Air fryer pizza grilled cheese sandwich is the best of both worlds—pizza and grilled cheese in one! You take two slices of bread, add your favorite pizza sauce, lots of melty cheese, and any pizza toppings you like – pepperoni, olives, or peppers. Then, you put it in the air fryer, and it toasts up the bread to a crispy golden brown while making the cheese inside super gooey. It’s like having a mini pizza sandwich, but faster and way less messy.
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This recipe is perfect for when you’re craving pizza but don’t want to wait! Or when you can’t decide between pizza and grilled cheese—why not have both? It’s super easy, and the air fryer makes it crispy on the outside and perfectly melty on the inside! Made with five simple ingredients, it comes together in less than 10 minutes. It’s a game changer for busy day, easy lunch, or after-school snack.
Ingredients
- 2 slices of bread (any kind you like). I used Sourdough.
- 1–2 tbsp pizza sauce (enough to cover the bread)
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or any cheese that melts well) My second choice is Provolone.
- 8 Pepperoni slices or any pizza toppings you like
- 1 tbsp butter or cooking spray (for that golden, crispy finish)
- Optional: Italian seasoning or garlic powder. To me it adds an extra layer of flavor.
I recommend using firm bread with a denser texture and structure, like sourdough, ciabatta, baguette, or whole-grain sandwich bread. These breads have a sturdier crust and a chewy interior that can handle moisture from sauces and toppings without falling apart or getting soggy when loaded with ingredients.
How to Make Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich in the Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 °C)
Spread the Sauce: Flip the bread and spread a thin layer of pizza sauce. Don’t overdo it, or it’ll get soggy! You can also skip the sauce.
Add cheeses and pepperoni – Add a layer of mozzarella cheese slices to one piece of bread, followed by a layer of pepperoni slices. Pictures 2 and 3 above. Or any other pizza toppings you want.
Top It Off: Place the other slice of bread on top to make a sandwich. Spread butter on the outside of both bread slices or spray lightly with cooking spray. You can also use mayo. Sprinkle a little Italian seasoning or garlic powder if you like.
Air Fryer Time: Place the sandwich in the preheated air fryer basket and cook for 5–7 minutes, flipping halfway through. Cook until the bread is golden and crispy, and the cheese is melty.
Serve It Up: Let it cool for a minute (the cheese will be super hot!), then slice and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Air fryer pizza grilled cheese sandwich is awesome on its own, but you can totally dip it in a bowl of warm marinara sauce or Spicy Chipotle Mayo. For a lighter meal serve it with a simple Tomato Cucumber Salad to balance out the cheesy goodness. You could also throw in some crunchy veggies like carrots or celery with ranch on the side. Add some garlic butter or sprinkle a little Parmesan on top right when it comes out of the air fryer—total game-changer!
Recipe Variations and Add-ons
Ideas for customizing:
- Hawaiian Style: Add pineapple and ham.
- Veggie Option: Include bell peppers, mushrooms, or olives.
- Different Cheeses: Try cheddar, provolone, or a mix for extra flavor.
Please allow me to suggest some of our favorite grilled cheese variations.
Air Fryer Onion Melt: This is a delicious take on the classic grilled cheese sandwich. The sweetness of the caramelized onions pairs perfectly with the cheesy goodness. Serve it with homemade chipotle dip for an even tastier sandwich. Delicious!
Pesto Grilled Cheese: For a little bit of a twist on the classic, try adding some pesto, garlic, and Italian seasoning to your grilled cheese sandwich. The salty, savory and herby flavor of pesto pairs perfectly with the rich, creamy taste of the cheese. Yum!
Jalapeño Melt: This sandwich is for you if you like it hot! The jalapeños add a nice kick to the sandwich, while the cream cheese helps to tone down the heat a bit. If you want an even spicier sandwich, use pepper Jack cheese instead of cheddar.
More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love
- Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers Cheese Balls
- Air-fried French Bread Pizza
- Crispy Potato Sliders
- Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potato Cakes
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Air Fryer Pizza Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 slices of bread any kind you like, see notes below
- 2 Tablespoons Pizza sauce 1–2 tbsp pizza sauce (enough to cover the bread)
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese or any cheese that melts well. My second choice is Provolone.
- 8 slices pepperoni or any pizza toppings you like
- 1 tablespoon butter or cooking spray (for that golden, crispy finish)
Optional
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning, black pepper and garlic powder for extra flavor
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 °C)
Assemble Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Spread the Sauce: Flip the bread and spread a thin layer of pizza sauce. Don’t overdo it, or it’ll get soggy! You can also skip the sauce.Add cheeses and pepperoni – Add a layer of mozzarella cheese slices to one piece of bread, followed by a layer of pepperoni slices. Pictures 2 and 3. Or any other pizza toppings you want.Top It Off: Place the other slice of bread on top to make a sandwich. Spread butter on the outside of both bread slices or spray lightly with cooking spray. You can also use mayo. Sprinkle a little Italian seasoning or garlic powder if you like.
- Air Fry: Place the sandwich in the preheated air fryer basket and cook for 5–7 minutes, flipping halfway through. Cook until the bread is golden and crispy, and the cheese is melty.
- Serve – Carefully cut the sandwich in half lengthwise or diagonally.
Notes
- I recommend using firm bread with a denser texture and structure, like sourdough, ciabatta, baguette, or whole-grain sandwich bread. These breads have a sturdier crust and a chewy interior that can handle moisture from sauces and toppings without falling apart or getting soggy when loaded with ingredients.
- You can use cheese slices if that’s what you’ve got. Just make sure to cover the bread evenly so you get melty cheese all over.
- How do I reheat leftovers?
Pop it back in the air fryer for a couple of minutes to bring back the crunch.
The recipe doesn’t explain what to do with the garlic powder and Italian seasoning, black pepper, and does the buttered side of the bread face the inside of the sandwich, or the outside, like a traditional grilled cheese sandwich? Thanks
I apologize. The buttered side of the bread is the outside of the sandwich. I sprinkle garlic powder and Italian seasoning directly on the butter. Black pepper is optional.
Wow, this is next level grilled cheese. Incredibly delicious! Adding pepper, Italian seasoning and garlic powder really added an extra layer of flavor. Thank you!