My daughter is obsessed with tuna. I will buy 10-20 cans when it goes on a good sale, put some at the tip top of the pantry, and somehow they always disappear by time I go to make this delicious, supreme Tuna Melt sandwich.
THIS TIME, I hid some in an undisclosed location (a locked safe (HA!) that I got free in a gifting group, my favorite place to get free stuff.) and was able to make this perfect Tuna Melt recipe.
Dinner doesn’t have to be fancy to be FUN, delicious, and making family memories. You don’t have to spend hours creating a dish that will make your family stand up and say, “WOAH! Gimme more!” 🎉
This Tuna Melt is ooey-gooey and packed full of delicious flavor, and perfect for the nights when you just want to put something on the table super quick for your family or for that lunch date with your friends.
Other recipes Pinterest LOVES:
Why This is The Best Tuna Melt Recipe
This perfect Tuna Melt sandwich is so amazingly DELICIOUS and super easy-to-make recipe! It’s definitely not your classic Tuna Melt recipe, but once you take a bite, it’ll be in your weekly rotation for sure!! 😍 Here’s a free instant-download meal planner to help you plan your meals and there’s more free printables for meal planning and organizing your home in my Free Household Binder).
It’s ooey-gooey, packed with flavor, and perfect for busy nights when you want dinner on the table FAST (think: 15 minutes)!
Hundreds of thousands of people have voted this the #1 Tuna Melt Recipe on the internet! Try it for yourself and decide!! It’s a massive flavor bomb you won’t ever want to give up! 🥰 Best of all, you can adapt it to your own specific needs. Don’t like onions, omit them, etc. It’s totally customizable!
Other super easy recipes my kids beg me for:
Ingredients
- Onion, medium size, chopped
- Celery, 1/2 a stalk, chopped
- Garlic (1 clove), minced
- Parsley, 1 tablespoon, chopped
- Mayonnaise, 3-4 tablespoons (tbsp)
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 3 tablespoons, divided
- Mozzarella, 1/3 cup, shredded
- Bread, sliced. A panini is a great option too!
- Butter, softened
- Salt and Black Pepper to taste
Serving
This tuna melt recipe makes 4 sandwiches (serves 4) and comes together in about 15 minutes, so it’s perfect for a quick lunch or easy weeknight dinner.
How to Make a Tuna Melt (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Drain water from tuna and put the tuna into a medium bowl.
Step 2: Chop onion, celery, and parsley. Mince garlic and add ingredients to tuna.
Step 3: Add mayonnaise, olive oil (for a lighter version, omit olive oil), and mozzarella cheese (need a new cheese grater? Here’s a great one from Gorilla – love that brand!) Combine all ingredients until well incorporated. Salt and pepper to taste.
*Note: I try to add in the Extra Virgin Olive Oil a little bit because it’s healthier than mayonnaise, but you have to add mayonnaise because just using the olive oil alone and no mayonnaise would be gross. 😊 If you want to just use mayo, totally fine, but again for me, I try to use a little olive oil to make it a tad healthier. 😊
Step 4: Place a non-stick skillet on the stove (medium heat) and add 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. When the skillet is hot, take a slice of bread and generously spread butter on one side.
Adding butter AND extra virgin olive oil helps the cooking process. The olive oil helps the crust not burn as fast so that you get a golden brown exterior, not burnt. 😊 The butter adds the flavor and helps it toast up better. It’s a great trick to use when toasting bread on the stove top to use BOTH (the flavors play well together and comes out super yummy!)
If you want it a little crispier on the outside, you can also use a cast iron skillet instead of a non-stick skillet. Here’s the cast iron skillet I have.
Step 5: Place the bread (buttered side down) in the hot skillet. Be sure to keep the temp at a consistent heat (and don’t cook too fast).
Step 6: Using a spoon, scoop about 2 tablespoons of tuna mixture on bread while it is browning.
Step 7: Butter another slice of bread with butter and place non-buttered side on top of tuna.
Step 8: Using a spatula, check to see if the bread is grilled and toasted brown. If so, turn the tuna melt over and grill the other side until it’s golden brown. Bon appétit!
As an alternative, you could use a toastie maker or a George Foreman type grill instead to cook this easy Tuna Melt lunch idea!
Tuna Melt Recipe Variations…
If you love sourdough, don’t miss my Perfect Sourdough Melt next (my kids beg me for these every week)!
Don’t have bread on hand? No problem, substitute with English muffins.
Want less carbs? No problem, substitute with tomatoes instead. Cut the tomatoes in half and use as bread. Yum! Grill and just use the olive oil (omit butter) for that option.
Adding different ingredients – the fun thing about cooking is that you can adjust everything to your own liking. You can add things like capers or even pickles, roasted red peppers, horseradish, dijon mustard, bacon bits, or chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Whatever your favorite ingredients are, add them in!
Switch up the cheese – use mozzarella for a more creamy flavor that won’t overpower the tuna, but you could also use American cheese for a more classic tuna melt sandwich, Swiss (for a more nutty flavor), or pepper jack cheese for more of a bite.
Open Faced Tuna Melt – Use one side of the bread or an English muffin as an open-faced sandwich and the other side (top), put a couple tomato slices and voila, you have a perfect open-faced tuna melt on English muffin.
Open faced Tuna sandwich with avocado – Avocados seem to be all the rage right now. It makes a meal seem more gourmet! Do the same recipe as the above, except exchange the tomato slices for avocado. 😊
Tuna Melt panini – Use the same sandwich ingredients and directions, but instead of cooking it in a skillet, cook your sandwiches in a panini press.
Another really great idea for Tuna that I like to do for quick lunches for friends, because it’s a great protein. Grab two Albacore Tunas in the pouch (water). Add chopped celery (1-2 stalks), chopped pickles (1-2 spears), and a small can of olives. Add a teaspoon of mustard and 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise. Salt and pepper to taste. Use that tuna salad mixture on saltine crackers or bread (sourdough bread or whole wheat bread slices).
Make it healthier – Use healthier tuna. Here’s what I started using most recently, Wild Planet Albacore Wild Tuna. You can get it on Amazon there at the link. I buy it at my local co-op for $4.99. I know it’s spendy but I encourage you to do a taste test. Buy an Albacore Tuna pouch in water at your local store or canned tuna, whatever you want. Open both your kind of tuna and the Wild Planet Tuna. Taste the Wild Planet Tuna FIRST, THEN taste your tuna. After tasting your tuna, your mouth will definitely tell the difference. You’ll taste a metallic taste. Wild Planet’s you won’t. You will, like me, never go back to any other tuna again! 😊
Other ideas to make this recipe healthier:
- Use more tuna, less cheese.
- Don’t butter the bread, just use extra virgin olive oil.
What to Serve with a Tuna Melt
You can serve your Tuna Melt with anything you like, but here are a few good ideas:
- French Fries
- Potato Wedges
- Craveworthy Potato Salad
- Olives
- Coleslaw
- World’s Best Clam Chowder
- Tomato Soup
Metal Detox
No matter what you do, no matter what you eat, our bodies love to collect metal toxins.
If it’s something that concerns you, not to worry, put a couple drops of therapeutic grade Cilantro essential oil (something I use every single day!) on the bottom of your feet.
Cilantro is known for binding to the metals in our bodies and helps clear them from our system. I like to use a couple drops every day, whether I’m eating tuna or not because metal is seriously everywhere.
The thing to remember is that you can make comfort food that still feels a little better for your family, with no worry or guilt!
Top 5 Cheese Pairings for Tuna Melts
Mozzarella is creamy and mild, but if you wanna tuna melt that tastes next level, cheese choice is everything! Here’s five options…
-
Sharp Cheddar
Bold, classic, and slightly tangy. It gives that traditional comfort flavor and stands up to tuna without getting lost. -
Gruyère
Nutty, rich, and buttery. This is the cheese that makes a tuna melt feel bakery-level and a little fancy without trying too hard. -
Pepper Jack
Creamy with a gentle heat. It adds a little kick that wakes up the whole sandwich, especially if you like savory and spicy flavors. -
Provolone
Mild, smooth, and super melty. It brings a deli-style vibe to the sandwich and gives you that stretchy pull without overpowering the tuna. -
Smoked Gouda
Creamy with a smoky, slightly sweet depth. This one makes the tuna melt taste like it came from a café, especially on sourdough.
Optional move: If you want the best melt texture, do a small blend: one bold cheese (cheddar or gouda) and one super melty cheese (provolone or mozzarella).
Pro Tips
1) Your first inclination will be to load up the best tuna melt sandwich with lots of tuna, but you want to think about the ratio of cheese to tuna filling. Less tuna, you get a more balanced sandwich. Too much tuna filling, you lose the cheese flavor. Think about those ratios as you prepare it.
2) Grocery prices are out of control right now. Last year I went on a major overhaul of my grocery bill. My goal was to try to save 30% on groceries and I ended up stumbling across ways to get my bill to ZERO! 😮 That’s right, I do not pay for groceries at all. I use a combination of tips and tricks and even if some of them don’t apply to you, you’re sure to learn some great things to knock your grocery bill way down here in this post, How to Get Your Groceries Free (Without Couponing). ❤️
Tuna Melt Ingredients
Ingredients
Method
- Drain water from tuna and put the tuna into a medium bowl.
- Chop onion, celery, and parsley. Mince garlic and add ingredients to tuna.
- Add mayonnaise, olive oil, and mozzarella cheese. Combine all ingredients until well incorporated. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Place a non-stick skillet on the stove and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. When the skillet is hot, take a slice of bread and generously spread butter on one side.
- Place the bread (buttered side down) in the hot skillet.
- Using a spoon, scoop about 2 tablespoons of tuna salad on bread while it is browning.
- Butter another slice of bread with butter and place non-buttered side on top of tuna.
- Using a spatula, check to see if the bread is toasted brown. If so, turn the tuna melt over and grill the other side until it's golden brown.
Tuna Melt Recipe FAQs
-
Can I make this tuna melt in the oven or air fryer?
Absolutely! For an air fryer, assemble the sandwiches, place them on a baking sheet, and cook at about 370°F for 5–7 minutes until the cheese melts and the bread is golden, flipping halfway if needed. -
Can I use canned tuna in water instead of oil?
Yes. Drain the canned tuna really well, then follow the recipe as written. I suggest tuna in water, so you can add your own ingredients to the mixture. -
Can I make the tuna salad ahead of time?
Yes. Mix the tuna salad mixture up to 2 days ahead and store it covered in the fridge. Assemble and grill the tuna melt sandwiches right before serving. -
How do I store leftover tuna melt sandwiches?
They’re best fresh, but you can refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to a day and reheat in a skillet or air fryer so the bread crisps up again. -
Can I use canned salmon instead of tuna?
Yes. Drain it well the same way you drain tuna. If it is canned salmon with skin and bones, remove what you don’t want before mixing. Salmon is richer in flavor than tuna, so a slightly sharper cheese like cheddar or a nutty cheese like gruyère pairs especially well.
What is the best bread for a tuna melt? (Discuss Sourdough vs. Rye)
Sourdough is usually the best all-around choice because it’s sturdy, crisps beautifully, and the tang balances the richness of the tuna and cheese. It’s my go-to bread, personally. 😊
Rye is perfect if you want a deli-style flavor with a deeper, earthy bite. It has a much stronger taste, so pair it with a smoother cheese like provolone or gruyère if you don’t want the sandwich to feel too intense.
How to Reheat a Tuna Melt (and Keep it Crispy)
Leftover tuna melts can be incredible, but only if you reheat them the right way…
Best methods:
- Air Fryer
Reheat until the bread is crispy again and the cheese is melty. If the top is browning too fast, set the sandwich in for a shorter burst, then check it and continue as needed. - Skillet
Warm it on medium-low heat so it heats through without burning. Cover the pan loosely for a minute to help the cheese melt, then uncover so the bread stays crisp.
Avoid:
-
Microwave
It heats the filling fast and steams the bread, so you lose the crunch that makes a tuna melt so good.
The Secret to a Non-Soggy Tuna Melt (Troubleshooting)
If you’re having trouble with your tuna melt, it tasted amazing but felt a little wet or soft, it almost always comes down to one thing: moisture. The goal is a creamy, moist filling but a crisp, buttery crust that stays sturdy all the way through.
Drain the tuna WELL
Tuna holds more water than you’d think. If you skip a thorough drain, that extra moisture releases as the sandwich heats up, and it steams the bread from the inside. Drain it super well, then press it lightly with the back of a spoon in the strainer or can so you’re starting with a drier base.
If you like more of a “fishy” flavor, don’t drain it as well, but add less mayo to the mixture to balance it.
The role of celery (it’s not just there to be “healthy”)
Celery adds crunch, but it also helps the tuna mixture feel lighter without needing extra mayo. That matters because a mayo heavy filling can slide as it warms, which adds to sogginess. Celery gives you texture and lift, so the filling feels creamy without turning wet.
Why the butter and oil combo keeps the bread from getting mushy
Butter brings flavor and that golden toast, but it can brown too fast. A little oil helps the bread toast evenly without scorching, so you get a crisp crust that acts like a barrier. That crisp outer layer is what protects the bread from the moisture in the tuna mixture.
Quick fixes if your tuna melt is still getting soggy
- Drain the tuna extra well
- Keep the heat at a steady medium so the bread has a chance to toast before the filling steams
- Use a little less filling per sandwich so the center heats through faster
- Let the first side get truly golden before you flip
