We need to talk about what the air fryer does to cheddar cheese. It is magical. Unlike a toaster oven that just melts it, the high-speed air of the fryer creates a golden, crispy, bubbly "cheese crust" on top of the bread while keeping the egg perfectly jammy. This Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast offers a texture you just can't get from a skillet. It's the crispiest cheese toast imaginable, with a perfectly cooked egg nestled right in the center.
This recipe is perfect for rushed mornings, lazy weekend brunches, or even a quick lunch. It's one of those dishes that feels fancy but takes almost no effort, and trust me, once you try it, you'll wonder why you didn't start making it sooner.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast
- Ingredients for Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast
- How to Make Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast
- My Top Tips for Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast
- Little Moments in the Kitchen
- Substitutions for Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast
- Variations on Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast
- Equipment for Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast
- Storage Tips for This Recipe
- Adam's Tip for Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast
- FAQ About Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast
- Conclusion
- Related
- Pairing
- recipe
Why You'll Love This Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast
- Ready in 10 minutes or less – Perfect for hectic mornings when you need breakfast fast.
- Minimal cleanup – No greasy pans, no stovetop mess, just your air fryer basket.
- Totally customizable – Add bacon, hot sauce, veggies, or switch up the cheese for endless flavor combos.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast
This recipe uses simple ingredients you probably already have in your fridge. The thick-slice bread is key because it holds the egg perfectly and gets that crispy, golden-brown crust we all love.
What You'll Need
- 2 slices thick-cut bread (sourdough, brioche, or whole wheat work best)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons butter (softened)
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (or mozzarella, Gruyère, or your favorite melting cheese)
- Salt and black pepper (to taste)
- Optional toppings: chopped chives, crispy bacon bits, red pepper flakes, or hot sauce
Why These Ingredients Matter
- Thick-slice bread creates a sturdy "well" to cradle the egg and gives you that perfect crunchy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside texture.
- Butter brushed on the bottom of the bread helps achieve that crispy, golden-brown base in the air fryer.
- Shredded cheese melts beautifully over the egg and adds a rich, gooey layer that ties everything together.
If you love cheesy breakfast ideas, you'll also want to try our Wrap with Egg and Cheese. It's another quick favorite in our house.
How to Make Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast
Step-by-Step Directions
- Prep the bread: Use your fingers or the back of a spoon to press down gently in the center of each bread slice, creating a shallow "well" to hold the egg. Don't press all the way through, just make a little indent.
- Butter the bottom: Spread softened butter on one side of each slice. This will be the side that touches the air fryer basket, so it gets crispy and golden.
- Place in the air fryer: Put the bread slices in the air fryer basket, buttered side down. Make sure they're not overlapping.
- Crack the egg: Carefully crack one egg into the well of each bread slice. Season with a pinch of salt and black pepper.
- Air fry: Cook at 340°F for 8 minutes. The bread should be toasted, and the egg whites should be set with a jammy yolk.
- Add the cheese: Open the air fryer, sprinkle shredded cheddar over each toast, and cook for 1 more minute until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Carefully remove the toasts with a spatula. Top with chives, bacon bits, or a drizzle of hot sauce if you like.
Hint: If you prefer a runnier yolk, check your toast at the 7-minute mark. For fully set eggs, let it go the full 9 minutes.
My Top Tips for Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast
Don't skip the butter on the bottom of the bread. It's what makes the base crispy and golden instead of soft and soggy. Also, make sure your air fryer is preheated for at least 2 minutes before you start.
It helps the bread toast evenly and keeps the egg from spreading out too much. If you're using a Ninja air fryer, stick to 340°F for 8 minutes, then add cheese and cook for 1 more minute for perfect results.
Little Moments in the Kitchen
The first time I made this, Adam was hovering over the air fryer like a little scientist. "Mom, how does the egg stay in the bread?" he asked, squinting at the basket. I explained the "well" trick, and he immediately wanted to try making his own. Of course, he pressed a little too hard and poked a hole straight through his slice, so his egg leaked everywhere.
We laughed, patched it with a bit of cheese, and called it his "experimental toast." When it came out of the air fryer, he took one bite and said, "Okay, this is actually really good, even with my mistake." Now he insists on making the well himself every time, and honestly, he's gotten pretty good at it.
Substitutions for Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast
- Bread: Swap thick-cut sourdough for brioche, whole wheat, or even gluten-free bread.
- Cheese: Use mozzarella, Gruyère, pepper jack, or crumbled feta for a flavor twist.
- Egg: If you're out of eggs, try a dollop of cottage cheese mixed with an egg. It's surprisingly delicious.
- Butter: Use olive oil or avocado oil spray for a lighter option.
Variations on Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast
- Loaded breakfast toast: Add crumbled bacon, sausage crumbles, or diced ham before adding the cheese.
- Veggie-packed: Toss in chopped spinach, diced tomatoes, or sautéed mushrooms for extra nutrition.
- Spicy kick: Sprinkle red pepper flakes or drizzle sriracha over the finished toast.
Looking for more savory breakfast ideas? Our Savory Ham and Cheese Cookies are perfect for grab-and-go mornings.
Equipment for Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast
- Air fryer: A basket-style air fryer works best for even toasting. If you have a Ninja air fryer, cook at 340°F for 8 minutes, then add cheese and cook for 1 more minute.
- Spoon or back of a measuring cup: To press the "well" into the bread without tearing it.
- Silicone spatula: Makes it easy to lift the finished toast out of the basket without breaking the egg.
Storage Tips for This Recipe
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 320°F for 3 to 4 minutes to crisp it back up.
- Freeze: Not recommended because eggs don't freeze well and the texture gets rubbery when reheated.
- Make ahead: You can prep the bread with butter and the egg "wells" the night before. Just cover and refrigerate, then crack the eggs in and cook in the morning.
Adam's Tip for Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast
"Don't forget to check if your yolk is how you like it before you take it out. I like mine a little runny, so Mom takes mine out early!"
FAQ About Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast
How do you make toast with egg and cheese in the air fryer?
Press a well into thick-cut bread, crack an egg into it, season with salt and pepper, and air fry at 340°F for 8 minutes. Add shredded cheese and cook for 1 more minute until melted.
How long to cook cheese and egg in an air fryer?
Cook at 340°F for 8 minutes, then add cheese and cook for 1 more minute. Total time is about 9 minutes.
Can you make toast and cheese in an air fryer?
Yes! You can toast bread and melt cheese in the air fryer. For this recipe, the egg is cooked right on the toast for a one-pan breakfast.
What are common mistakes when air frying eggs?
Not creating a deep enough well in the bread, which causes the egg to spread. Also, cooking at too high a temperature can make the egg rubbery. Stick to 340°F for best results.
For another fun twist on eggs and cheese, check out our Savory Cheddar and Bacon Dutch Baby. It's a family favorite for weekend brunch.
Conclusion
That sound of the crunch when you bite into the crispy cheese edge? That is the sound of a perfect breakfast. I hope you enjoy the textural perfection that only the air fryer can create! Give it a try this week and let me know how it turns out.
And if you're looking for more easy air fryer breakfast ideas, our Baked German Pancake is another must-try for busy mornings. You can also explore this fun Egg in a Hole French Toast Grilled Cheese from AllRecipes for another creative egg and toast combo.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast:
recipe
Easy Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast
Equipment
- 1 Air fryer Basket-style works best
- 1 Spoon or measuring cup back For pressing bread well
- 1 Silicone spatula For lifting toast
- 1 Butter knife For spreading butter
Ingredients
- 2 slices Thick-cut bread Sourdough, brioche, or whole wheat
- 2 large Eggs
- 2 tablespoons Butter Softened
- ½ cup Shredded cheddar cheese Or mozzarella, Gruyère
- ¼ teaspoon Salt To taste
- ¼ teaspoon Black pepper To taste
- Optional Chives, bacon bits, hot sauce For topping
Instructions
- Use your fingers or the back of a spoon to gently press a well into the center of each [bread] slice. My little Olivia loves this step, but I always remind her not to press all the way through.
- Spread [butter] on one side of each slice. This is what gives us that magical crispy golden bottom in the air fryer.
- Place the bread butter-side down into the air fryer basket. I always double-check they aren’t overlapping, crowding makes soggy toast.
- Carefully crack one [egg] into each bread well. Season with [salt] and [black pepper]. Olivia always inspects the yolks like a tiny food critic.
- Cook at 340°F for 8 minutes until the whites are set and the yolk is slightly jammy. Every air fryer is different, so peek at 7 minutes if you like runny yolks.
- Sprinkle [shredded cheddar] over each toast and air fry 1 more minute until bubbly and beautifully golden. This is where the magic really happens.
- Carefully lift the toasts out and add chives, bacon bits, or hot sauce if you’d like. These never make it to the table in our house, they disappear right at the counter.
Notes
- For gluten-free air fryer egg toast, use thick gluten-free bread.
- For lighter toast, swap butter for olive oil spray.
- For protein boost, add cottage cheese under the egg before cooking.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheat at 320°F for 3–4 minutes.
- Not freezer-friendly due to egg texture.
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