Ree Drummond Is Here to “Proclaim the Merits” of Making Your Grilled Cheese in an Air Fryer
The Pioneer Woman swears by using butter and mayo on her bread
If you thought grilled cheese couldn’t get any better, Ree Drummond—better known as The Pioneer Woman—is here to prove you wrong. In a recent cooking tutorial, the beloved Food Network star shared her foolproof method for making the crispiest, meltiest grilled cheese ever using an air fryer. That’s right: no greasy pan to clean or any unwanted smoke in your kitchen. Let’s just say, we’re already saying goodbye to our skillets. Here’s how Drummond makes her air fryer grilled cheese.
Why you should air fry your grilled cheese
On March 26, Drummond took to Instagram to share a video demonstrating how she makes the ultimate air fryer grilled cheese. In her caption, she teased viewers with: “(Psst. Wait for the dunk at the end!) Okay, I was once a doubter; now I’m a believer. I’m here to proclaim the merits of making grilled cheese sandwiches in an air fryer.”
Her reasoning? “The bread gets golden-crisp and the cheese melts at a perfectly even pace.” And after watching her video, we can see exactly what she means.
Fans couldn’t get enough of the cooking hack in the comments. “I want one for breakfast!,” wrote Drummond’s daughter, Alex. “I love making mine in the air fryer!!” exclaimed another.
The secret to the perfect crunch
Drummond’s ingredient lineup is simple yet strategic. She opts for store-bought sourdough (yes, she emphasizes it’s not homemade), spreads Dijon mustard on the inside and layers on a blend of provolone, grated white cheddar and sliced smoked gouda for the ultimate cheese pull.
Pro tip: If you don’t have (or like) sourdough bread, any sturdy bread will work. You don’t want it falling apart on you or staying soft like white bread. Brioche or rye bread can also handle the melted cheese. You can even pre-toast your bread to ensure it stays crispy.
But the real trick? “Then (trust me pretty please) spread both salted butter and mayo on the outside of both sides of the sandwich,” Drummond advises. The butter and mayo combo is what helps the bread achieve that crispy, golden exterior without burning before the cheese gets a chance to melt. Drummond earned some approval on this stance, with one commenter saying, “Yes!! I support the mayo-butter slather!!”
The air fryer method
Drummond keeps it simple when it comes to cooking: let the air fryer do the work! She notes that while she still makes grilled cheese in a skillet from time to time, the air fryer method consistently delivers next-level results. “In a skillet, it’s hard to get that cheese so melty without the bread burning. Every time I make one in the air fryer, I’m reminded of the magic,” she says.
Ree Drummond’s air fryer grilled cheese recipe
“You will love this,” Drummond promises in the video. “That bread is so crisp and look at the cheese, oh my gosh.” Ready to make one yourself? Here’s an adapted recipe from Drummond’s video.
Ingredients:
- 2 slices sourdough bread (or bread of choice)
- 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1-3 slices provolone cheese (Drummond likes three!)
- ¼ cup grated white cheddar cheese
- 1-2 slices smoked gouda cheese
- 1 Tbs. salted butter, softened
- 1 Tbs. mayonnaise
Directions:
- Total time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 sandwich
- Spread the Dijon mustard on one side of a bread slice and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Layer the provolone, grated white cheddar and smoked gouda over the mustard. Then, top with the second slice of bread.
- Spread the butter, then the mayonnaise in thin layers on both sides of the sandwich.
- Place the sandwich in the air fryer at 375° F for five to seven minutes.
- Flip the sandwich and cook for another five to seven minutes, until the bread is golden and crispy and the cheese is fully melted. Serve immediately.
Of course, Ree insists that no grilled cheese experience is complete without the perfect dipping companion. “As you know, you have to serve grilled cheese with tomato soup,” she says, dunking her perfectly crisp sandwich into a bowl of creamy soup. And as for that dunk at the end of her video? We agree—it’s the best part.
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