Air fryer pulled pork grilled cheese is one of those sandwiches that makes a regular weeknight feel a little more special.
I love it because it takes two comfort foods I already enjoy and puts them together in one crunchy, melty bite.
The air fryer does most of the work here. It toasts the sourdough until it is golden and crisp while melting the cheddar inside.
If you have leftover pulled pork from a weekend cookout, this is a really good way to use it up. Store-bought works just as well.
I usually add a little pickled red onion on top of the pork. It gives a small tangy note that balances the sweet bbq sauce and rich cheese.
Ready in about 10 minutes from start to finish, this one has become a regular in my kitchen.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Crispy Sourdough Crunch – The buttered sourdough gets deeply golden and crackly in the air fryer for that perfect bite.
Smoky BBQ Flavor – Tender pulled pork tossed in tangy BBQ sauce brings a rich, smoky taste to every mouthful.
Double Cheese Goodness – Two slices of sharp cheddar melt around the pork for that gooey, stretchy pull everyone loves.
Ingredients
- 8 slices Sourdough Bread
- 2 cups Pulled Pork (store-bought or leftover)
- 1/4 cup BBQ Sauce
- 8 slices Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- 4 tbsp Butter (softened)
- 2 tbsp Pickled Red Onion (optional)
How To Make
Step 1
In a small bowl, toss the pulled pork with the BBQ sauce until evenly coated. Warm it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes if it is cold.
Step 2
Butter one side of each slice of sourdough bread. Place 4 slices butter-side down. Layer each with 1 slice of cheddar cheese, a generous mound of BBQ pulled pork, pickled red onion if using, another slice of cheddar cheese, and the second bread slice butter-side up.
Step 3
Preheat the air fryer to 360F. Carefully place 2 sandwiches in the basket and air fry for 4 minutes.
Step 4
Carefully flip the sandwiches and air fry for another 3-4 minutes until the bread is deeply golden and crunchy and the cheese is fully melted and gooey. Repeat with remaining sandwiches.
Step 5
Let rest for 1 minute, then cut in half diagonally and serve while the cheese is still stretchy and hot.
Tips
Use Toothpicks to Hold the Sandwich Together
The air fryer has a strong fan that pushes hot air around the basket. Without something holding the top slice in place, it can lift right off the sandwich and the cheese ends up everywhere except where you want it.
I stick a toothpick through each corner of the sandwich before it goes in the basket. This keeps everything pressed together so the cheese melts properly between the bread and the pork.
Just remember to pull the toothpicks out before serving so no one bites down on one.
Drain the Pulled Pork Before You Use It
Store-bought pulled pork usually sits in a lot of extra liquid, and that moisture will soak straight into your bread. You’ll end up with a soggy middle instead of the crunchy bite you want.
I dump the pork into a strainer and let it drip for a couple of minutes before tossing it with the BBQ sauce. My favorite trick here is to gently pat it with a paper towel if it still looks wet.
This way the BBQ sauce coats the meat properly and the bread stays crisp from edge to edge.
Don’t Pile the Pulled Pork Too High
It’s tempting to load the sandwich with as much pork as possible, but a thick mound makes everything fall apart when you flip it. The cheese also can’t melt all the way through if there’s too much cold meat blocking the heat.
From my experience, about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of pork per sandwich is the sweet spot. Spread it out evenly so you get pork in every bite instead of one big lump in the middle.
Related Recipes
- Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
- Air Fryer Grilled Cheese And Ham
- Air Fryer Cuban Sandwiches
- Air Fryer Sticky BBQ Pork Ribs
- Air Fryer Loaded Chili Cheese Fries
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my bread burn before the cheese melts?
This usually happens when the air fryer is too hot or the cheese slices are too thick. Stick to 360F and use thinly sliced sharp cheddar so it melts at the same pace the bread browns.
If you notice the top getting dark too fast, lower the temperature to 340F for the last couple of minutes. You can also tent a small piece of foil loosely over the sandwich to slow the browning while the inside finishes melting.
Air Fryer Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese
- air fryer
- 8 slices Sourdough Bread
- 2 cups Pulled Pork (store-bought or leftover)
- 1/4 cup BBQ Sauce
- 8 slices Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- 4 tbsp Butter (softened)
- 2 tbsp Pickled Red Onion (optional)
- In a small bowl, toss the pulled pork with the BBQ sauce until evenly coated. Warm it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes if it is cold.
- Butter one side of each slice of sourdough bread. Place 4 slices butter-side down. Layer each with 1 slice of cheddar cheese, a generous mound of BBQ pulled pork, pickled red onion if using, another slice of cheddar cheese, and the second bread slice butter-side up.
- Preheat the air fryer to 360F. Carefully place 2 sandwiches in the basket and air fry for 4 minutes.
- Carefully flip the sandwiches and air fry for another 3-4 minutes until the bread is deeply golden and crunchy and the cheese is fully melted and gooey. Repeat with remaining sandwiches.
- Let rest for 1 minute, then cut in half diagonally and serve while the cheese is still stretchy and hot.