Easy Tuna Melt Recipe - Jo Cooks (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Filled with delicious tuna salad, a layer of cheddar, and fresh sliced tomato this Tuna Melt is baked to perfection in the oven until the cheese is perfectly melted and the bread is crispy golden brown. It’s the ultimate hot sandwich that makes a fantastic easy lunch or dinner!

The Best Tuna Melt Recipe

No matter where you are from, I think most of us grew up eating some variation of a simple tuna salad sandwich. For me, even now it’s one of my favorite meals to throw together for a quick lunch or dinner.

Now, just imagine taking a simple tuna sandwich to the next level. The Tuna Melt is basically just a scrumptious extension of the already delicious classic. Sort of like a fancy grilled cheese, but layered with yummy tuna salad, it’s cheesy on the inside and crispy on the outside. You can cook them in a skillet, but I actually like to bake mine in the oven. I have found that baking them is a tad bit healthier and also toasts them perfectly.

And this recipe takes very little effort and can quickly be made in just 15 minutes! Or, you can prep the sandwiches the night before. They make a healthy complete meal when served with a side of Air Fryer French Fries, a Ceasar Salad, or a bowl of Roasted Tomato Soup.

• Tuna – You will want to use either albacore or chunk white tuna canned in water.
• Mayonnaise – Regular or light mayo is perfect, but you can use greek yogurt too if you prefer.
• Lemon Juice – Use freshly squeezed lemon juice to add a nice touch of acid.
• Celery – Adds a nice refreshing crunch to the tuna salad.
• Green Onions – Also called scallions, adds the perfect hint of onion.
• Parsley – Use fresh chopped parsley for the best herb flavor, but dry works too if that’s all you have on hand.
• Seasonings – Salt and ground black pepper help meld all the flavors together.
• Bread – You can use any type of sandwich bread you like. Just make sure the slices are not too thin so that the sandwich holds together well.
• Butter – You need softened butter to spread on the bread so it bakes to golden brown and crispy.
• White Cheddar – I like to use cheddar, but any type of sliced cheese that melts well will work.
• Tomato – Fresh sliced tomato adds a bit of freshness and another layer of flavor. This is optional, especially if you don’t like tomatoes.

This is a 2-step recipe that takes just about 15 minutes to make! First, you need to make the tuna salad, which whips together in no time. Then build the simple sandwiches and pop them in the oven to bake. It’s not complicated at all and how to make tuna melts is surprisingly both quick and easy!

Preheat The Oven

First, preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) so that it is already hot once your sandwiches are assembled. You don’t want to waste any time waiting for the oven. You also don’t want to put them into an oven that isn’t hot enough and not have them properly toast.

Make The Tuna Salad

Before you can even start building the sandwich you need to make the tuna salad. Put the drained tuna in a medium size bowl and flake it up with a fork. Next add the mayonnaise, lemon juice, celery, green onion, parsley, salt, and pepper. Then mix all the ingredients together until they are fully combined.

Butter The Bread

To help the tuna melt bake to golden brown perfection you’ll need to butter the bread. So take all the bread and evenly spread the softened butter on one side of each of the slices. Again, butter just one side, not both. Then place 4 slices of the bread buttered side down on a sheet pan.

Assemble The Tuna Melt

You’ve got the salad made and bread ready, so it’s time to start building the tuna melts. Begin by topping the 4 slices of bread on the baking sheet with a quarter of the tuna salad followed by 2 slices of cheddar cheese and if you wish, tomato slices. Then top the 4 assembled open-faced sandwiches with the remaining 4 slices of bread with the buttered side up.

Bake And Serve

This is where the sandwiches turn into tuna melts! Transfer the baking sheet into the hot oven and bake the sandwiches for about 5 to 8 minutes or until the cheese melts. You want to check them at 5 minutes because some ovens bake faster than others and you don’t want the sandwiches to burn.Serve them with a tossed salad or potato chips.

What Can I Add To My Tuna Melt?

This tuna melt recipe is delicious just as it is, but you can totally doctor it up if you like by adding some cooked bacon, grilled onions, or even avocado. You can also add more ingredients to the tuna mixture itself like chopped pickles, red onion, capers, and olives or fresh herbs like dill and tarragon.

Can I Substitute The Mayo?

Yes! If you don’t want to use the mayonnaise, you can easily use Greek yogurt, mashed avocado, or hummus in its place.

Can I Grill The Tuna Melt?

Yes! You can cook the sandwiches in a skillet over medium on the stove just like grilled cheese. However, I do recommend cooking them in a nonstick pan on medium heat.You can also grill them on a panini maker.

Storing Leftovers

Already cooked tuna melts will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. However, they don’t tend to freeze well. To reheat, put the sandwiches in the oven at 350°F (177°C) on a sheet pan for about 10 minutes.

Make Ahead

This recipe for tuna melts is easy to prep ahead of time and there are a few different ways to do it. You can make the tuna salad up to 2 days in advance, then assemble the melts, and bake the sandwiches the day you want to serve. Another possible option is to fully assemble the sandwiches the night before, cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap, and keep them in the fridge until you are ready to bake.

Other Delicious Sandwiches To Try

• Croque Monsieur
• Reuben Sandwich
• Ham And Cheese Sliders
• Italian Sub Sandwich
• Hawaiian Ham And Cheese Stromboli