Here I’ll show you the most delicious way to make a ham and cheese toastie in the air fryer!
I’ve recently started a series called ‘Family Comforts’ where I’m sharing recipes from those who inspire me the most. Today we’re tucking into my Grandad’s signature ham and cheese toastie! He’s shown me the secrets and I have made this many times since, so it’s time for me to share the love! For a little more back story check out the video in the recipe card below 😄
Honey Mustard Mayo
A neat little addition to a ham and cheese toastie is a thin layer of honey mustard mayo – which is exactly what it says on the tin:
- Full Fat Mayo
- Dijon Mustard
- Runny Honey
Honey and mustard both pair nicely with ham and when bound together with a dollop of mayo, you create a lovely background flavour for the toastie. It also helps prevent the toastie from drying out.
Do I have to add this?
No, but it’s definitely recommended!
Process shots: Add honey, mustard and mayo to small bowl (photo 1), mix (photo 2).
Ham and Cheese Toastie
Usual stuff for the toastie – butter on the outside and cheese, ham & sauce on the inside. You only need a thin sliver of sauce so don’t go overboard!
What kind of bread should I use?
I recommend some large, thick soft white bread. It crisps up quite a lot, so firm bread like sourdough comes out quite crunchy. Having said that Grandad used homemade Cheddar and onion bread in the video (which was so good!)
What kind of ham should I use?
We’ve used pre-sliced ham here, although you could use leftover cooked ham and thinly slice it yourself. Some peppered ham would also be lovely!
What kind of cheese should I use?
Grandad goes for a 50:50 combo of Cheddar and Red Leicester, which I think works nicely for a balance of colour and flavour. Although you could use all Cheddar if you’d prefer.
Process shots: spread bread with butter (photo 1), flip and spread with honey mustard mayo (photo 2), top with Red Leicester (photo 3), fold in ham (photo 4), add Cheddar (photo 5), add bread butter-side-up (photo 6).
Ham and Cheese Toastie in the Air Fryer
Making a toastie in the air fryer is awesome because it’s so much more hands-off than in a pan. It’s also much more reliable as the temp and time are set. Grandad is way ahead of me with using the air fryer as you’ll notice I am severely lacking in air fryer recipes on this blog!
You will still have to flip the toastie so both sides get an even fry.
Process shots: add to air fryer (photo 1), fry (photo 2), flip (photo 3), fry again (photo 4).
Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Toastie FAQ
How do I prevent the toastie from burning?
Just keep an eye on it after you’ve flipped it. Also, make sure all the filling is tucked into the sandwich. Any exposed ham or cheese can burn.
how do I prevent the top slice from flying off?
This can sometimes happen if it’s not stuck to the filling well enough. Just check after 30 seconds or so!
Can I make two at a time?
If you’ve got a double-draw air fryer then absolutely! If it’s a single-draw air fryer just make sure there’s a comfortable amount of room between each sandwich otherwise they can stick together.
Serving a Ham and Cheese Toastie
Just carefully remove them from the air fryer, slice them in half and enjoy! Here we’ve gone for some cheese and onion crisps too, because why not 😛
For the other ‘Family Comforts’ recipes check out these recipes:
Alrighty, let’s tuck into the full recipe for Grandad’s ham and cheese toastie shall we?!
How to make a Ham & Cheese Toastie in the Air Fryer (Full Recipe & Video)
Air Fryer Ham & Cheese Toastie
Equipment
- Small Pot & Spoon (for sauce)
- Cheese Grater
- Sharp Knife & Chopping Board
- Air Fryer
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Mayonnaise
- 1 tsp EACH: Honey, Dijon Mustard
- 4 large & relatively thick slices of White Bread
- 80-100g / 2.5-3.5oz Cheddar, grated
- 80-100g / 2.5-3.5oz Red Leicester, grated
- 6-8 slices of Ham (see notes)
- Butter, as needed
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine the honey, mustard and mayo.
- Spread each slice of bread with butter then flip them all over. Spread the other side with the honey mustard mayo (should be a very thin layer).
- Top two of the slices with Cheddar, then fold in the ham and finish with the Red Leicester. Place the other two slices on top butter-side-up. Try to make sure none of the ham or cheese is hanging out of the sandwich as it can burn.
- Place the toasties in the air fryer at 190C/375F for 5 minutes until starting to turn golden on the top. Check after 30 secs – 1 min to check the top slice hasn't flown off. After 5 minutes, flip the toasties over and air fry again for another 2-3 mins, or until golden and crisp. If you've only got a small single draw air fryer you may need to do one at a time.
- Slice in half and enjoy!
Video
Notes
b) Cheese – I love the flavour/colour combo the two different cheeses make, but you could use all Cheddar if you’d prefer. You can also use more or less than stated in the recipe depending on how big/small your bread slices are.
c) Ham – You can use any variety of ham. If you only have the wafer thin kind of ham consider chucking in another slice. You could even use leftover ham from your roast.
d) Timings – I find different air fryers will work slightly differently, so just be vigilant as you go for the first sandwich.
e) Calories – Per toastie assuming 1 tbsp butter per toastie.
Nutrition
For more similar recipes check out these beauties:
Delicious Toasted Sandwiches
- Chicken Pesto Grilled Cheese
- Turkey Grilled Cheese
- Egg and Bacon Sandwich
- Steak Sandwich
- English Breakfast Muffin Sandwich
The post Grandad’s Air Fryer Ham & Cheese Toastie appeared first on Don't Go Bacon My Heart.
