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This Tuna Melt Sandwich is the ultimate quick comfort lunch—creamy, savory tuna salad tucked between slices of golden, buttery bread and melted cheese. It’s warm, crispy, and ready in minutes, making it perfect for busy afternoons or cozy weekend lunches.
Looking for more lunch ideas? You’ll love my Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Delicious Chicken Salad Recipe!
Why you’ll love this tuna and cheese melt recipe!
On paper, you wouldn’t think tuna salad and cheese would go together, but somehow, it works.
If you’ve ever had a tuna melt sandwich, you know that this is absolute perfection between two slices of bread. It’s a little bit messy, and kind of unwieldy if you’re overly generous with the tuna salad in the middle, but oh-so-delicious.
Basically, this is a tuna salad sandwich taken to the next level. Instead of simply putting a scoop of tuna salad on bread and calling it a day, the tuna melt adds cheese. Then, the whole thing cooks on the stovetop until the bread is toasty, the cheese is melty, and the tuna is nice and warm. So good.
- Golden, crispy bread. The outside gets perfectly toasted and buttery.
- Melty, gooey cheese. Every bite is warm, creamy, and satisfying.
- Quick and easy lunch. Ready in about 15 minutes from start to finish.
- Simple pantry ingredients. Made with staples you probably already have.
- Customizable to your taste. Change the cheese, bread, or mix-ins.
Table of Contents
Ingredients You Need
To print: see recipe card below
For the Tuna Salad:
- Canned tuna – Oil-packed or water-packed tuna are both fine. So, choose whichever you prefer. Just make sure to drain the liquid.
- Mayonnaise – Any kind you like or have on hand.
- Dijon mustard – For punchy, sharp flavor that brightens things up.
- Celery – Not a fan of the flavor? Diced water chestnuts will give you the crunch without the taste of celery.
- Old Bay seasoning – You can skip this if you don’t have it on hand, but I really love it in tuna salad!
To Assemble the Tuna Melt Sandwich:
- Thick sliced bread – Like sourdough or Texas toast. Rye and whole wheat bread work well too, or even standard sandwich bread cut into thick slices.
- Butter – I recommend using unsalted butter, but salted will also work. Let this soften so it’s easy to spread.
- Cheddar cheese – A nice, mild cheddar is what you want here.
- Tomato slices – This cuts through some of the richness of the sandwich.
Variations
- Substitute the cheddar cheese with a slice of Havarti, provolone, or Monterey jack.
- Add dill pickles to the tuna salad for a crunchy texture and tangy flavor.
- Layer sliced red onions onto the bread after the tomatoes.
- Spread a layer of Dijon mustard or mayonnaise on each slice of bread. This adds extra flavor and helps hold the sandwich together when you flip it.
- Add green onions for a slightly tangy taste and a bit of extra crunch.
How to Make a Tuna Melt Sandwich
- Make the tuna salad: Combine the tuna salad ingredients. Butter one side of each slice of bread. Spread a portion of the tuna salad on half on the unbuttered side of half the bread pieces.
- Add the tomato: Right on top of the tuna salad!
- Add the cheese: Two slices per sandwich for extra melty goodness.
- Toast the tuna melts: Top the sandwiches with the remaining bread, buttered side out. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Toast the sandwiches until the bread is golden brown, then flip and repeat with the remaining sandwiches.
Serving Suggestions
Turn your tuna melt into a cozy, satisfying meal with simple sides:
- Tomato Bisque Soup for classic comfort
- Potato chips or kettle chips
- Dill pickles or pickle spears
- The Best Fruit Salad
- Simple green salad
- KFC Coleslaw (Copycat Recipe)
- Summer Pasta Salad
How to Store Leftovers
- Refrigerator: Store leftover tuna salad (not assembled sandwiches) in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Do not store assembled sandwiches: They will become soggy.
- Reheating: If needed, reheat a cooked sandwich in a skillet or toaster oven to restore crispness.
Frequently Asked Questions
American, cheddar, Swiss, and provolone are all great choices because they melt smoothly.
Drain the tuna well and toast the bread in butter so it forms a crisp barrier.
Yes. Assemble the sandwich open-faced and broil for 2–4 minutes until the cheese melts.
It’s best to prepare the tuna salad ahead and assemble the sandwiches just before cooking.
More Easy Sandwich Recipes
Slow Cooker
Italian Chicken Sandwich (Slow Cooker)
Main Dishes
Crab Cake Sandwich
Best Chicken Recipes
Chicken Parmesan Sandwich
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Tuna Melt Sandwich
Equipment
- 1 Large mixing bowl
- 1 large skillet
Ingredients
Tuna Salad:
- 10 ounces tuna, drained 2 cans
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 1 stalk celery diced
- 1 lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
To Assemble:
- 8 slices thick sliced bread such as sourdough or Texas toast
- 4 Tablespoons butter softened
- 8 slices cheddar cheese
- 4 tomato slices
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, stir all tuna salad ingredients until mixed thoroughly.10 ounces tuna, drained, ⅓ cup mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons dijon mustard, 1 stalk celery, 1 lemon, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
- Spread the butter on one side of each slice of bread. Assemble each sandwich with a portion of the tuna salad, a slice of tomato and two slices of cheese. The buttered side of the bread should be facing out.8 slices thick sliced bread, 4 Tablespoons butter, 8 slices cheddar cheese, 4 tomato slices
- In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium high heat. Once the pan is hot, add 2 of the sandwiches. Heat until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Repeat with the remaining two sandwiches.1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
Notes
- Drain the tuna well to prevent a soggy sandwich.
- Spread butter evenly on the bread for the best crust.
- Press the sandwich gently while cooking for even browning.
So good!! This was on the rotating dinner menu at home!
In the list of ingredients it says 1 lemon juice if you used all that the tuna salad spread would be too liquid
Tastes even better with Swiss cheese on seeded rye bread, still grilled. sourdough bread is delicious too‼️