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This delicious Air Fryer Grilled Cheese has an incredibly crispy outside with pesto, tomato slices and gooey, melty cheese inside. It’s super easy to make and is ready in about 10 minutes, prep time included. Once you try the air fryer method, there’s no going back!
If you haven’t tried cooking with an air fryer, it’s time to give it a go! It creates foods with great taste and texture. Here are some other favs: Air Fryer Salmon Bites, Buffalo Cauliflower Bites, and Air Fryer Green Beans.
This Air Fryer Grilled Cheese with pesto, mozzarella and tomatoes will definitely take your grilled cheese game to the next level! Not only is it super flavorful, but it’s so easy to make. In just 8 minutes, you’ll have a sandwich that has a perfectly golden and toasty exterior with plenty of gooey melted cheese inside. You’ll never use your stovetop again to make a grilled cheese sandwich!
This sandwich is similar to my grilled chicken sandwich recipe that I also made with pesto and fresh tomatoes.
Recipe highlights
- Simple, yet so delicious! You only need 5 ingredients for a warm, comforting and super flavorful lunch!
- Making grilled cheese in the air fryer is pretty effortless and they cook up so quick.
- The sandwich achieves a wonderful balance of flavors with the savory mozzarella, tangy tomatoes, and the aromatic kick of basil pesto.
Ingredients you will need
- Sandwich bread: Use any favorite variety. Large, thick slices of sourdough bread is a popular option.
- Softened butter: Make the outside of the bread nice and toasty.
- Pesto: For maximum flavor, use my homemade basil pesto!
- Mozzarella cheese: Adds major cheesiness!
- Tomato: Juicy and sweet!
Variations and substitutions
- To ensure your sandwich is gluten-free, be sure to use gluten-free bread.
- Instead of butter, you could use a butter spray, or cooking spray and some people even prefer mayonnaise.
- Feel free to change up the cheese and use any good melty variety like American, gouda, cheddar or gruyere.
- Leave the tomatoes off, if you’re not a fan.
How to make grilled cheese sandwich
Step 1: Evenly spread the butter over one side of all your 4 slices of bread.
Step 2: Next, spread the pesto over the other side of your slices. Then, add the bread to the air fryer basket, butter side down.
Step 3: Top both of them with a slice of mozzarella, tomato then a second slice of mozzarella.
Step 4: To close the sandwich add the remaining slices of bread, butter-side up. The butter needs to be on the outside of the sandwiches to get that nice golden crisp. Air fry at 375°F for 8 minutes, flipping the sandwiches halfway.
Step 5: Slice and serve while warm.
My Pro Tip
Recipe Tip
- All air fryers are different: Depending on the brand, some air fryers take longer to cook than others. For the crispiest sandwich and the most melty cheese, I cooked my sandwich at 375°F for 8 minutes. It’s a good idea to check on the sandwich often as it gets close to the 8-minute mark, so it doesn’t burn.
- Double the recipe: As written, this recipe makes 2 grilled cheese sandwiches. If you’d like to make enough for your whole family, feel free to simply double the recipe.
- Change it up: This recipe is easy to change up. If someone in your family wants a more traditional grilled cheese, simply leave the pesto and tomato off and use whatever cheese you prefer.
Frequently asked questions
Grilled cheese is pretty wonderful whether it’s cooked in the air fryer or in a pan. My family loves it cooked in the air fryer, though. The texture is so good! The bread gets nice and crunchy, which compliments the melty cheese.
In my experience, it works best to cook an air fryer grilled cheese at 375ºF. I also like to flip it halfway through cooking, so it’s evenly toasted. This level of heat will crisp up the bread and melt the cheese perfectly.
I like to use sliced mozzarella for this recipe; however, either sliced or shredded cheese works for making grilled cheese. If using shredded cheese, it will melt best if it’s shredded from a block rather than using the bagged variety.
Serving suggestions
Enjoy this with your favorite salad, soup, or chips and you’ll have a tasty, wholesome meal that you’ll want to eat on repeat. Here are some sides that would pair well:
- Roasted Tomato Soup
- Healthy Asparagus Soup
- Italian Chopped Salad
- Cucumber and Tomato Salad
- Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
Storage recommendations
Air fryer grilled cheese sandwiches are best immediately after making; however, they can be stored for a short time.
- Storing: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight storage container for up to 2 days.
- Reheat: Re-toast in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 3 to 5 minutes.
More easy air fryer recipes
- Air Fryer Broccoli
- Air Fryer Fish and Chips
- Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer
- Honey Garlic Air Fryer Tofu
- Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Thanks for stopping by! If you make this dish or any of my other recipes, I would really appreciate you taking the time to comment and rate it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 slices sandwich bread
- 2 tablespoons softened butter
- 4 tablespoons homemade pesto
- 4 thick slices mozzarella cheese
- 4 thin slices of tomato
Instructions
- Evenly spread the butter over one side of all your 4 slices of bread. Next, spread the pesto over the other side of your slices.
- Place 2 slices of bread, butter side down, into the air fryer basket.
- Top both of them with a slice of mozzarella, tomato then a second slice of mozzarella.
- To close the sandwich add the remaining slices of bread, butter-side up. The butter needs to be on the outside of the sandwiches to get that nice golden crisp.
- Air fry at 375°F for 8 minutes, flipping the sandwiches halfway.
- Slice and serve while warm.
Video
Notes
- Storing: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight storage container for up to 2 days.
- Reheat: Re-toast in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 3 to 5 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made this today. Amazing
Super delicious