot after Christmas when I want an eas leftover ham recipe. I slice thin and put in between the slices. You can use lunchmeat to make it this style year round too though.
Well Instant Pot tomato soup is just a given if you ask us. You can’t go wrong with that or the slow cooker creamy tomato soup we make. A salad goes well with just about everything. Mixed vegetables in your air fryer are always a healthy side dish for any meal.
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Recipe
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
Ingredients
- 8 slices bread
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise, best foods is best, or use softened butter 1/2 stick
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup monterey jack cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees.
- Spread mayo one side of 4 pieces of bread. Lay with the mayonnaise side down on air fryer rack or basket. (if you have a small machine you may only be able to do one at a time)
- Sprinkle cheeses on non mayo side, then lay 2nd piece of bread with mayo side facing up on to your sandwich and close your basket.
- Cook for 4-6 minutes depending on how thick your cheese is. After 1 minute, open basket and check as top piece may have blown off. If it did put back on and press in center to make it stick with melted cheese in middle.
- Also timing will vary according to amount of cheese and other added ingredients you include inside, and how large your bread slices are.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Other air fryer recipes for kids you’ll love
You can of course make Ninja Foodi grilled cheese like this using the same timing and temperature. But wait….we have other air fryer snacks you are going to want to try out next like:
Ready to air fry everything now? Here are some other dinner recipes you should try next! My girls cook air fryer frozen chicken nuggets themselves all the time, WAY better than in the microwave.
- Make baked potatoes in air fryer and stuff them with 5 ingredient chili and cheese!
- Cook a whole pork loin in your device some night.
- You might be surprised to know you can make individual cake in this “magical machine” too!
- Try air fryer frozen corndogs next!
- Or go way over the top and make our air fryer Monte Cristo like you see here. Out of this world I tell you.
Use a toothpick or 2 to keep the top slice in place…
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