Cheesy Garlic Toast
No baguette needed. Sandwich bread is thin, so it crisps all the way through fast: a short pre-toast in the toaster oven, or a few minutes in the air fryer, has it crunchy by the time the cheese melts and bubbles. A few seconds in the microwave makes cold butter spreadable, which keeps the whole thing to about 13 minutes.
Quick facts
13 min(4 prep, 8 cook)
1 serving
- Vegetarian
Contains: Wheat, Milk, Soy
Get it all out
Tick things off as they hit the counter.
- 2 slices sandwich bread, white or whole wheat; check the label for soy
- 1½ tbsp salted butter
- 1 clove garlic, finely minced
- ½ cup shredded low-moisture mozzarella, check the label for vegetarian (microbial or non-animal) rennet
- ⅛ tsp dried oreganooptional
- 1 pinch red pepper flakesoptional
Let 'em cook
Tap Done as you go. Each step lists what goes in.
- 1
For a toaster oven, set it to 400°F and lay the bread slices straight on the rack so they toast while it heats. It's ready when the ready light comes on, about 5 minutes. For an air fryer, heat it to 370°F until the ready light comes on, or for 3 minutes if it doesn't have one.
- 2 slices sandwich bread
- 2
Put the butter in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave until soft but not melted, 5 to 10 seconds. Add the garlic and the oregano, if using, and mash with a fork until evenly mixed.
- 1½ tbsp salted butter
- 1 clove garlic
- ⅛ tsp dried oregano
- 3
If you're using the toaster oven, take the bread out with tongs when it's dry and pale gold, about 4 minutes after it went in, and leave the oven on. Spread the garlic butter over one side of each slice of bread, all the way to the edges. Sprinkle about ¼ cup of the mozzarella over each slice and press it down lightly so it stays in place.
- 2 slices sandwich bread
- 1½ tbsp salted butter
- ½ cup shredded low-moisture mozzarella
- In the toaster oven or air fryer
- 4
Set the slices cheese side up on the toaster oven tray and slide it in once the ready light is on, or set them side by side in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Toast until the cheese is melted and bubbling with a few golden spots and the crusts are crisp and brown, 3 to 4 minutes in the toaster oven or 4 to 5 minutes in the air fryer. Pull out the toaster oven tray with an oven mitt, or pull out the air fryer basket, and move the toast to a plate with a spatula.
- 2 slices sandwich bread
Timer: 4 min
- 5
Let the toast cool on the plate for 1 minute so the cheese sets a little. Sprinkle with the red pepper flakes, if using, cut each slice in half and serve warm.
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes