Air Fryer Easy Welsh Rarebit

Air Fryer Easy Welsh Rarebit is a super simple and delicious verison of this classic cheese snack. There’s no sauce to make, just mix up the ingredients, spread them on toast and air fry until melted and bubbling.

Why make Air Fryer Easy Welsh Rarebit?

Welsh Rarebit is a great snack, it’s packed with protein and full of flavour. The traditional version of this dish is made with beer and a bechamel sauce. My version is really simple to make and gives you the genuine taste of Welsh Rarebit without the faff.

This is the recipe that both my mother and my grandmother used. Mum often made it for Saturday tea after we had been out for the day. It was also one of my student standby recipes when facilties were limited and cash was even more scarce!

What is an air fryer?

An air fryer is a bit like a mini oven. However, the element is only at the top of the air fryer and it uses a powerful fan to circulate the heat. This combination of intense heat and circulation means that food crisps up quickly.

Air fryers were originally sold for their ability to create ‘fried’ food with less fat. But the air fryer has developed and more people are recognising the potential to cook and bake all kinds of foods in this way.

Why should I make Easy Welsh Rarebit in my air fryer?

The intense heat of the air fryer is ideal for melting the cheese quickly and creating a lovely golden brown crust with the cheese remaining gooey and melted underneath.

I don’t have an air fryer, can I still make Easy Welsh Rarebit?

Yes, you can make it the way my mother and grandmother did, by grilling (broiling). Heat up your grill (broiler) to it’s highest heat and then pop the toast covered in the cheese mix under the grill until it is melted and bubbling.

What ingredients do I need to make Easy Welsh Rarebit?

The ingredients for this recipe are ones that you probably have in your larder and fridge. Here is what you need:

• bread
• butter (optional)
• cheese
• mustard
• Worcestershire sauce
• salt
• pepper
• milk

A full list of the ingredients and the required quantities is found in the recipe card at the end of this article.

What kind of bread should I use?

You can use any bread that you like. I prefer white bread for Welsh Rarebit as it makes the best toast. Sourdough is a great choice but you can use any white bread. Go for the best quality bread that you can afford, something with good firm structure is always going to work better than a very soft doughy bread.

What kind of cheese should I use for Air Fryer Easy Welsh Rarebit?

I use mature cheddar cheese for this recipe. If you don’t have cheddar then you can use any firm cheese that will grate and that melts well. You want something that has a good strong flavour as the cheese is the star of this dish.

What kind of mustard should I use?

I use strong flavoured English mustard powder in this recipe. You can ready-made English mustard but the powder is easier to mix. You don’t need very much mustard but it really brings out the cheese flavour.

If you don’t have English mustard then Dijon mustard is a good substitute. American burger mustard is too mild for this dish and just won’t give it the kick it needs.

What is Worcestershire sauce?

Worcestershire sauce is a fermermented sauce whose recipe is a very well kept secret. The listed ingredients contain tamarind and anchovy along with a long list of spices, it adds a very unique umami flavour to the recipe.

What can I substitute for Worcestershire sauce?

There isn’t really a true substitute for Worcestershire sauce. Perhaps the nearest would be a brown sauce such as HP mixed with a little vinegar to loosen the texture. There are vegetarian substitutes for Worcestershire sauce which you can also use.

Can I use plant milk in this recipe?

I have only made the recipe with cows milk, however it is a very small quantity of milk used really to moisten the mixture and create a paste. I can see no reason why you could not use a neutral flavoured plant milk in its place.

Can I make Easy Welsh Rarebit ahead of time?

Welsh Rarebit is best prepared and eaten on the same day. You can make up the cheese and seasoning mix 2-3 hours before you wish to serve Easy Welsh Rarebit. Store the cheese mix covered in the fridge until you are ready to air fry it.

Can I freeze Easy Welsh Rarebit?

The finished dish does not freeze well. And it’s really not worth freezing the seasoned cheese mix as it would take longer to defrost than it would to make up the mix.

Can I make more than one portion?

I have written this recipe for one slice of standard sliced bread because I can only easily fit one slice of bread in my air fryer at a time. You can increase the quantities to make more, which is particularly helpful if you have a larger air fryer.

Vegetarian

This recipe contains Worcestershire sauce which is not vegetarian. However, if you substitute a vegetarian Worcestershire sauce then you can enjoy this dish.

Gluten Free

I use wheat bread for this recipe, but if you substitute GF bread then the other ingredients are either naturally gluten free or can be obtained in a GF format. Please check all labels to ensure that they are suitable for your diet.

For more information regarding any dietary information provided on this website, please refer to my Nutritional Disclaimer.

How should I serve Air Fryer Easy Welsh Rarebit?

You can serve Air Fryer Easy Welsh Rarebit as a snack at any time. I like to serve it for lunch with a nice side salad but you could easily serve it for breakfast or brunch. It also makes a good light supper if you have had a large meal earlier in the day.

Another of my favourite ways to serve Air Fryer Easy Welsh Rarebit is to top it with some grilled bacon and tomatoes which makes it into a more substantial meal.

More Snacks on Toast

For a quick and tasy snack you can’t beat Sardines on Toast at great source of vitamin B12 too. Another great fishy treat is Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Mackerel which is good for breakfast, lunch or an informal supper.

If you prefer a sweet treat, then my recipe for Air Fryer Hot Cross Bun French Toast is for you! It’s easy to make and delicious served with fruit, chocolate sauce or maple syrup.