Air fryer ham and cheese toastie, the perfect old school lunch or supper, my version combines sharp cheddar with sharp mustardy piccalilli.
These delicious butties come together in under 30 minutes (including prep), and if piccalilli is not your "thing", don't worry, I have other options in my "Serving Suggestions" section.
Toasted Ham and Cheese Sandwich
If you are of a certain age, you almost certainly had a toastie maker lurking in the back of the cupboard when you were younger.
They were awesome, but they were a bit of a one-trick pony, although one that I loved during my student days.
Fortunately, an air fryer is far less of a one-trick pony, and you can use one to make a fantastic cheese and ham toastie!
My version is pretty classic: two slices of thick white bread, loads of butter, thick-cut ham and mature cheddar cheese.
But I like to add a little piccalilli to my toastie, that sharp mustardy flavour is an ideal companion to the salty cheese and ham!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different type of cheese?
Yes, of course!
I love the big flavour of a crumbly mature cheddar on a toasted sarnie, but any other good melting cheese would work.
If you are a "fan" of stringy cheese, then consider something like a Swiss cheese. The nuttiness of Gruyere would be ideal.
What is piccalilli?
Piccalilli is a British condiment that is loaded with vegetables and pickles in a wonderfully fiery mustard sauce.
Is there an alternative to piccalilli?
Yes, I have listed several alternatives in my serving suggestions section (next one down!).
Can I cook this in an oven?
Yes, but you will likely not get the same colour. Heat your oven as high as it will go, then follow my instructions. Cooking for 4-5 minutes longer on each side.
Can I cook this in a pan?
Yes, this is a great option, heat a large frying pan over a medium-high heat with a small splash of oil and a knob of butter.
Cook until it is golden, then flip and add another knob of butter... It's essentially a "toastie" with fried bread, naughty but very, very nice!
Serving Suggestions
I rarely serve this air fryer ham and cheese toastie with anything other than another dollop of piccalilli.
However, toasted ham and cheese sandwiches are very popular with tomato soup, a combination that leaves me a little lost if I were honest.
I would be much more likely to add a side of French fries if I were pushed!
And if you are not a fan of piccalilli... what is wrong with you? Just kidding! Don't worry, I have many other ideas that work just as well.
The first thing that springs to mind is some lovely red onion chutney, it is also superb with my apple chutney and whilst it may seem like a leftfield option, a spicy mango chutney is well worth playing around with!
Finally, it would be remiss of me not to mention Branston pickle, which is fantastic on this toasted sarnie!
Equipment Used
I only name-check brands of equipment if I think that they make a material difference to a recipe. But if you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below the recipe.
- Air fryer.
- A bread knife and a knife to butter the sandwiches.
- Chopping board.
- Grater.
- A combination of weighing scales, measuring cups and spoons. These are only essential if you want to count those calories!
Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Toastie Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 Slices Thick-Cut Bread 250-280g Total
- 50 g Butter 3 Tbsp
- 75 g Picalilli (Small Chunk) 4 Tbsp
- 100 g Mature Cheddar Cheese 1 Cup (Grated)
- 2 Slices Thick-Cut Ham 120g Total
- 2 Pinches Black Pepper
Instructions
- The best bread for this recipe is unsliced, so take your loaf and cut 4 slices, roughly 15-20mm (½-¾) thick.
- Butter all of the slices of bread on both sides.
- Spread the piccalilli on the insides of all slices of bread.
- Sprinkle a quarter of the cheese on the "bottom" slice of bread for each sandwich, then add a generous sprinkle of black pepper.
- Add the ham, followed by another quarter of the cheese and another pinch of pepper.
- Add the top layer of bread (piccalilli side down), and drop the sandwiches into an air fryer. If you do not have a "flexi" or double drawer air fryer, you will need to cook your toasties separately.
- Cook for 5 minutes at 180°C or 350°F, then turn up the heat to 200°C or 395°F and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Flip and cook for a final 4-5 minutes at 200°C or 395°F.