Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Toasties
Air fryer ham and cheese toasties are crisp on the outside, with a molten Cheddar middle, and they are ready in 8 minutes of cooking. There is no sandwich toaster to heat or wash, just butter on the outside of the bread and a flip halfway through. Two toasties fit in most baskets, so lunch for two takes a quarter of an hour from start to finish.
- Total
- 14 min
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 8 min
- Serves
- 2
- Per serving
- 480kcal
Making air fryer ham and cheese toasties ahead
You can assemble the sandwiches, buttered and filled, up to a few hours before cooking and keep them covered in the fridge, then cook straight from cold, adding a minute to each side. Soft white sliced bread gives the classic toastie crunch. Sourdough also works, but needs about a minute longer on each side.
For a crowd, cook in batches and keep the finished toasties on a rack in a low oven at 110°C (90°C fan), gas ¼, for up to 15 minutes. Not keen on ham? The cheese-only version is covered in air fryer cheese toasties.
Method for air fryer ham and cheese toasties
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Butter the bread Spread the softened butter thinly over one side of each slice, right to the edges. Lay two slices butter-side down on a board.
- Fill Cover each of those two slices with two slices of ham, then pile on the grated Cheddar, keeping it inside the edges so it does not melt onto the basket. Top with the other two slices, butter-side up, and press down gently.
- Air fry Lay the toasties in the basket in a single layer, with space between them. Cook at 200°C for , turn them over with tongs, then cook for another , until deep golden and the cheese is bubbling at the edges.
- Rest and serve Lift out the toasties and leave them for , so the cheese sets slightly and does not burn your mouth. Cut in half diagonally and serve hot.
What to serve with air fryer ham and cheese toasties
A bowl of tomato soup is the traditional partner, and a few pickles or a handful of salad leaves cut through the richness. Leftover ham and Cheddar also go well in an omelette with cheese the next day.
Common problems and fixes for Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Toasties
- The top slice lifts or flies off in the fan.
- Press the sandwich down firmly before it goes in, or secure the corners with a cocktail stick and remove it before eating. A heavier, thicker-sliced loaf also helps.
- The bread browns but the cheese has not melted.
- Grate the cheese rather than slicing it, and use no more than 50g per toastie. If the bread is already dark, lower the heat to 180°C and cook for 1–2 minutes longer.
- The cheese leaks out and burns on the basket.
- Keep the filling about 1cm in from the edge of the bread, and wipe off any melted cheese between batches.
Frequently asked questions about Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Toasties
How long do you cook toasties in the air fryer?
8 minutes at 200°C, turning after 4 minutes. If your basket only holds one toastie, cook them one after the other and allow another 8 minutes.
Do you need to preheat the air fryer for toasties?
No. The toasties are thin, so they brown well without a preheat.
Can you use sliced cheese instead of grated?
Yes, but grated mature Cheddar melts faster and more evenly. Gruyère, Red Leicester or a mix of Cheddar and mozzarella all work.
How did you like the recipe?
4.9 / 5 · 76 ratings
