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.
First, flake some albacore canned tuna in a medium bowl with a fork. Stir in the 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.
Now place in the oven for about 10-15 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the sandwich has warmed. These open-faced Tuna Melt sandwiches are best served promptly.
Preparations Tips
- Good sturdy bread is ideal for this sandwich. European White, whole wheat, Pumpernickel, Rye, and sourdough bread are great choices.
- 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, 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.
Best Tuna Melt Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 (7 ounce cans) albacore tuna packed in water – drained
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 stalk celery chopped
- 2 tablespoon finely chopped red onion
- 1/3 cup sweet pickle relish
- 1 1 /2 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 6 slices sourdough white, rye, whole wheat, or pumpernickel
- 12 thin slices tomato
- 1 1 /4 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
- Good sturdy bread is ideal for this sandwich. European White, whole wheat, Pumpernickel, Rye, and sourdough bread are great choices.
- 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, skip shredding the cheese, and use sliced instead.
- If you have access to homegrown tomatoes, use them. They are so full of flavor, and it will take this sandwich over the top.
- Top the sandwiches with fresh herbs like parsley, chives, dill, or tarragon. Or try avocado slices dipped in lemon juice.
Nutrition
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Katie
My sister loves tuna melts, so I definitely want to make these with her soon!
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
I love the layer of tuna salad then tomatoes and the gooey cheese on top. That’s a proper sandwich!
Sunrita
This is such a fantastic and delicious option from the regular tuna melt I am used to which is made just with mayonnaise and green onions. Will be making this soon. Love it!
Dannii
Oh this looks amazing – total comfort food. I am always looking for more sandwich ideas and I will definitely be giving this a try.
Adrianne
Your tuna melt sounds delicious and I love the little relish in there. Talk about homely, comforting and yum at the same time, this ticks all of my boxes. Can’t wait to make it!
Heather Johnson
DROOLING!!! That is the most perfect looking tuna melt I have ever seen! I can’t wait to make this.
Krissy Allori
I love a good tuna melt but I’ve never been able to make one as good as this!
Heidy
These Tuna Melts bring back memories from my childhood. My mom used to make them all the time. I haven’t had one in years, and I will make your recipe today for lunch!!! I am super excited to have this today!!!
Julia
I love open faced sandwiches, especially with toasted bread! Delicious!
Erin
This Tuna Melt looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
Sara Welch
I love all the different variations of a classic recipe; looking forward to enjoying this for lunch today! Looks too good to pass up!
Jen
Perfect lunch option for the weekend! Love that I have everything already to make it too.
Catalina
My kid will go crazy for sure over this! Looks amazingly delicious!
Cathy
We love tuna melts and this recipe takes them to the next level!
Amanda
This looks so full of flavor I cannot wait to try!
Kimberly
This looks sooo good! My whole family is going to love it!