Air fryer cheese toast is made with french bread slices topped with garlic herb butter and parmesan cheese cheese. It's air fried until the toast is crispy and the cheese is melted and gooey.
This is not your average cheese toast. The garlic herb butter, dried herbs, and flavorful parmesan cheese take this recipe to the next level. Made with only simple ingredients, everything is cooked up quickly with the convenience of an air fryer. It's perfect for scooping up extra lemon caper sauce from Chicken Piccata or as a side with your favorite Baked Boursin Tomato Pasta.
If you've ever had Texas toast you may notice this recipe tastes and looks very similar. Texas toast is known for its thicker sliced bread that is often used to make toast like this cheese toast.
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Why You'll Love This Air Fryer Cheese Bread
Quick and Easy: Air fryer cheese toasts come together in just minutes. This makes it an ideal snack or appetizer for when you're short on time.
Crispy Texture: The air fryer transforms the bread slices into perfectly crispy delights, offering a satisfying crunch with every bite.
Melty Cheese: The cheese melts into a gooey, indulgent layer, creating a harmonious contrast between the crunchy bread and the creamy cheese.
Versatile Flavors: You can customize air fryer cheese on toast with various types of cheese, herbs, and spices. You can include add-ons like bacon to suit your taste preferences.
Kid-Friendly: The irresistible combination of melted cheese and crispy bread makes this air fryer recipe a hit with both kids and adults.
Minimal Ingredients: With just a few simple ingredients—bread, butter, herbs and cheese—you can whip up a flavorful and satisfying snack.
Cost-Effective: Air fryer garlic cheese toast is a budget-friendly option that satisfies cravings without breaking the bank.
Ingredients
French bread cut into 1 inch pieces - Any type of bread can be used but I prefer a slice of french bread because it's light, fluffy, and has the perfect shape. You don't have to use french bread if you don't want to. Feel free to use the bread you have on hand. Even if it's sandwich bread. This would end up being very similar to air fryer grilled cheese. You could even add two slices and put them together to make a cheese sandwich. Keep in mind that using thinner bread may result in a shorter cook time.
Garlic herb butter - Regular salted or unsalted butter can be used. I wanted to elevate flavor a bit more and add garlic herb butter. The herb and garlic are subtle and not overpowering in the bread making it perfect for this. Buttering both sides of the bread with garlic butter also allows it to crisp up nicely in the air fryer. By incorporating butter with garlic we end up with cheesy garlic toast. Don't have butter on hand? You can use olive oil instead.
Parmesan or Bellavitano cheese - I've made this air fryer cheese garlic toast recipe with both parmesan and Bellavitano cheese. I personally prefer a garlic herb Bellavitano because it packs so much flavor and it melts SO easily. If using parmesan cheese, I suggest using freshly grated cheese for the best results. You can use other cheese you have on hand if you don't have Bellavitano or parmesan. The best cheese on toast for this recipe is going to come down to personal preference. Play around with different types.
Italian seasoning - Only a little is sprinkled over top of the cheese for a subtle addition of flavor and to add some color. This is optional.
How It's Made
Step 1. Spread about 1/2 tablespoon of garlic herb butter on each side of the bread
Step 2. Top one side of the bread with around 1/4 cup of cheese. Then, sprinkle a dash of italian seasoning over top of the cheese
Step 3. Preheat your air fryer at 370 degrees for 5 minutes before adding the cheese bread.
Step 4. After the air fryer has preheated, gently place the prepared bread slices in the air fryer and cook at 370 degrees for 3 minutes.
Tips and Tricks
Choose the Right Bread: Opt for sturdy bread with a good crust that will hold up well in the air fryer. Sourdough, French baguette, or ciabatta are great options.
Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheating your air fryer for a few minutes before adding the cheese bread helps achieve a crispy texture.
Slice Thickness: Cut your bread into slices of uniform thickness to ensure even cooking. Thicker slices may require slightly longer cooking times. Slices that are too thin may result in soggy bread that doesn't stay together after the cheese has been piled on top.
Even Cheese Distribution: Spread or layer the cheese evenly on the bread slices to ensure consistent melting and flavor distribution.
Avoid Overcrowding: Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Leave enough space between slices to allow for proper air circulation, which ensures even cooking.
Watch Carefully: Cheese can melt and brown quickly, so keep an eye on the cheese bread to avoid overcooking or burning.
Let Cool Slightly: Cheese will be very hot when it comes out of the air fryer, so allow the cheese bread to cool for a minute or two before enjoying.
Experiment with Cheese: Try different cheese varieties on the air fryer cheesy garlic bread like cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, or even cheese blends for unique flavors and melting properties.
Serve Fresh: Air fryer garlic bread with cheese is best enjoyed immediately after cooking to maintain its crispy texture.
Must Try Variations
Using this recipe for air fryer cheese toast with sliced bread as a starter and making adjustments as you go is so much fun. Below are some of my favorite ways to mix things up. If you have any of these extra ingredients on hand, give them a try.
Jalapeno Popper Cheese Bread: Add slices of pickled jalapenos or fresh jalapeno rings on top of the air fry garlic bread before air frying. This adds a spicy kick and a hint of tanginess.
Caprese Cheese Bread: Layer fresh tomato slices, mozzarella cheese, and basil leaves on the bread. Drizzle with balsamic glaze after air frying for a fresh Caprese salad-inspired flavor.
Bacon and Onion Cheese Bread: Sauté diced onions until caramelized and crisp-cook bacon. Sprinkle them over the garlic cheese toast before air frying for a savory and smoky combination.
Pesto Mozzarella Cheese Bread: Spread a thin layer of pesto sauce on the bread slices before adding mozzarella cheese. The pesto adds a burst of herbaceous flavor.
Greek Feta Cheese Bread: Crumble feta cheese over the easy air fryer toast and add sliced Kalamata olives, diced cucumbers, and a sprinkle of oregano before air frying.
Spinach and Artichoke Cheese Bread: Mix chopped cooked spinach, artichoke hearts, and cream cheese. Spread this mixture on the bread slices before adding cheese and air frying.
Blue Cheese and Walnut Cheese Bread: Crumble blue cheese and sprinkle chopped walnuts over the garlic cheese toast. The combination of tangy cheese and crunchy nuts is delightful.
Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Cheese Bread: Spread sun-dried tomato paste on the bread, add shredded mozzarella, and top with fresh basil leaves before air frying.
Buffalo Chicken Cheese Bread: Mix cooked shredded chicken with buffalo sauce, then spread it on the bread. Top with cheddar cheese and air fry for a spicy and cheesy treat.
Storing Tips
Cool Completely: Allow the air fried cheese toast to cool down to room temperature before storing it. This helps prevent moisture buildup inside the container which can cause the toast to become soggy.
Refrigerate or Leave Out?: I have personally left my toast out on the counter if I have leftovers. I make sure to store the bread in an air tight bag or tupperware. It stays good for up to 3 days this way. Others may recommend that you refrigerate the toast for up to 3-4 days.
Avoid Overstacking: Avoid stacking too many slices on top of each other, as excessive pressure can cause the cheese and bread to become compressed and lose their intended texture.
Quick Consumption: Garlic cheese toast in air fryer is best enjoyed soon after cooking, as it tends to lose its crispy texture over time. While the bread is good for 3-4 days, you should eat it within 1-2 days for the best experience.
Reheating: If you need to reheat the cheese toast, you can place it back in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 2-3 minutes until fully heated through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is preheating necessary?
Preheating an air fryer before cooking is a good idea, but it's not totally necessary. Preheating helps ensure even cooking and consistent results, as the air fryer reaches the desired cooking temperature before you start cooking your food.
However, the cook time for this cheese toast recipe is relatively short. This means that the air fryer will likely reach the desired temperature relatively quickly as you cook the cheese bread. The cheese bread won't be as affected by minor temperature differences as larger items like chicken or potatoes.
If you're short on time or don't want to wait for the air fryer to preheat, you can certainly skip the preheating step for cheese toast. Just keep in mind that without preheating, the first batch of slices might take a little longer to cook as the air fryer heats up. To compensate, you can add a minute or so to the cooking time for the initial batch, then adjust as needed for subsequent batches.
How can I soften butter quickly?
- Microwave: Cut the cold butter into smaller chunks and place them on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave in short intervals (about 5-10 seconds at a time) on a low power setting. Check and rotate the butter between intervals to ensure even softening. Be cautious not to melt the butter.
- Warm Water Bath: Fill a glass with hot tap water and let it sit for a minute to warm the glass. Empty the water and place the warm glass over the cold butter. The residual heat from the glass will help soften the butter without melting it.
- Cutting into Smaller Pieces: Cut the cold butter into small cubes. Smaller pieces of butter will naturally soften faster at room temperature.
What's the serving size?
The serving size for this recipe is one slice of cheese toast. This recipe makes 4 slices of bread so there are a total of 4 servings.
Can I freeze cheesy bread?
Yes, you can freeze air fryer cheese toast if you have leftovers. To do so, allow the air-fried cheese bread to cool to room temperature. This helps prevent condensation and ice crystals from forming when you freeze it.
Individually wrap each slice of cheese bread tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This prevents the slices from sticking together and helps maintain the texture. Then place the wrapped cheese bread in an airtight freezer-safe container. This provides an extra barrier against freezer burn.
Keep in the freezer for around 3 months. When you're ready to enjoy the frozen cheese toast, remove the desired number of slices from the freezer and let them thaw in the refrigerator. Reheat cheese toast in air fryer at 350 degrees for 2-3 minutes. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the bread soggy.
What should I serve with cheese bread?
Vodka Sauce Pasta with Chicken
Best Ever Air Fryer Cheese Toast
Ingredients
- 4 slices of french bread cut into 1 inch pieces
- 4 tablespoons softened garlic herb butter
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan or bellavitano cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon italian seasoning
Instructions
- Spread about 1/2 tablespoon on each side of the bread
- Top one side of the bread with around 1/4 cup of cheese
- Sprinkle a dash of italian seasoning over top of the cheese
- Preheat your air fryer at 370 degrees for 5 minutes.
- After the air fryer has preheated, gently place the prepared bread slices in the air fryer and cook at 370 degrees for 3 minutes.
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