My daughter is obsessed with tuna. I will buy 10-20 cans when it goes on sale, put some at the tip top of the pantry, and somehow they always disappear by time I go to make this delicious Tuna Melt.
THIS TIME, I hid some in an undisclosed location (a locked safe. HA!) and was able to make this perfect Tuna Melt. It’s 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 or for that lunch date with your friends.
The Perfect Tuna Melt
Ingredients:
- Tuna, 2 x 5-oz cans, drained
- Onion, medium size, chopped
- Celery, 1/2 a stalk, chopped
- Garlic (1 clove), minced
- Parsley, 1 tablespoon, chopped
- Mayonnaise, 3-4 tablespoons
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 3 tablespoons, divided
- Mozzarella, 1/3 cup, shredded
- Bread, sliced
- Butter, softened
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Directions:
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, and mozzarella cheese. Combine all ingredients until well incorporated. Salt and pepper to taste.
Step 4: Place a non-stick skillet on the stove 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.
Step 5: Place the bread (buttered side down) in the hot skillet. Be sure to keep the temp at a consistent heat (I burned the last two of these! LOL)
Step 6: Using a spoon, scoop about 2 tablespoons of tuna salad 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 toasted brown. If so, turn the tuna melt over and grill the other side until it’s golden brown.
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- Tuna, 2 x 5oz cans, drained
- Onion, medium size, chopped
- Celery, ½ a stalk, chopped
- Garlic (1 clove), minced
- Parsley, 1 tablespoon, chopped
- Mayonnaise, 3-4 tablespoons
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 3 tablespoons, divided
- Mozzarella, ⅓ cup, shredded
- Bread, sliced
- Butter, softened
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 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.
Sue says
October 12 at 9:55 pmSarah, I made your tuna melt the other day and it was delicious! The only suggestion I might offer is that I used a cast iron grill pan
and used organic coconut oil instead of olive oil. I still buttered the bread and I added some parmesan cheese to the outside but when you cook it in coconut oil it has a higher heat point so it won’t burn. Instead, you get a crispy outside that looks fantastic. Anyway, I had never made one before and yours was absolutely delicicious! I even put pictures on my Facebook page of it lol.
Sarah Titus says
October 12 at 10:02 pmOh, that’s awesome Sue! I’ll have to try it with coconut oil next time. 🙂 Great idea!
Rikki says
November 20 at 8:30 amHow much olive oil do you add to the Tuna mixture?
Maria says
March 13 at 11:22 pmI’m guessing 2 Tablespoons because she says to put the 1 T. in pan before placing bread.
Anonymous says
January 5 at 8:36 amHi Sarah,
Your pic of your Tuna melt sandwich is amazingly beautiful ! Looks so delicious! I’m trying your recipe ASAP!
Thanks for sharing!
GV of Denver, CO
Phyl says
August 19 at 3:15 pmHave you found a certain brand that holds it better to this grilled sandwich? Looks like you have chosen a sourdough in your picture.
mrssnow1 says
October 22 at 12:10 amHey Sue – thanks for the additional tips – and Sarah, I’m definitely going to try this – tuna melts are one of my favorite meals and I tend to cook with coconut oil too. Definitely doesn’t hurt to try a perfect tuna melt. Is there a type of canned tuna or brand you prefer? Also curious what kind of bread you find works best.
Sarah Titus says
October 22 at 9:42 pmJust really depends on what your favorite ingredients are or what you have on hand. Hard to say since everyone has different tastes.
Sarah says
March 13 at 7:03 pmCan I use a bit of cream of celery soup instead of celery? I don’t have any. And I only have cheddar cheese.
Maryann says
January 16 at 12:40 amI would use celery salt rather than soup. Cheddar would be fine.
Joanna says
March 20 at 12:53 amJust reading this made my mouth water. I will definetly try this in the future. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Sarah Titus says
March 20 at 5:37 amAbsolutely Joanna. Hope you like it. 🙂
Rikki says
January 15 at 3:07 pmHow much olive oil do I add to the tuna mixture. Thanks
Sarah Titus says
January 15 at 4:34 pm3 Tablespoons
Katie says
March 31 at 3:34 pmYum! Now I’m hungry. I LOVE tuna melts, especially with tomato.
Amber says
July 1 at 2:08 pmI just made this for lunch and it is the best tuna melt I’ve ever had! Thanks for the great recipe it’s definitely a keeper!
Sarah Titus says
July 1 at 2:27 pmGlad you like it Amber! 🙂
Greg says
September 5 at 1:34 amI use sharp cheddar instead of mozzarella
Septemberqueen says
September 14 at 12:51 pmOh my goodness, these are the best!!!!!!!
Sarah Titus says
September 14 at 3:22 pmGlad you like it. 🙂
Beverly says
October 28 at 7:28 pmI use mayo on bread instead of oil; comes out great.
Sarah Titus says
October 28 at 11:13 pmSounds yummy. 🙂
Nancy Moore says
November 21 at 5:15 pmI LOVE tuna, and tuna melts. I’m vegan now, but I may make an exception. I’ll use gluten free bread, fake cheese, and real tuna. What I wanted to tell you is that I hope your daughter doesn’t eat so much tuna these days. It’s really not safe with all the Mercury it contains. I’m sorry, but it’s really not. Mercury is the cause for Alzheimers and Autism, as well as many other problems. All the best to you!
Sarah Titus says
November 23 at 12:03 amYeah, we definitely keep that in mind here. I don’t let her eat a ton of it. 🙂 I also use Cilantro essential oil as a detox for Mercury, which helps a lot. Thank you for looking out for us. <3
Anonymous says
January 5 at 5:40 pmAlso, use Skip jack tuna. It’s a small fish, so it has little mercury.
Pamela says
February 16 at 6:27 amTry Safe Catch tuna. The company tests the mercury level of each fish before packing and does not pack those with high levels.
Jen says
November 27 at 4:04 amIt’s the middle of the night, but my stomach woke me up, screaming, “Feed me!” (I only ate a sandwich today, period.) I wanted to distract myself, so I got online .. and found this recipe! LOL! So, I made this sandwich. Oh man, it was good! I went down to one can, 1/2 onion, and didn’t have any celery or parley, although I bet that would have made it even better. Still, MAN THIS WAS GOOD! Gosh, if you’re reading this, try it. It was so good, I can’t wait to share this with my 18 year old daughter. Thank you for sharing!
Sarah Titus says
November 28 at 8:38 amGlad you liked it Jen. 🙂
Michelle says
December 3 at 5:08 pmHi, I’d like to try your tuna melt recipe, I’ve heard of tuna melts, I’ve never had one, but we are desperate for something different. What might go great as a side? Then again, tuna is pretty filling so a side may not be needed huh?
Well thanks for sharing, I’ve pinned this tuna melt recipe, and will make it.
Robbie Bryant says
April 4 at 9:37 pmAbout 40 years ago I went to lunch at a little up scaled place. I ordered the soup and sandwich of the day. It turned out to be a tuna melt and french onion soup. Needless to say, my lunch was outstanding!
Teeda says
January 6 at 11:06 pmThe picture looks soooo good. I just wonder how you got the crust on all sides so crispy. I always try to do it like the pic and it never turns out this way, lol
Sarah Titus says
January 7 at 1:17 amStill eats well without the sides crispy. 😉
Judy says
January 7 at 6:13 pmHow much tuna? Does not give a can size.
Sarah Titus says
January 7 at 6:26 pmJust the regular size cans. I would get the oz for you, but my daughter ate them all…again. lol. Good thing I only bought 3 cans this time! 🙂
Erin says
January 7 at 10:36 pmHi Sarah- your tuna melt recipe sounds yummy. Forgive me if this is intrusive but please make sure your daughter isn’t consuming too much tuna per week. There are serious concerns with mercury buildup in your blood stream from eating too much canned tuna. You can find a lot of information on the internet.
Sarah Titus says
January 7 at 10:42 pmErin, thank you for letting me know. Yeah, I watch that with her very closely. Most of the time, we buy the pouches, which I think is healthier than canned. We also don’t purchase the Albacore tuna (which is higher in Mercury), but the regular chunk tuna. 🙂 Thanks again.
Denise says
January 9 at 4:08 pmDoes this recipe make 2 sandwiches? I can’t wait to make them my husband isn’t so sure but I think he’s even gonna like them, right? Lol
Sarah Titus says
January 9 at 4:37 pmDepends how much filling you put in your sandwiches. I personally make 3, because I’m a single mom with two kids. 🙂 Yeah, I think he’d like it.
Tracy says
January 22 at 5:17 pmI added wasabi sauce. If you like wasabi, it makes the sandwich very good! Whole family enjoyed!!!
Sarah Titus says
January 23 at 6:28 pmThank you Tracy for the tip; I’ve not tried that. Glad your family liked it. 🙂
Tess says
January 28 at 11:40 amHow many melts will this recipe make? I’m cooking it for two adults and a growing teen boy. Should I double any ingredients? Sounds absolutely delicious and I can’t wait to make it.
Sarah Titus says
January 29 at 2:06 amFor a growing teen boy, yeah, I’d double the recipe. 🙂
Emily Arnold says
February 2 at 1:37 pmI am a very senior senior. Do everything myself, and momentum is what keeps me going! Anyway, I just printed out The Perfect Tuna Melt and will try it out on my husband who just loves melts. His favorite at the present is Reuben, and I know this one will be right up there on top too. I may, on my second try, make it on my OptiGrill if that looks feasible. Please wish me luck!
Sarah Titus says
February 2 at 8:07 pmI’m sure he will love it Emily. 🙂
Sally says
March 10 at 3:34 amThat tuna melt, I have to say was so good. My son said, “Mom, where did you get that at? It was the bomb.” I love to hear my kids so happy. Thank you.
Sarah Titus says
March 10 at 7:28 amSo glad your family liked it Sally! 🙂
Sheryl says
March 16 at 5:05 pmThis really is the BEST tuna melt. The only thing I do different is press 2 garlic cloves rather than mince 1 garlic clove. If you love garlic, it really adds a superb flavor to the tuna. Also, if I don’t have mozzerella, I use Monterey Jack which melts beautifully!
Sarah Titus says
March 16 at 6:56 pmGlad you like it Sheryl. 🙂 mmmmm…..Monterey Jack…you’re making me hungry. 🙂
Melissa says
March 22 at 11:30 amThis was terrific! I left out the olive oil and used 2T of fresh lemon juice. Thanks for a great lunch! My hubby was super excited about it too! Definitely my new “go-to!”
Sarah Titus says
March 22 at 2:22 pmGlad you like it Melissa and good to see you making the recipe all your own! 🙂
Samra says
April 16 at 5:04 pmMy husband is not a fan of tuna but when I made this sandwich, he kept on asking for more. He now loves it so much that he asks for this as breakfast every now and then. I love it too…. very easy to make and even if you omit some of the ingredients, it is still nice. Thanks for this yummy recipe.
Sarah Titus says
April 16 at 5:26 pmAbsolutely Samra. So glad you like it. 🙂
Haven says
April 20 at 11:00 amI love these. Of course I had to modify as I don’t like celery, but I love pickle relish in my tuna…I also added an American single cheese slice.
It was an ooey gooey tuna grilled cheese. So good.
T Brown says
May 24 at 5:08 pmI tried this, and while very yummy I was overwhelmed by raw onion. Next time I will rinse the onion before adding it to the mix.
Sarah Titus says
May 25 at 1:08 amYou can also omit the onion. 🙂
Linda says
May 25 at 11:59 pmAnother great addition to a tuna melt is chopped dill pickle along with the sharp cheddar.
Amanda says
August 22 at 5:05 pmI just made this and it was my first ever tuna melt. It was amazing!! I used marble cheese cuz that’s all I had and so good!!
Sarah Titus says
August 22 at 8:01 pmGlad you liked it Amanda. 🙂
Wayde says
October 18 at 7:07 pmI made a broccoli slaw to go with melt. Used provolone and cheddar. Fantastic.
Lori Ames says
October 19 at 12:06 amHow many tuna melts does this make!? I have three hungry boys!
Sarah Titus says
October 19 at 3:36 amIt will depend on how much you fill within the sandwich, but with three hungry boys, I’d double the recipe at least. 🙂
Lori Servia says
November 9 at 3:49 pmThis is “The” Perfect Tuna Melt!! My picky nine year old loved it too! Thanks for the awesome recipe! We will be making it often!☺
Sarah Titus says
November 9 at 4:55 pmAbsolutely Lori. So glad your little one ate it! YAY! 🙂
Melanie says
January 16 at 7:08 pmWe made this tonight and it was delicious! I did not use the olive oil and just butter to toast the bread! I also did green onions in place of regular ones. I did used gluten free Canyon House bread and it was really good! Thanks for the recipe.
Sarah Titus says
January 17 at 5:53 amAbsolutely Melanie. So glad you liked it. 🙂
Dee Dee Puddy says
January 18 at 2:10 pmI am just wondering, what is the purpose of the olive oil being added to the mixture before you grill it?
Sarah Titus says
January 18 at 3:54 pmUsing Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a little bit healthier than using just butter. You still want to use butter, for the flavor aspect, but it helps you not have to use as much butter. I hope you enjoy the recipe, Dee Dee!
Wendy says
February 16 at 6:04 pmI made these tonight for my family and friends – 9 of us total – and everyone loved them! I will definitely be making them again!
Sarah Titus says
February 19 at 8:24 amWendy, I’m so glad you enjoyed the tuna melts. It’s one of my favorite quick meals to make! Thanks for sharing! <3
Deborah Johnson says
April 8 at 12:50 pmI love a good tuna melt and yours hit the mark! Thanks for sharing.
Sarah Titus says
April 9 at 9:53 amDeborah, I’m so glad you liked it. It’s one of the best ones I’ve ever had, too!
Cass says
April 14 at 10:45 pmHello, can I sub the mayo out and use plain Greek yogurt? If not, any other substitutes for mayo? I’m not a fan of it! Thank you
Cass says
April 15 at 11:48 amWell I tried it with plain Greek yogurt and these were still delicious!
Sarah Titus says
April 15 at 1:04 pmI think it’s great with you put your own spin on the recipes. I’m glad you enjoyed the tuna melt! <3
Louise Furstenburg says
July 31 at 7:15 amDelicious and easy to make .
Sarah Titus says
July 31 at 9:14 amGlad you like it Louise. 🙂
Sharon says
August 29 at 10:25 amI use a little lemon juice in tuna mixture.
Pete says
October 20 at 6:43 pmCan’t wait to try this. Not sure if you have standard size cans over there but when I visited the supermarket (down under) there was a huge variety of sizes. Can you elaborate? Thanks for a great recipe!
Sarah Titus says
October 23 at 6:27 pmAbsolutely. The tuna can size used in this recipe is 5 oz. You’ll need two of them. 🙂
Sarah says
February 12 at 7:56 pmI’d like to know how many sandwiches this makes. Also, will this cook the tuna thoroughly? I like my tuna really well done
Sarah Titus says
February 13 at 2:42 amIt will depend on how much you fill within the sandwich. For cooking it thoroughly, I would cook on a lower heat for longer, or cover the pan with a lid while cooking so the steam cooks it better.
Lisa G says
March 16 at 8:23 amThis looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it.