The best way to uplevel a PB&J? Pan fry it in butter of course! This Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich gives you all the nostalgic flavor of the classic sammy with a crispy outer texture and melty center for an even better experience.
Because as a mom-on-the-go, sometimes all I have the time and energy for is a 10-minute, 4-ingredient sandwich that hits the spot every single time.
Between this bad boy and my Havarti Grilled Cheese, I’ve perfected the simple yet delicious warm sandwich, and I just know you’ll love it as much as I do! Perfect for breakfast, lunch, or a lazy dinner, this vegetarian sandwich idea is always a winner!
Fried PB&J Ingredients
Here’s everything you need:
- Sandwich bread. I used classic white bread pictured but use your favorite!
- Unsalted butter. Salted works, but I find there’s enough salt in the peanut butter and prefer unsalted here. Dairy-free butter works here, too!
- Peanut butter. Creamy or crunchy—whichever you prefer!
- Jelly. I used grape here because to me, that’s the classic for a PB&J, though some may argue strawberry! In any case, really any jam or jelly works here. I’ll use raspberry or blackberry when I’m feeling fancy!
Tips and Tricks for Frying Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
The Foolproof Way to Make a Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
Spread butter on one side of two slices of bread. You want a thin, even coat on your bread, so it fries nicely. This step is easiest if your butter is softened.
Once one side if buttered, flip your two slices of bread, and add jelly to one and peanut butter to the other. You can measure your spreads with your heart, everyone likes a different amount. Still, I find a ratio of 2 to 1 for peanut butter to jelly is perfect!
Then, press the jelly and peanut butter sides of the bread together to form a sandwich with the buttered side of bread on the outsides.
Get you pan hot over medium heat and carefully lower the sandwich onto the pan. Fry for about 2-3 minutes before flipping. You want your fried sandwich golden-brown on both sides.
Air Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
If you don’t feel like pan-frying your PB&J, you can air fry it and get a similar effect. Assemble the peanut butter and jelly the same way and add it to your air fryer at 400°F for about 6 minutes, flipping halfway in between.
How to Properly Store Leftover PB&J
If you don’t finish the whole sandwich, you can place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 days. Enjoy leftovers cold, or you can reheat on a pan, in the air fryer at 400°F for 4 minutes, or in the oven at 350°F for about 6 minutes.
Pan Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
SAVE RECIPE TO COLLECTION PIN PRINT RATEEquipment
Ingredients
- 2 slices sandwich bread
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
- 1 tablespoon jelly (I used grape, but any kind works)
Instructions
- Generously spread butter on one side of each slice of bread. Flip bread over so buttered side is facing down.2 slices sandwich bread, 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- On the plain side of the bread, spread peanut butter on one slice and jelly on the other. Press the two pieces of bread together to form a sandwich with the buttered side of the bread on the outside.2 tablespoons peanut butter, 1 tablespoon jelly
- Get your pan hot over medium heat for about 2 minutes, then carefully lower the sandwich onto the hot pan. Fry for about 3-5 minutes, then flip and fry on the second side. Aim to get both sides golden-brown. Serve warm.
