Turkey deli meat, smoked cheddar cheese, red bell pepper, and caramelized onions come together in an ultimate grilled cheese sandwich like no other. If you're anything like me, you are going to love it!!
This ultimate grilled cheese sandwich recipe can also be made traditionally in a skillet, so don't let it hold you back if you don't have an air fryer.
You need this sandwich in your life, so however you can make that happen is the right way to go!
**Please Note - The printable recipe card with detailed instructions, complete ingredient measurements, and nutritional information for making The Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich is available at the end of this post. OR click on the "jump to recipe" text (found below) to be taken directly to the recipe.
Jump to Recipe
The ingredient list:
**Note - The following lists of ingredients plus kitchen tools and equipment contain affiliate links (highlighted in blue) for your consideration and shopping convenience. #CommissionsEarned
- Bread (your favorite grilled cheese sandwich variety)
- Butter
- Turkey Deli Meat
- Red Bell Pepper
- Smoked Cheddar Cheese, Slices
- Caramelized Onions
Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
- Air Fryer or Large Skillet
- Spatula
- Offset spatula (optional)
Additional add-in suggestions:
- Pulled Pork
- Ham
- Shredded Chicken
- Pickles
- Spinach
- Green Bell Peppers
- Swiss Cheese
- Provolone Cheese
- Gouda Cheese
- American Cheese
- Apple Slices
- Asparagus
- Tomatoes
- Bacon
- What's in YOUR fridge? 😉
Can this ultimate grilled cheese be made in a skillet instead of an air fryer?
YES!!
Assemble the sandwich just as shown.
Then heat a skillet over medium/high heat and cook the grilled cheese sandwich on both sides until it's golden brown and the cheese is melted.
How long does it take to caramelize onions?
- In an air fryer, roughly 17-20 minutes.
- In a skillet on the stovetop, roughly 30-40 minutes.
Other tasty recipes featuring caramelized onions (aka French onions)
French onion recipes have long been popular on my blog. These are some of my favorites!
French Onion Pizza
What do you get with you caramelize sweet onions with beef broth and thyme and then pile them on a homemade pizza crust that is also made with beef broth and thyme? You get this insanely delicious French Onion Pizza…
Twisted French Onion and Lentil Soup
All of a sudden, I have a major thing for Dijon mustard. Why then, wouldn’t I add it to my French onion soup? After all, French is French, right? Here’s my recipe
Cheesy French Onion Chicken Recipe
I took my inspiration for this dish of French Onion Chicken from everyone’s favorite soup, and these results are out of this world delicious!!!
Fabulous Boneless French Onion Pork Chops
All the flavors you love in a traditional French onion soup are captured in this recipe for Boneless French Onion Pork Chops. Plus, they’re low carb and delicious! Make some today!
Game Day French Onion Sloppy Joes Sandwich Recipe
When you want to frugally feed a crowd for game day, or a hungry family at dinner, it doesn’t get much tastier than French Onion Sloppy Joes!
Crave-Worthy French Onion Stuffed Shells
Since my recipe for French Onion Pork Chops is still one of the most popular posts on my blog, I keep trying to reinvent different ways to bring the rich, slightly sweet and savory flavors of deeply caramelized onions smothered in melted cheese to the dinner table in unusual ways. Enter, Crave-Worthy French Onion Stuffed Shells.
How to caramelize onions in an air fryer:
Sometimes necessity is the mother of great recipe inventions. Such is the case with this Ultimate grilled cheese sandwich.
Use what you have leftover in the fridge and see what great combos you can come up with! It's all good!
Below is the printable recipe card along with the nutritional information for today’s easy grilled cheese sandwich.
Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 slices sandwich bread your favorite variety
- 2 tablespoons butter softened
- 8 slices smoked cheddar cheese
- 4 slices deli turkey meat
- ½ red bell pepper seeded and cut into narrow strips
- ⅓ cup caramelized onions
Instructions
- Butter one side of each slice of bread. Lay two slices of bread, butter side down.
- Add two slices of cheese on top of each slice of bread and follow with the sliced turkey, red pepper strips, and caramelized onions. Top with the remaining cheese and the final slice of bread, butter side up.
- Place (one sandwich at a time) in the fryer basket of an air fryer and cook for 5 minutes at 350-degrees.
- Flip the sandwich. Increase the temperature to 400 and cook the sandwich for an additional 1-2 minutes until golden brown. If desired, flip the sandwich and cook again for an additional 1-2 minutes to brown both sides.
- Continue the same steps with the second sandwich.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
I sincerely hope you've enjoyed today's recipe for the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!
Judy says
Only had my air fryer 4 days. Hamburger patties are great as well as hard boiled (air fried) eggs. I'll be trying the carmelized onions next with the grilled cheese so thanks for the lessons. One website doing stovetop required up to an hour depending on how dark the onions one would prefer.
Renée says
Yeah, a lot of air fryer cooking can be trial and error because of the size of each unit and the heating elements.
Naturally, making darker caramelized onions will take longer than lighter ones.
I know this doesn't help much, but it's all I have.
I'm glad you're enjoying your hamburger patties and eggs. I like making those in the air fryer too.
Take good care, Judy!
Renee
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
This is absolutely delicious! I love that it’s such a crowd pleaser for the whole family
Renée says
Right on! Thanks, Shadi!
Taryn says
My husband and I both loved these! He would've eaten mine too if I let him. lol.
Renée says
I'm glad you slapped his hand away. LOL
Thanks, Taryn!
Nicole says
This sandwich is incredibly delicious! Love the flavor the onion and red pepper give and turkey is and always will be one of my favorites. And making in the air fryer makes it even better. We just did a cool grilled cheese style sandwich in the airfryer too.
Renée says
The air fryer is so fun to cook in! Glad you liked this sandwich, Nichole!
Jenni says
Wow, I never thought about making a sandwich in the air fryer before! What a fun idea! Love all the great additions to a plain-jane sandwich, too! I can't wait to try this!
Renée says
I know you're going to love it, Jenni! Have fun with your air fryer!!