Tuna Melt (2024)

This delicious, quick and easy Tuna Melt recipe is full of flavor from seasoned tuna salad, layered with toppings and cheese, and toasted on your favorite bread.

Looking for more sandwiches & wraps? Try my Meatloaf Sandwich, Chicken Caesar Wrap, or Air Fryer Grilled Cheese!

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Why I love this recipe:

  • Quick – Only 10 minutes from start to finish! Perfect for a busy weekday lunch, and you can even make the tuna mixture in advance, for meal prep.
  • Healthy – Lots of protein and low in calorie. Use tuna packed in water. For an even healthier melt, use whole grain bread, unsaturated oil or cooking spray in place of butter, cook it open faced, with just one piece of bread and one slice of cheese on top.
  • Family favorite – This is a great change from normal lunch sandwiches, and adults and kids love it!

How to make a Tuna Melt:

Make the tuna salad: Combine tuna, onion, mayo, lemon juice, oregano, salt and pepper.

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Layer the toppings. Spoon the tuna mixture on the bread and top with cheese, avocado, and/or tomato.

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Add another slice of cheese, and top with bread. Cook in a hot skillet over medium-low heat, flipping once, until cheese is melted and bread is toasted.

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Tips for a perfect Tuna Melt:

  • Use high quality tuna. White Albacore tuna, packed in water, is my preferred choice for tuna melts. The higher quality the tuna, the tastier the sandwich, so don’t go cheap here. I like Wild Planet or Whole Foods 365 brand.
  • Drain well! Be sure to drain the can of tuna really well before making the filling. This will help you avoid a strong “fishy” flavor that no one likes in their tuna melt sandwich.
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Make Ahead and Storage Instructions:

To Make Ahead: The tuna filling can be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge for 3-4 days. Great for meal prep and quick lunches.

To Store: Keep the tuna mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Recipe Variations:

  • Cheese: Use your favorite kind of cheese–pepper jack, American, or any kind will work!
  • Bread: Wheat, white, sourdough, rye, beer bread, or even crusty artisan bread.
  • Toppings: Keep it simple with tuna and cheese or jazz it up by adding tomato, avocado, bacon, sprouts, jalapeños or hot sauce for a spicy tuna melt.
  • Open Face: Leave out the top layer of bread and broil in the oven as an open-face tuna melt.
  • Air Fryer Tuna Melt: Air fry at 370 for 2-3 minutes on each side, until the cheese is melted.
  • Tuna Melt Wrap: Add tuna mixture and cheese to a tortilla and fold like a burrito. Cook on a skillet over medium heat until toasted on all sides and the cheese is melted.

More Tuna Recipes:

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Recipe

Tuna Melt (6)

5 from 47 votes

Tuna Melt

The Best Tuna Melt recipe with albacore tuna and crusty bread is quick, easy, and customizable lunch recipe that kids and adults love!

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Prep 5 minutes mins

Cook 5 minutes mins

Total 10 minutes mins

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Ingredients

  • 12 ounces canned albacore white tuna, packed in water , drained
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise , more to taste (or substitute half mayo, half plain Greek yogurt)
  • 2 Tablespoons finely chopped red onion
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • pinch dried oregano leaves
  • salt and pepper , to taste
  • 4 slices thick cut white sandwich bread
  • 4 slices cheese , cheddar, provolone, swiss, or your fav kind
  • sliced avocado , optional
  • sliced tomato , optional

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, combine tuna, mayonnaise, onion, lemon juice, and oregano and stir until thoroughly combined. Add more mayo if you want mixture wetter. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

  • Butter outsides of bread slices. Layer tuna mixture on inside portion of bread. Add cheese, desired toppings, then another piece of cheese and top with bread.

  • Heat a skillet over medium-low heat. Add sandwiches and cook until bottom bread is toasted, and cheese is warm. Flip and cook on the other side until bread is toasted and cheese has melted.

Notes

Tuna: Choose high quality canned tuna. White Albacore tuna, packed in water, is my preferred choice for tuna melts. Be sure to drain really well before making the filling.

Cheese: Use your favorite kind of cheese–pepper jack, American, or any kind will work!

Bread: Wheat, white, sourdough, rye, beer bread, or even crusty artisan bread.

Toppings: Keep it simple with tuna and cheese or jazz it up by adding tomato, avocado, bacon, sprouts, jalapeños or hot sauce for a spicy tuna melt.

Open Face: Leave out the top layer of bread and broil in the oven as an open-face tuna melt.

Air Fryer Tuna Melt: Air fry at 370 for 2-3 minutes on each side, until the cheese is melted.

Tuna Melt Wrap: Add tuna mixture and cheese to a tortilla and fold like a burrito. Cook on a skillet over medium heat until toasted on all sides and the cheese is melted.

Make Ahead Instructions: The tuna filling can be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge. This makes for an even quicker lunch!

Storage Instructions: Keep the tuna mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 338kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 29gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 778mgPotassium: 268mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 311IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 265mgIron: 2mg

Did You Make This Recipe?

Tag @TastesBetterFromScratch on Instagram with #TastesBetterFromScratch!

*I originally shared this recipe in August 2014. Updated May 2019 and May 2022.

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About The Author

Tuna Melt (11)

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

Tuna Melt (2024)

FAQs

What is a tuna melt sandwich made of? ›

Top an unbuttered side with approximately 1/2 cup of tuna salad, 2 to 3 slices tomato, and 2 slices of cheese. Top with another slice of bread, buttered side facing up. Repeat with remaining ingredients and place on a large baking sheet. Bake until cheese is melty, 5 to 8 minutes.

Why is a tuna melt so good? ›

Tuna melts are the ultimate sandwich with a flavorful fish mixture, melty cheddar cheese, and freshly sliced tomatoes all melted together in a skillet on crispy, golden bread. So easy to make and delicious, this sandwich will literally melt in your mouth!

What sides go with a tuna melt? ›

What to Serve with a Tuna Melt
  • Side salad.
  • Celery and carrots.
  • Coleslaw.
  • Pickles.
  • Fresh pepper slices.
  • Sweet potato chips.
  • Classic potato chips.

What to put in tuna melt reddit? ›

In a mixing bowl combine tuna, mayonnaise, celery, red onion, dill, and cornichons. Season with salt and pepper and stir together. Spread 1/2 tablespoon butter over each slice of bread and turn two slices butter side down.

Why is my tuna melt soggy? ›

The key to preventing a soggy tuna melt is to drain your canned tuna really well. To do this, empty the tuna into a fine-mesh strainer then press down on it to release any liquid.

Which canned tuna is best for sandwich? ›

Bumble Bee Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water

This is the best pick if you're looking to incorporate more fish into your diet but you just can't stand, well, that “fishy” taste. The mild flavor of this canned tuna makes it easy to incorporate into salads, sandwiches, and pasta without overwhelming the whole dish.

Why is it called a tuna melt? ›

Legend has it that the tuna melt was accidentally invented in the 1960s at the Woolworth's lunch counter in Charleston, S.C., when the cook didn't notice that a bowl of tuna salad had tipped over onto a grilled cheese.

Is tuna in a tuna melt supposed to be hot? ›

The sandwich is made from canned tuna, mayonnaise, and pre-sliced wheat bread. However, if you would like to make it fancy, you can pop it under the broiler in order to make a bubbling and satisfying tuna melt. A tuna melt is a delicious tuna sandwich that is served hot and usually has toasted bread and melted cheese.

Is canned tuna healthy? ›

Yes, canned tuna is a healthful food rich in protein and contains many vitamins and minerals such as B-Complex vitamins, Vitamins A and D as well as iron, selenium and phosphorus. Tuna also contains healthy omega 3 essential fatty acids DHA and EPA.

Can dogs eat tuna? ›

When fed in very small amounts as an occasional treat, tuna is OK for dogs to eat. But while tuna can be safe for dogs in small amounts on special occasions, it should not be their main source of nutrition or a regular ingredient in their bowl.

Can you reheat a tuna melt? ›

To reheat, place the sandwiches in a dry skillet over medium heat and cook for 2-3 minutes per side or until heated through. You may need to cover the skillet to allow even heat distribution.

What makes a melt sandwich? ›

A melt sandwich is a type of hot sandwich containing a suitable meltable cheese (sometimes grated) and a filling of meat or fish. The sandwich is grilled on the stovetop until the cheese melts (hence the name) and the bread is toasted, or heated in an oven.

Why is it called tuna melt? ›

Legend has it that the tuna melt was accidentally invented in the 1960s at the Woolworth's lunch counter in Charleston, S.C., when the cook didn't notice that a bowl of tuna salad had tipped over onto a grilled cheese.

What cheese goes well with tuna? ›

According to The Cheese Empire, a creamy cheese with good melting properties that doesn't have too strong a flavor is the best way to go, with the outlet citing mozzarella, cheddar, and Gruyère as excellent choices to layer onto a tuna melt (or a toastie, as grilled cheese sandwiches are dubbed in the UK).

Is tuna in a can or pouch cooked? ›

For our pouch tuna, the fish are thawed, eviscerated, precooked, and cooled much the same as the canned product. The tuna loins are then carefully cleaned, to remove unwanted parts of the tuna as well as loose flakes/pieces.

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