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
This Tuna Melt is so perfectly DELICIOUS and super easy to make recipe! It’s definitely not your classic 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
Serving:
Serves four. Though…if you have hungry eaters like I do, it could make 3 easy Tuna Melt recipes. 🙂
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 (for a lighter version, omit 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.
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. It’s a great trick to use when toasting bread on the stove top.
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 toasted brown. If so, turn the tuna melt over and grill the other side until it’s golden brown.
Switch it up…
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.
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 wala, 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. Do the same recipe as the above, except exchange the tomato slices for avocado. 🙂
Another really great idea for Tuna that I like to do for quick lunches for friends. 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 mixture on saltine crackers or bread.
Make it healthier. Use more tuna, less cheese. Don’t butter the bread, just use extra virgin olive oil. Here’s how that came out…
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 on the bottom of your feet.
It’ll pull out the metal in your body. I like to use a couple drops every day, whether I’m eating Tuna or not.
- 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.
Sarah, 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.
Oh, that’s awesome Sue! I’ll have to try it with coconut oil next time. 🙂 Great idea!
How much olive oil do you add to the Tuna mixture?
I’m guessing 2 Tablespoons because she says to put the 1 T. in pan before placing bread.
Hi 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
Have you found a certain brand that holds it better to this grilled sandwich? Looks like you have chosen a sourdough in your picture.
Avocado oil has also a higher heat point
Love your recipe , making it tonight but using avocado oil thank you
Hey 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.
Just really depends on what your favorite ingredients are or what you have on hand. Hard to say since everyone has different tastes.
Can I use a bit of cream of celery soup instead of celery? I don’t have any. And I only have cheddar cheese.
I would use celery salt rather than soup. Cheddar would be fine.
I love tuna melts! Just had one yesterday. I normally use gruyere but I’ll definitely try you’re recipe with mozzarella next time!
Just reading this made my mouth water. I will definetly try this in the future. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Absolutely Joanna. Hope you like it. 🙂
How much olive oil do I add to the tuna mixture. Thanks
3 Tablespoons
Yum! Now I’m hungry. I LOVE tuna melts, especially with tomato.
I 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!
Glad you like it Amber! 🙂
I use sharp cheddar instead of mozzarella
Oh my goodness, these are the best!!!!!!!
Glad you like it. 🙂
I use mayo on bread instead of oil; comes out great.
Sounds yummy. 🙂
I 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!
Yeah, 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
Also, use Skip jack tuna. It’s a small fish, so it has little mercury.
Try Safe Catch tuna. The company tests the mercury level of each fish before packing and does not pack those with high levels.
It’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!
Glad you liked it Jen. 🙂
Hi, 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.
About 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!
The 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
Still eats well without the sides crispy. 😉
How much tuna? Does not give a can size.
Just 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! 🙂
Hi 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.
Erin, 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.
There’s mercury in vaccines as well and it’s higher levels than tuna. Just so you know.
Does 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
Depends 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.
I added wasabi sauce. If you like wasabi, it makes the sandwich very good! Whole family enjoyed!!!
Thank you Tracy for the tip; I’ve not tried that. Glad your family liked it. 🙂
How 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.
For a growing teen boy, yeah, I’d double the recipe. 🙂
I 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!
I’m sure he will love it Emily. 🙂
That 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.
So glad your family liked it Sally! 🙂
This 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!
Glad you like it Sheryl. 🙂 mmmmm…..Monterey Jack…you’re making me hungry. 🙂
This 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!”
Glad you like it Melissa and good to see you making the recipe all your own! 🙂
My 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.
Absolutely Samra. So glad you like it. 🙂
I 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.
I 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.
You can also omit the onion. 🙂
Another great addition to a tuna melt is chopped dill pickle along with the sharp cheddar.
I 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!!
Glad you liked it Amanda. 🙂
I made a broccoli slaw to go with melt. Used provolone and cheddar. Fantastic.
How many tuna melts does this make!? I have three hungry boys!
It will depend on how much you fill within the sandwich, but with three hungry boys, I’d double the recipe at least. 🙂
This is “The” Perfect Tuna Melt!! My picky nine year old loved it too! Thanks for the awesome recipe! We will be making it often!☺
Absolutely Lori. So glad your little one ate it! YAY! 🙂
We 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.
Absolutely Melanie. So glad you liked it. 🙂
I am just wondering, what is the purpose of the olive oil being added to the mixture before you grill it?
Using 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!
I made these tonight for my family and friends – 9 of us total – and everyone loved them! I will definitely be making them again!
Wendy, I’m so glad you enjoyed the tuna melts. It’s one of my favorite quick meals to make! Thanks for sharing! <3
I love a good tuna melt and yours hit the mark! Thanks for sharing.
Deborah, I’m so glad you liked it. It’s one of the best ones I’ve ever had, too!
Hello, 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
Well I tried it with plain Greek yogurt and these were still delicious!
I think it’s great with you put your own spin on the recipes. I’m glad you enjoyed the tuna melt! <3
Delicious and easy to make .
Glad you like it Louise. 🙂
I use a little lemon juice in tuna mixture.
Can’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!
Absolutely. The tuna can size used in this recipe is 5 oz. You’ll need two of them. 🙂
I’d like to know how many sandwiches this makes. Also, will this cook the tuna thoroughly? I like my tuna really well done
It 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.
This looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it.
Miss sarah your recipe looks wonderful I always follow recipes to a tee if you don’t mind I don’t know what country you’re in but what kind of bread did you use it looks delicious please advise that is the kind I want specifically I don’t like substitutions thank you in advance!
I’m in the USA. 🙂 This time I used Breadsmith, but usually I use Seattle Sourdough Baking Bread (classic or waterfront). 🙂 Just a good “sturdy” bread will work. As long as it can hold up to the sandwich. I wouldn’t use regular, cheapy bread for this particular recipe.
Oh my goodness! I am hooked 🙂 At first I thought, “what, add olive oil and cheese to the tuna instead of butter the bread and add a slice of cheese “? I decided to try it…what a difference! I added green onion instead of onion and use red bell pepper instead of celery (I didn’t have celery which is a staple in my house…eek). I will make it this way forever! Thank you so much!
So glad you liked it. 🙂
Just made them…they were a winner..Thanks Sarah
So glad you liked it. 🙂
The.best.tuna.melt.evah!
would relish added to the tuna mixture be good?
It’s really a matter of taste, you could try it, but I don’t think it would do well with the melted cheese. It might be too many flavors.