Air Fryer Grilled Ham and Cheese is so simple and yet makes a timeless meal or a reason-it is delicious to eat and beyond simple to make. Cooking these sandwiches in the air fryer makes them ready faster than pan grilling and also allows you to prepare several at once without worrying about balancing heat (hello, one corner is over the eye on the stove and burning while the other is bright white and raw!). Read on to discover just how easy it is to prepare grilled ham and cheese in an air fryer.

Ingredients in Air Fryer Grilled Ham and Cheese

Softened Butter– you will need this to spread on the outside of the bread to allow it to crisp and give the grilled cheese texture in the air fryer. I used plant based butter but feel free to use whatever is your favorite. If you prefer you can substitute mayonnaise for the softened butter.

Deli Ham-you will need about one thick slice of deli ham or two-three thin slices of ham. I used smoked ham for this sandwich; however, honey ham would work great if that is your preference.

Bread– when making this sandwich for my kids, I usually use honey wheat bread just to give it a bit more nutrition. Regular white bread will also work great for this recipe. If you are serving to adults, you could choose to substitute a rye or whole grain bread.

Cheese– It takes at least two slices of cheese to make this Air Fryer Grilled Ham and Cheese. I find that deli yellow American Cheese or Sharp Cheddar Cheese Slices work best for this sandwich, but really, whatever cheese you enjoy the most will work great. Some other good ideas for this dish might be Deli Swiss, Pepper Jack, Colby or Meunster.

How To make Air Fryer Grilled Ham and Cheese:

Spread one side of each slice of bread with the softened butter or mayonnaise.
Place a slice of bread, butter side-down in the basket of the air fryer. Layer one slice of cheese, the ham and the other slice of cheese. Top with the second slice of bread, butter-side up.
Heat the air fryer to 350 degrees. Cook for 5 minutes. Flip the sandwich and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes until the outside is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

What to serve with Air Fryer Grilled Ham & Cheese

Grilled ham and cheese is a classic and delicious sandwich that pairs well with a variety of sides. Here are some ideas for what to serve with grilled ham and cheese:

Tomato soup: A warm and comforting bowl of tomato soup is the perfect complement to a grilled ham and cheese sandwich.
Chips: Serve the sandwich with a side of your favorite chips for a satisfying crunch.
Pickles: Dill pickles or bread and butter pickles can add a tangy and refreshing flavor to the meal.
Coleslaw: A light and creamy coleslaw can balance the richness of the sandwich and add some crunch.
Salad: A side salad with mixed greens and your favorite vegetables can add some freshness to the meal.
French fries: Classic crispy french fries can be a satisfying and indulgent side dish.
Sweet potato fries: Sweet potato fries are a great complement to grilled ham and cheese and can add a healthy twist to the meal.

Other Easy-Fix sandwiches you will Love:

If you enjoy these Air Fryer Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, you will love some of these other great sandwiches. They all combine a few great features: easy to make, kids love them, and they are faster than the average sandwich and/or cleaner/easier for kids to eat.

Pretzel Melts– these cordon bleu inspired melts are super fast to make with an air fryer. Kids love the pretzel-as-sandwich-base effect and the creamy parmesan Dijon sauce will have even the adults smiling. They are a fun, semi-quirky take on a classic that is perfect for families.

Texas Toast Sloppy Joes– Homemade Texas Toast makes these easy sloppy joe melts irresistible. Beefy, sloppy joe mixture, sharp cheddar cheese and homemade garlic-y bread make for the perfect weeknight dinner combination.

Meatball Wraps are an easy twist on a meatball sub in a much easier to eat format (especially for smaller hands). These wraps are quick to assemble, can even be made vegetarian-friendly, and re-heat very well. Kids LOVE these!

Air Fryer Pizza Sandwiches are easy to make ahead and even batch freeze. Kids love these pizza-flavored favorites that, once assembled take mere minutes to cook. These are also absolutely ideal for on the go meals where you may not want to give little hands a regular slice of pizza in the car, but can give them the same flavors in this much-less-mess-inducing sandwich.