Tuna Cheese Melt

ByLeanne Neill
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This easy tuna cheese melt combines creamy, herby tuna salad with perfectly melted cheese for a warm and satisfying meal. Whether you cook it grilled cheese-style in a skillet for a crispy, golden crust or make it open-faced under the broiler, this simple recipe turns a humble can of tuna into a delicious lunch you'll want to make again and again.

A side shot of a grilled tuna fish melt sandwich. The top is crispy and golden brown and the orange cheese is thick and melty. The tuna salad is creamy and chunky.

My tuna salad recipe is versatile in that you can use it to make sandwiches, wraps, pitas, etc. but I Iike it most served as a tuna cheese melt. As much as I enjoy the grilled cheese crispy golden crust version I also like the slightly lower calorie open faced broiler version. Either way, both options are delicious. So, which camp are you in: open-faced or grilled?

You can make an easy lunch or light dinner by serving a tuna melt with my air fryer frozen French fries or truffle fries.

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Ingredients

I've listed exact quantities can in the recipe card at the bottom.

Overhead shot of the ingredients used to make a tuna melt. Ingredients are: tuna salad, butter, sliced cheese and sliced bread.
  • Bread - your favorite, I used sourdough.
  • Tuna Salad - Use your favorite recipe or mine. It becomes the star of the show, creamy, crunchy and full of lean protein.
  • Butter (for grilled version) - Used to butter the outside of the bread slices so they grill up golden brown with yummy buttery flavor.
  • Sliced Cheese - Provides the salty cheesy melty portion of this hot sandwich.

Instructions

Grilled Cheese Style

overhead shot of the initial process of making a tuna melt grilled cheese style. The bread is being buttered on the outside.

1: Spread butter on the outside faces of two slices of bread. This will help the bread toast up golden brown.

Overhead shot of tuna salad being spooned on to a slice of bread.

2: Spread tuna salad evenly over one slice of bread (the non-buttered side)

overhead shot of the final process of assembling the tuna melt. Cheese has been added and now the buttered slice of bread is placed on top to complete the sandwich.

3: Add slices of your favorite cheese on top of the tuna salad and cover with the other slice of bread (buttered side facing out). You can add more or less cheese depending on how cheesy you want it.

overhead shot of a non-stick pan cooking the tuna melt. The top of the tuna melt is a delicious golden brown.

4: Add sandwich to a non-stick frypan on medium heat. Allow it to cook until the one side becomes golden brown which should take about 3-4 minutes. Have a peek around the 2-3 minute mark. Flip and cook the other side to golden brown another 3 minutes or so.

5: Remove the tuna melt from the pan and serve immediately.

Hint: It's better to butter the bread instead of adding butter to the frypan. If you add butter to the frypan a lot of the butter doesn't come in contact with the sandwich and just burns in the pan.

angle shot of a grilled cheese style tuna melt sliced in half on the diagonal and layed askew on a dark plate with potato chips. The cheese layer is not super cheesy for those who don't like the cheese to overpower the tuna melt.

Open Face Broiled Version

An overhead shot of tuna salad being added on top of a slice of sourdough bread.

1: Spread tuna salad evenly on top of a slice of your favorite bread.

overhead shot of cheddar cheese being added to the top of an open faced tuna melt.

2: Cover the top of the tuna salad with sliced cheese.

3: Place on a baking sheet under the broiler for about 3 minutes or until the cheese becomes melty. Keep a close eye on your tuna melt as it can burn very fast under the broiler.

close up angle shot of an open faced tuna melt. The slice of cheese is melty but the chunky tuna salad underneath is evident.

Substitutions

  • Bread - use your favorite. I am using sourdough, but any bread will work, even gluten free.
  • Cheese - Most tuna melts use cheddar, but mozzarella is a good melty cheese too with a milder flavor. If the cheese melts well, it will probably be suitable.
  • Tuna- any canned tuna will work.

Variations

There's lots of additions you can add to your tuna cheese melt to mix things up.

  • cheese - swap the cheddar out for mozzarella, havarti, or pepper jack in order to alter the flavor.
  • Bread - I normally use sourdough, but you could also make it on a croissant or English muffin.
  • toppings - the addition of sliced avocado, bacon, or jalapenos are all great since they can add a change in flavor or texture.
  • Canned Chicken - swap out canned tuna for chicken and get a completely different variation.

Equipment

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Storage

A tuna fish melt sandwich is best eaten right away. I don't recommend storing it, since the cheese will become hard and the sandwich might become soggy. But if you want to, you can place it in an airtight container and in the fridge for up to 3 days. I would probably reheat it gently in a frypan, air fryer, or oven in order to melt the cheese again.

Overhead shot of a dark plate with a n open faced tun melt on it with a bite taken out of the corner. The plate also has potato chips and chopped up veggies. Another tuna melt plate is peeking in to the scene in the top right corner.

FAQ

What is the best cheese for a tuna melt?

Cheddar is a classic choice because it melts well and has a sharp flavor that pairs nicely with tuna. Other great options include Swiss, provolone, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, or Havarti because they are all good melters as well.

Can I make a tuna melt in the oven?

Yes! For an open-faced tuna melt, place the bread topped with tuna salad and cheese on a baking sheet and broil until the cheese is melty and bubbly.

What's the difference between a tuna melt and tuna sandwich?

A tuna sandwich is typically served cold with tuna salad between slices of bread. A tuna melt is served hot and includes melted cheese, either grilled in a skillet or broiled in the oven.

Can I make a tuna melt ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the tuna salad up to 3 days ahead and store it in the refrigerator. For the best texture, assemble and cook the tuna melt just before serving.

What type of bread is best for tuna melt?

Sturdy breads such as sourdough, rye, multigrain, or thick-cut white bread work best because they hold up well to the tuna salad and cheese.

Looking for some other easy meals? These might hit the spot:

Pairing

Wondering what to serve with this tuna melt recipe? Potato chips and cut up veggies are great, but you might also want to consider these:

The nutrition information provided is an estimate and may vary based on ingredient brands, substitutions, and portion sizes.

Side shot of a tuna melt cut on the diagonal and stacked on top of each other. The top is golden and crispy and the inside has melty cheese and creamy tuna salad.

Tuna Cheese Melt

Leanne Neill
This easy tuna melt combines creamy, herby tuna salad with perfectly melted cheese for a warm and satisfying meal. Whether you cook it grilled cheese-style in a skillet for a crispy, golden crust or make it open-faced under the broiler, this simple recipe turns a humble can of tuna into a delicious lunch you'll want to make again and again.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 7 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 sandwiches
Calories 616 kcal

Equipment

  • Measuring Spoons
  • Measuring Cups
  • medium sized mixing bowl
  • Frypan or baking sheet with parchment paper
  • Spatula

Ingredients
  

Tuna Salad

  • 10 oz canned tuna
  • 3 tablespoon mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoon Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon dill pickle brine
  • 1 stalk celery
  • ¼ cup dill pickle diced
  • 2 tablespoon red onion diced
  • 2 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
  • salt & pepper to taste

Tuna Melt

  • 8 slices bread
  • softened butter to lightly cover bread
  • cheddar cheese (sliced) for each sandwich

Instructions
 

Tuna Salad

Grilled Version

  • Spread butter on the outsides of two slices of bread.
  • Spread tuna salad evenly over one slice of bread (the non-buttered side)
  • Add slices of your favorite cheese on top of the tuna salad and cover with the other slice of bread (buttered side facing out). You can add more or less cheese depending on how cheesy you want it.
  • Grill sandwich in a non-stick frypan on medium heat. Allow it to cook until the one side becomes golden brown which should take about 3-4 minutes. Flip and cook the other side to golden brown another 3 minutes or so.
  • Serve immediately.

Open Face Broiled Version

  • Spread tuna salad evenly on top of a slice of your favorite bread.
  • Cover the top of the tuna salad with sliced cheese.
  • Place on a baking sheet under the broiler for about 3 minutes or until the cheese becomes melty.

Notes

  1. Keep a close eye on your tuna melt under the broiler, it can burn very fast.
Keyword tuna cheese melt, tuna fish melt sandwich, tuna melt, tuna melt recipe

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