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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Nikki
Great tuna melt recipe! My family loved them and they want me to make them again on Sunday. I think I am going to do it.
MELANIE E
This sounds like a great recipe and one that would work well for lunch with a salad. I’ve never tried a tuna melt, hubby would love it!
Monidipa
Your recipe for tuna melt was fantastic! The combination of creamy tuna salad and melted cheese on toasted bread was simply mouthwatering. The instructions were clear, and the result was a delicious and satisfying meal. Can’t wait to make it again!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much! I am so glad that you liked the melts!
Christian Foremost
Wow, this looks delicious. I got hungry all of a sudden and I just ate dinner. Maybe I could go whip up a tuna melt real quick.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Christian! Enjoy!
Stephanie
Tuna melts are the best comfort foods! This sandwich was delicious and a recipe I will certainly make again.
Michael
Tuna melts are a classic in my household. This is a great twist on how we usually make them.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Michael! So glad that you enjoyed them!
Yeah Lifestyle
My mouth is already watering looking at your photos, it has all my favorite ingredients from tomatoes, tuna to cheese. This is going to be my ‘go to’ recipe
Khushboo
It looks really so yummy. My family will surely love it. I can’t wait to try it soon.
Tammy
I love a good tuna melt! Open faced sandwiches are my favorite. What a delicious meal for lunch or dinner during these hot months.
Beth Pierce
So true. It is finally cooling down here a bit.
Mosaic Art
Oh I love Tune Melt!!!! I can’t wait to make your recipe, it is very easy to follow and the sandwich looks delicious….
briannemanzb
This is the first time I made a Tuna melt sandwich and I’d say it was so good. My whole family loved it too. They gave it a 10 out of 10 recipe.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Brianne! So glad that they loved the melts!
Playdays and Runways
I do love a Tuna Melt and will be giving this recipe a try. Thanks for sharing it.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome! Enjoy!!
Tayler
This is my absolute favorite tuna melt recipe! It’s always turns out delicious!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Tayler!
Nancy
Super easy to make tuna melt. Great for busy weeknights
Kathleen
I love the addition of tomatoes and all the wonderful extras you put in your tuna. I will be making this Open faced tuna melt ASAP!
Shadi
This was such a hit! Thank you for the great recipe! Next time I am going to try provolone cheese.