Tuna Melt

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This classic Tuna Melt recipe takes just 10 minutes to make with perfectly seasoned tuna salad, melted cheese, and golden toasted bread for the ultimate comfort food sandwich.

This Tuna Melt is here to fix your lunch.

I've been making this tuna melt for years and I love how it transforms simple pantry staples into something that feels indulgent. It's become my go-to for those days when I need something super quick for dinner, or want a fun and different lunch. Plus, my kids actually get excited about it, which is a win in my book.

You can meal prep the tuna salad ahead or make it fresh in the moment.

Don't miss my other sandwich recipes, like Sloppy Joes, Patty Melt, Air Fryer Grilled Cheese, Meatloaf Sandwich, Cuban Sandwich, or Pizza Sliders!

How to make a Tuna Melt Sandwich:

Make Tuna Salad: Mix tuna, onion, mayo, lemon juice, oregano, salt, and pepper in a bowl until well combined.

Assemble Sandwich: Butter the outside of each bread slice. On the inside, spoon some tuna salad on the bread then top with cheese, avocado, and/or a tomato. Add another slice of cheese and place the bread on top.

Cook: In a heated skillet over medium-low, cook sandwich until cheese is melted and bread is toasted, flipping once.

Tips for a perfect Tuna Melt:

• Use High Quality Tuna: White Albacore tuna, packed in water, is my preferred choice for tuna melts. The higher quality the tuna, the tastier the sandwich, so don't go cheap here. I like Wild Planet or Whole Foods 365 brand.
• Drain Well! Be sure to drain the can of tuna really well before making the filling. This will help you avoid a strong “fishy” flavor that no one likes in their tuna melt sandwich.

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Tuna Melt

Author: Lauren Allen

Learn how to make the best Tuna Melt sandwich in just 10 minutes with seasoned flaky tuna, creamy mayo, melted cheese, and perfectly toasted bread. It's quick and easy and protein-packed.

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 5 minutes mins

Total: 10 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Equipment

• Pan
• Mixing bowl

Ingredients 

US CustomaryMetric

 

0.5x1x2x?

• ▢ 12 ounces canned albacore white tuna, packed in water, , drained
• ▢ 1/3 cup mayonnaise, , more to taste (or substitute half mayo, half plain Greek yogurt)
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons finely chopped red onion
• ▢ 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• ▢ pinch Dried oregano
• ▢ salt and pepper, , to taste
• ▢ 4 slices thick cut white sandwich bread
• ▢ 4 slices cheese, , cheddar, provolone, swiss, or your fav kind
• ▢ sliced avocado, , optional
• ▢ sliced tomato, , optional

Instructions 

• Season tuna: In a medium bowl, combine tuna, mayonnaise, onion, lemon juice, and oregano and stir until thoroughly combined. Add more mayo if you want mixture wetter. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  12 ounces canned albacore white tuna, packed in water, ⅓ cup mayonnaise, 2 Tablespoons finely chopped red onion, 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, pinch Dried oregano, salt and pepper
• Assemble: Butter outsides of bread slices. Layer tuna mixture on inside portion of bread. Add cheese, desired toppings, then another piece of cheese and top with bread.
  4 slices thick cut white sandwich bread, 4 slices cheese, sliced avocado, sliced tomato
• Toast: Heat a skillet over medium-low heat. Add sandwiches and cook until bottom bread is toasted, and cheese is warm. Flip and cook on the other side until bread is toasted and cheese has melted.

Notes

Tuna: Choose high quality canned tuna. White Albacore tuna, packed in water, is my preferred choice for tuna melts. Be sure to drain really well before making the filling. 

Cheese: Use your favorite kind of cheese–pepper jack, American, or any kind will work!

Bread: Wheat, white, sourdough, rye, beer bread, or even crusty artisan bread.

Toppings: Keep it simple with tuna and cheese or jazz it up by adding tomato, avocado, bacon, sprouts, jalapeños or hot sauce for a spicy tuna melt.

Open Face: Leave out the top layer of bread and broil in the oven as an open-face tuna melt.

Air Fryer Tuna Melt: Air fry at 370 for 2-3 minutes on each side, until the cheese is melted.

Tuna Melt Wrap: Add tuna mixture and cheese to a tortilla and fold like a burrito. Cook on a skillet over medium heat until toasted on all sides and the cheese is melted.

Make Ahead Instructions: The tuna filling can be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge. This makes for an even quicker lunch!

Storage Instructions: Keep the tuna mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 276kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 19g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.05g, Cholesterol: 39mg, Sodium: 436mg, Potassium: 193mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 65IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 76mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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*I originally shared this recipe in August 2014. Updated May 2019, May 2022 and February 2026.