All your favorite jalapeno popper ingredients sandwiched between slices of thick bread and toasted to crispy perfection! This Jalapeno Popper Air Fryer Grilled Cheese is ready in 8 minutes and may become your new lunchtime favorite.

If you’re looking for more ways to use your air fryer, check out our air fryer recipes. We’ve got savory and sweet options.

Best Air Fryer Grilled Cheese

Heads up, my friends. This jalapeno popper grilled cheese recipe is one of our new favorites and you need to make it stat.

Instead of your traditional slices of cheese, the filling in this grilled cheese sandwich is the cream cheese filling you’d expect in jalapeno poppers plus bits of jalapeno and crispy bacon speckled throughout. The heat of the peppers is balanced nicely with all of the cheese and cream cheese. YUMMY.

Jalapeno popper grilled cheese in the air fryer? YES! By making sandwiches in the air fryer, you can have a perfectly melted, perfectly crisp sandwich ready to enjoy in just a few minutes – just pop it in the air fryer, flip it halfway through, and enjoy. Making a grilled cheese is so easy to begin with, but making them in the air fryer is really fantastic.

Ingredients Needed

The best grilled cheese you’ve ever had is just a handful of ingredients away!
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

• Sliced bread – Use your favorite sandwich bread.
• Jalapenos – Fresh jalapeños, not pickled jalapeños.
• Mayonnaise – This coats the outside of the bread. If you’ve never tried it, you’re missing out! You can also use softened butter, if preferred.
• Cream cheese – Soften to room temperature so it combines easier with the other ingredients.
• Garlic powder – For flavor.
• Bacon – Cook the bacon until crispy prior to adding it to the sandwich.
• White cheddar cheese – If you can’t find white cheddar cheese slices, sliced provolone also works, though you won’t have as much flavor.

Easy Recipe Variations

The possibilities of air fryer grilled cheese recipes are limitless – anything you can dream of putting between two slices of bread with some cheese is possible. You can even make my favorite grilled cheese in the air fryer!

• Switch up the cheese. Virtually any cheese can be turned into a grilled cheese, from the basics like cheddar and American to asiago, romano, pepperjack, gruyere and any other favorites.
• Add a protein. Ham, turkey, and chicken are all great in grilled cheese sandwiches.
• Add tomato or avocado. Both are a welcome, refreshing addition.
• Add a spread. If you don’t use this jalapeno popper filling, try using pimento cheese, pesto sauce, or even a Dijon mustard.
• Use olive oil. If you want to save a few calories, you can also spray olive oil on the bread instead of butter and mayonnaise.

How to Make Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Making grilled cheese in the air fryer is both quick and easy.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

• Prepare the bread. Spread mayonnaise or butter on one side of each slice of bread.
• Combine the ingredients. Combine the cream cheese, jalapenos, and garlic powder. Spread it on the plain side of the bread, then crumble the bacon over it. Top with the sliced cheese.
• Cook. Cook in the air fryer for 8 minutes. Flip halfway through.

Tips for Success

For your first time making air fryer grilled cheese sandwiches, keep these tips in mind.

• Adjust the time to your air fryer. This grilled cheese recipe was made using this Ninja Foodi air fryer. If you own a different model, you might need to adjust the cooking time/temperature. Air fryers are all similar, but just like ovens, cooking times can vary.
• Preheat the air fryer if necessary. Some air fryers need to be preheated while others don’t, so be sure to understand your own air fryer’s instructions first.
• Don’t crowd the basket. Unless you have an extra large air fryer, you can probably only make one sandwich at a time. It’s better to do this than try to squeeze two in the basket, as neither will cook well.
• Use a toothpick. If you use sliced bread from a package or other light bread, stick a toothpick in the center of your sandwich to prevent the top layer from flying off.

Serving Suggestions

Who doesn’t love a soup and sandwich combo? Tomato soup and grilled cheese are the perfect pairing. Chili is a great option too.

If soup isn’t your thing, enjoy your jalapeno popper grilled cheese with a simple side salad or fruit salad.

How to Store & Reheat Leftovers

• How to store. Leftover grilled cheese can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days wrapped up in foil or in an airtight container.
• How to reheat. The best way to reheat grilled cheese is by popping it back into the air fryer for 2 minutes or so.

More Air Fryer Recipes:

• Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
• Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
• Crab Rangoon
• BBQ Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
• Crispy Air Fryer Pork Chops

I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!