This Tuna Melt is an open-faced sandwich piled high with creamy tuna salad, fresh sun-ripened tomatoes, and tasty cheddar cheese. They are popped in the oven long enough to warm everything up and melt the cheese. I love to serve these with homemade French fries, potato chips, green salad, or carrot sticks.
This Tuna Melt sandwich is a true blast from the past and brings back such wonderful memories of my older sister making delicious lunches for us. I am pretty sure that she left off the tomatoes. Try tuna noodle casserole and tuna pasta salad if you like this recipe.
Kids don’t know what they are missing until their palates mature. Then they realize how good a sun-ripened tomato tastes. Please don’t leave off the tomato; it is integral to the final presentation and taste.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Tuna: I like albacore white tuna, but you can use any canned or vacuum-packed tuna
- Mayonnaise: My absolute favorite is Duke’s, but you can use your favorite brand. Or make it homemade.
- Mustard: I like the tangy flavor of Dijon, but regular yellow or spicy brown mustard also works well.
- Pickle relish: sweet or dill works depending on your flavor preference.
- Bread: any good, sturdy bread such as country white, rye, or pumpernickel.
How To Make a Tuna Melt
This is the summary version; see the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and the instructions.
- Combine the flaked tuna, mayo, sour cream, Dijon mustard, celery, red onion, pickle relish, parsley, dill weed, and black pepper.
- Toast each slice of bread until golden brown and lightly butter it. Spoon the tuna mixture evenly onto each bread slice. Top with thinly sliced tomatoes and shredded cheddar.
- Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the sandwich is warmed.
Preparation Tips
- Tuna is naturally salty, so additional salt is not needed in this recipe; however, a good helping of freshly ground pepper is always welcome.
- Are you always pressed for time? Make the tuna salad 1-2 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Skip shredding the cheese, and use sliced instead.
- If you have access to homegrown tomatoes, use them. They are so flavorful and take this sandwich to the next level.
- Top the sandwiches with fresh herbs like parsley, chives, dill, or tarragon. Or add avocado slices dipped in lemon juice.
Recipe Variations
- Spicy Pepper Jack: add finely minced jalapenos to the tuna salad and top the sandwiches with shredded pepper jack instead of cheddar.
- Bacon Swiss: top each sandwich with crispy cooked bacon and shredded Swiss in place of the cheddar.
- Pineapple Green Onion: replace the chopped red onion with snipped green onions and thin pineapple slices instead of the tomatoes.
What To Serve With Tuna Melts
Classic Tuna Melt Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 (7 ounce cans) albacore tuna packed in water – drained
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 stalk celery chopped
- 2 tablespoon finely chopped red onion
- ⅕ cup sweet pickle relish
- 1½ tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried dill weed
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 6 slices sourdough white, rye, whole wheat, or pumpernickel
- 12 thin slices tomato
- 1¼ cup shredded cheddar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Mix together tuna, mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, celery, red onion, pickle relish, and 1 tablespoon of parsley, dill, and black pepper.
- Lightly toast the bread. Divide the tuna evenly between the toast. Top each sandwich with 2 slices of tomato. Top evenly with shredded cheddar.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the sandwich has warmed. Serve promptly.
Notes
Nutrition
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Karen
This looks so so good!!! I love tuna Melt but I’ve never prepared it myself. I will do that over the weekend! I am soooo excited about it.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Karen! Enjoy!
Natasha M
My teenage boys love Tuna, and love melted cheese, so I knew this would a hit! They loved it. Thanks for the recipe!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Natasha! I am so glad that they liked it!
Samantha Donnelly
My daughter loves tuna and would love this, I know what to do for something different next time
Stephanie Anderson
Tuna melts are one of my fav sandwiches for lunch. This one was amazing with the gooey cheese and all the extra goodies added to the tuna salad. Even my picky kids loved the melts.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Stephanie! I am so glad that you liked it!
Ben
A good tuna melt is a thing of beauty. My Beefsteaks are just starting to come in, and they are definitely going on these sandwiches.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Ben! We love the tuna melts too!
Mary Ann
What a great open face sandwich! Reminded me of the delicious tuna melts my grandma made when I was a kid! Food can be so incredibly nostalgic. Thanks for the recipe!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Mary Ann!
Val
I love tuna melts and this one was outstanding. It reminded me of the great ones my mom made when I was a kid. Thank you for sharing!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Val!
William Colborn
I have never had tuna melt sandwiches. I have all the ingredients!!!
Beth Pierce
You should try them, William! They are delicious!
William West
This is an incredible recipe for tuna melts. It brought back lots of great memories of my Mom’s tuna melts. She was such a good cook.
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked it!
Caitlin
I love tuna melts! Your open faced tuna melt was delicious! I loved every bite. This is now on regular rotation at our house.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Caitlin!