This air fryer onion grilled cheese is a luxury upgrade to your grilled cheese sandwich game.
The dish takes everything that's great about grilled cheese and kicks it up a notch with flavorful caramelized onions. It's made in an air fryer so it's nice and crispy without all the oil of traditional frying.
How to Make Air Fryer Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Caramelized Onions
The sweetness of the onions pairs perfectly with the rich flavor of the air-fried cheese, creating a sandwich that is both delicious and nutritious. My kids were obsessed!
Start by cooking air fryer onions. Here’s the step-by-step recipe for how to make sauteed caramelized onions in your trusted air fryer.
To assemble the Onion Grilled Cheese sandwiches, begin by spreading butter on one side of each slice of bread. I use sourdough sandwich bread.
Then, add a layer of cheese followed by the caramelized onions. Top with another slice of bread and spread more butter on the outside of the sandwich. Place the sandwich in the air fryer and cook for 3 minutes on 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 °C). Then, using a spatula, flip the sandwich over and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Onion Grilled Cheese Melt
- 4 slices of sourdough sandwich bread
- 4 tablespoons of Air Fryer Onions
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 2 slices Provolone cheese
- 2 slices of Mozzarella cheese (or you can use Swiss or Gruyere)
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
1. Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 °C)
2. Spread a thin layer of butter on one side of each slice of bread. (Picture 1)
3. Sprinkle garlic powder, thyme, and Italian seasoning on each buttered side. (Picture1)
3. Place the bread slices, butter-side down, in the air fryer basket. (Picture 2.)
4. Top each slice with cheese, 2 tablespoons of caramelized onions, and another slice of cheese. (Pictures 3 and 4)
5. Cook for 6-8 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the sandwich is golden brown. Be sure to flip halfway. (Pictures 5 and 6)
6. Serve hot and enjoy!
Please find the printable recipe card below.
How to Store and Reheat Sauteed Caramelized Onions
Sauteed onions do not last more than 2 days in my home. I put them in everything from soups and stews to salads, steaks, and burgers. If I ate cereal, I swear I’d top them with onions too. 🙂
If you find yourself with more sauteed onions than you need, they can be stored for future use.
Once the onions have cooled, transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the fridge. They should keep for up to four days.
When you're ready to use them, simply reheat them in a pan over low heat until they're warmed through. You can reheat them in the microwave for 30 seconds, or in the air fryer for 2 minutes, tossing halfway.
Sauteed onions can be frozen. Seal in a zip-lock bag and put the bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw the onions and proceed with reheating as per the instructions above.
You can also add them cold to certain dishes, such as salads or sandwiches. So don't let those extra sauteed onions go to waste - with a little planning, they can be part of your next meal.
Air Fryer Onion Melt (Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Caramelized Onions)
This air fryer onion melt is a luxury upgrade to your grilled cheese sandwich game.
The dish takes everything that's great about grilled cheese and kicks it up a notch with flavorful caramelized onions. It's made in an air fryer so it's nice and crispy without all the oil of traditional frying.
Ingredients
- 4 slices of sourdough sandwich bread
- 4 tablespoons of Air Fryer Onions
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 2 slices Provolone cheese
- 2 slices of Mozzarella cheese (or you can use Swiss or Gruyere)
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 °C)
- Spread a thin layer of butter on one side of each slice of bread. (Picture 1)
- Sprinkle garlic powder, thyme and Italian seasoning on each buttered side. (Picture 1)
- Place the bread slices, butter-side down, in the air fryer basket. (Picture 2.)
- Top each slice with cheese, 2 tablespoons of caramelized onions, and another slice of cheese. (Pictures 3 and 4)
- Cook for 6-8 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the sandwich is golden brown. Be sure to flip halfway. (Pictures 5 and 6)
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Susan
Do you put another slice of bread on top? I've read this several times and just says to top it with another slice of cheese, and not sure hhow you'd be able to flip that!?
Irina
Hi Susan. Yes I use two slices of bread. Butter both on both sides. Arrange the cheese and onions in the middle. Air fry both sides, flipping halfway.