Let’s face it, weekday mornings are often a bit of a rush. Between finding that elusive other sock and getting everyone out of the door on time, a proper, hot breakfast can feel like a luxury we just don’t have time for. Too often, we settle for a quick bowl of cereal or a piece of fruit on the go. But what if we told you a gloriously cheesy, perfectly cooked egg on wonderfully crisp toast could be ready in less than 10 minutes? Allow us to introduce a real morning saviour: the Air Fryer Egg And Cheese Toast Recipe. This is more than just a meal; it’s a simple way to reclaim your breakfast time. We’re here to show you how this brilliant kitchen gadget can serve up the ultimate comfort food, transforming a chaotic start into a moment of delicious tranquillity.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• A Classic Combination Perfected: We’re celebrating the timeless trio of breakfast ingredients. Imagine a perfectly soft egg with a runny yolk, nestled on a layer of gorgeously melted, bubbling cheese, all atop a slice of toast that’s crispy at the edges and wonderfully soft inside. It’s simple, comforting, and absolutely delightful.
• Ready in Minutes: This recipe is the very definition of a low-effort, high-reward meal. It’s a genuinely quick breakfast, taking you from kitchen to table in under 10 minutes. Because everything is cooked together in the air fryer, the washing up is kept to an absolute minimum!
• Made with Simple Ingredients: You won’t need to make a special trip to the shops for this one. This recipe uses the best kind of basic ingredients that you most likely already have in your kitchen: bread, eggs, cheese, and a spot of butter. It’s wonderfully straightforward and kind to your wallet.
• Make It Your Own: Consider this recipe your ideal starting point for culinary creativity. You can easily change the type of bread, try out different cheeses, or toss in extra toppings like cooked bacon bits, fresh herbs, or a dash of chilli flakes. We’ve got plenty of suggestions to help you personalise it!

The Air Fryer’s Secret to Flawless Toast

Before we get into the steps, let’s just take a second to appreciate why the air fryer is the ideal appliance for this task. We’ve all attempted cheese on toast under the grill, a process that can be a bit hit-and-miss. One moment of distraction and you’re faced with burnt crusts and a tepid centre. The air fryer, on the other hand, works its magic by circulating hot air all around the food, which results in a fantastic texture. The bread becomes uniformly golden and toasted, the cheese melts into a flawless, bubbly layer, and the egg cooks gently right in the middle. It’s this comprehensive cooking style that guarantees that perfect combination of crunch and gooeyness in every mouthful. The compact design also means it heats up almost instantly, making it much more energy-efficient than firing up your main oven for a single piece of toast.

Choosing Your Key Players: The Best Ingredients

Although this recipe is beautifully simple, the quality of your ingredients will certainly elevate the final result. Let’s break down the main components:

• The Bread: We find that a thick-sliced loaf is the best choice. A good, sturdy slice of white farmhouse, bloomer, or even sourdough creates the perfect foundation. It has the strength to hold the egg without becoming soggy. You can use a standard medium-sliced loaf, but you’ll want to be a bit more careful when making the indent for the egg.
• The Egg: Any standard medium or large free-range egg will work beautifully. We’ve found that letting the egg come to room temperature for about 15 minutes beforehand can promote more even cooking, but it’s not a crucial step if you’re pressed for time.
• The Cheese: Here’s where you can get creative! A mature Cheddar is our go-to for its wonderfully sharp flavour and excellent melting qualities. Red Leicester is another great option, adding a lovely colour and a milder, nuttier flavour. For that ultimate stringy cheese pull, mixing in some mozzarella is a brilliant move. Alternatively, for a richer taste, try using Gruyère or Emmental. We always recommend grating your own cheese from a block over using pre-shredded bags, as it melts far more evenly.

Ingredients

• 2 thick slices of bread (farmhouse or bloomer loaf is ideal)
• 2 medium free-range eggs
• 50g mature Cheddar, grated
• 2 tsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/4 tsp garlic granules (optional)
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
• Pinch of smoked paprika (optional)
• Freshly chopped chives or parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Butter the Bread: Begin by spreading the softened butter evenly over one side of each bread slice, ensuring you cover it right to the crust. If you’re using garlic granules, give them a little sprinkle over the buttered surface now for an extra savoury base.
2. Form the Egg Nest: Lay the buttered bread slices on a flat surface. With the back of a spoon, gently press into the middle of each slice to create a small, shallow indent. Take care not to push through the bread. This little well will cradle your egg and prevent it from spilling over.
3. Add the Egg: Gently crack an egg into the well you’ve made on each slice of bread. It’s completely fine if a bit of the egg white escapes over the edge; it will simply cook up and add a lovely crispy texture.
4. First Cook in the Air Fryer: Place the bread slices into your air fryer basket, making sure they lie flat in a single layer. Air fry for 5-6 minutes at 180°C (350°F). This initial cooking period helps to set the egg white while toasting the bread. Timings may vary depending on your air fryer and how soft you prefer your egg yolks.
5. Top with Cheese: Carefully pull out the air fryer basket. The egg white should look mostly cooked, but the yolk should still be liquid. Sprinkle the grated egg and cheese mixture generously around the yolk, covering the rest of the toast. If using, add a dash of smoked paprika over the cheese.
6. Final Cook for Melting: Return the basket to the air fryer and cook for another 2-3 minutes at 180°C. This is when the magic happens: the cheese melts into a golden, bubbling blanket, and the yolk becomes perfectly jammy. Watch it closely during this final stage to ensure it doesn’t get too brown.
7. Serve and Enjoy: Use a fish slice or spatula to carefully lift the toast from the air fryer. Season the egg with a little salt and pepper, and if you wish, scatter over some fresh chives or parsley. Serve straight away while it’s wonderfully hot and gooey.

Top Tips for Success

• Give It Space: Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Arranging the toast in a single layer is key to allowing the hot air to circulate properly, which gives you that fantastic, even crispiness. If you’re making several, it’s better to cook them in separate batches.
• Every Air Fryer is Different: All models cook at slightly different speeds. The first time you make this, it’s a good idea to check on it a minute or two before the recipe suggests. You’ll quickly learn the perfect timing for your machine to achieve your desired yolk runniness.
• Use a Liner for Easy Cleaning: While it’s not strictly necessary, putting a small, shaped piece of baking parchment under your toast will make the clean-up process even quicker, especially if any cheese happens to melt over the sides.

Variations to Try

One of the brilliant aspects of this recipe is just how adaptable it is. Here are some of our favourite ways to change it up:

• The Breakfast Toast: Before adding the cheese, scatter over some cooked bacon lardons or pieces of cooked sausage for a fuller breakfast experience.
• Pesto Perfection: Spread a thin layer of green pesto over the bread before you create the well for the egg. The combination of pesto, egg, and melted cheese is truly a treat.
• A Touch of Spice: For those who enjoy a little kick, add a few dashes of your favourite hot sauce or a sprinkle of chilli flakes along with the cheese.
• Add Some Greens: You can easily add some vegetables by placing a few fresh spinach leaves or some finely chopped spring onions around the egg before you add the cheese.

This toast makes for a wonderful start to any day, but if you are thinking about a more substantial meal for later, perhaps you’d like to try our amazing Cheeseburger Lasagna Recipe? It’s comfort food on another level!

Frequently Asked Questions

And there you have it – a breakfast that feels like a special treat but is speedy and simple enough for any morning. This Air Fryer Egg and Cheese Toast is more than a recipe; it’s a technique you’ll find yourself using again and again. It just goes to show that you don’t need lots of time or fancy ingredients to make something deeply satisfying. For another incredibly easy and delicious meal idea, have a look at our much-loved Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders – they’re a guaranteed hit with the family! We truly hope you give this breakfast recipe a go and that it adds a little sunshine to your mornings. We would be delighted to hear how you get on and see what creative variations you come up with, so please don’t hesitate to leave a comment and a rating below!

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Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2 thick slices of bread (farmhouse or bloomer loaf is ideal)
• 2 medium free-range eggs
• 50g mature Cheddar, grated
• 2 tsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/4 tsp garlic granules (optional)
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
• Pinch of smoked paprika (optional)
• Freshly chopped chives or parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Butter the Bread: Begin by spreading the softened butter evenly over one side of each bread slice, ensuring you cover it right to the crust. If you’re using garlic granules, give them a little sprinkle over the buttered surface now for an extra savoury base.
2. Form the Egg Nest: Lay the buttered bread slices on a flat surface. With the back of a spoon, gently press into the middle of each slice to create a small, shallow indent. Take care not to push through the bread. This little well will cradle your egg and prevent it from spilling over.
3. Add the Egg: Gently crack an egg into the well you’ve made on each slice of bread. It’s completely fine if a bit of the egg white escapes over the edge; it will simply cook up and add a lovely crispy texture.
4. First Cook in the Air Fryer: Place the bread slices into your air fryer basket, making sure they lie flat in a single layer. Air fry for 5-6 minutes at 180°C (350°F). This initial cooking period helps to set the egg white while toasting the bread. Timings may vary depending on your air fryer and how soft you prefer your egg yolks.
5. Top with Cheese: Carefully pull out the air fryer basket. The egg white should look mostly cooked, but the yolk should still be liquid. Sprinkle the grated egg and cheese mixture generously around the yolk, covering the rest of the toast. If using, add a dash of smoked paprika over the cheese.
6. Final Cook for Melting: Return the basket to the air fryer and cook for another 2-3 minutes at 180°C. This is when the magic happens: the cheese melts into a golden, bubbling blanket, and the yolk becomes perfectly jammy. Watch it closely during this final stage to ensure it doesn’t get too brown.
7. Serve and Enjoy: Use a fish slice or spatula to carefully lift the toast from the air fryer. Season the egg with a little salt and pepper, and if you wish, scatter over some fresh chives or parsley. Serve straight away while it’s wonderfully hot and gooey.

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