Easy Vegan Grilled Cheese (2 ways!)
Servings: 2 servings
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 cup vegan cheese, grated (or 4-5 slices)
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 slices bread
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter/margarine
- 2 tablespoons Vegenaise (vegan mayo)
Spicy Ketchup Recipe
- ½ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons sriracha sauce
- 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
Instructions
Vegan Grilled Cheese (air fryer method)
- Preheat the air fryer to 390º F for 2 or 3 minutes.
- Stir the soft vegan butter and vegan mayonnaise together. Spread over the entire surface of all slices of bread. Add a sprinkle of garlic on top.
- Place the the bread (butter side down) on a piece of parchment paper, top with 2 cheese slices and the other slice of bread (butter side up). Move the whole thing including the parchment paper into the preheated air fryer. Cook for ~8 minutes* total. Stopping to flip the sandwich after 4 minutes.
- Remove from the air fryer when golden brown on both sides. Slice diagonally and serve with spicy ketchup.
Vegan Grilled Cheese (stove top method)
- Prepare the bread as above. Place one slice (butter side down) onto a warm non-stick pan over medium-low heat. Add the cheese and top with the other slice of bread (butter side up).
- Cook over medium-low until golden brown and the cheese is melted through (around 4 minutes on each side). Using a fork or spatula, periodically lift the edge of the bread to check the bottom color. Adjust the temperature as needed.
- Gently press down on the sandwich using a spatula or oven mitt before flipping to help the two pieces stick together.
- Pro Tip: If the cheese isn't melting through, add a lid to trap the heat for a few minutes or try the microwave tip above (vegan cheese is tricky). Remove the lid for the last couple of minutes to ensure a crispy exterior.
Spicy Ketchup Recipe
- Combine the ketchup, sriracha, and BBQ sauce in a small bowl and set aside.
- Refrigerate the sauce for up to 2 weeks.
To Serve
- Cut the grilled cheese diagonally, in half or into strips and serve with spicy ketchup for dipping.
- Serve with a side of crispy fried pickles.
Notes
Cheese: Use a variety of dairy-free cheese flavors to get the best results.
Pro Tip: A block of vegan cheese grates more easily if it's been in the freezer for 15 or 20 minutes.
Air Fryers: Every air fryer is slightly different so be sure to check the progress of your grilled cheese adjusting the time and temp up or down as needed.
Bread & Cheese: Different types of bread and vegan cheese cook/melt faster or slower. So use this recipe as a guideline and adjust the temperature and time as necessary.
Side Order: Serve with a side order of fries or onion rings and some spicy ketchup for dipping.