0 from 3 votes
The Ultimate Tuna Melt Recipe
Craving a delicious, warm, cheesy, toasty tuna melt? I’ve got you! My recipe has been perfected over the years, so it’s quick, easy, and hits all the right spots.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 412 kcal
Course:
Lunch
Cuisine:
North American
Ingredients
- 2 2 5-ounce cans of tuna see notes
- ½ ½ cup mayonnaise see notes
- ¼ ¼ cup chopped green onion
- 1 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 2 medium dill pickles diced - see notes
- 1 1 celery rib diced
- salt and pepper to taste - I like lots of pepper
- 2 2 tablespoons butter softened
- 8 8 slices bread see notes
- 4 4 slices cheddar cheese see notes
Instructions
- Drain the cans of tuna and then add it to a medium-sized bowl. Add the mayo, green onion, dijon, pickles, and celery and mix well. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Spread ½ tablespoon of butter over one side of each slice of bread.
- Turn the buttered sides down and then place a slice of cheese over four pieces of bread. Top with the tuna and finish with a slice of bread, buttered side facing up.
- Heat a large pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the sandwiches cheese side down, working in batches if needed.
- Cook until they are golden brown and then flip them over to cook on the other side. They are done when both sides are crispy and golden and the cheese has melted.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Note 1: I love this with water-packed, wild albacore tuna, but any tuna will work in this recipe. Just make sure the tuna you buy is pole and line caught.
- Note 2: I like the tuna to be really creamy, so I use a generous amount of mayonnaise. You can reduce the mayo to ⅓ cup if you'd like. Light mayo also works well.
- Note 3: Some tuna melt recipes call for Kewpie mayo, but I personally find it too sweet for this recipe. But if a little sweet sounds good to you, go ahead and use that instead of regular mayo.
- Note 4: Instead of dill pickles, I sometimes add pickled jalapeños, and it's SO GOOD!
- Note 5: If you're not using precut cheese slices, you may need a few slices for each sandwich.
- Note 6: I love making a tuna melt with sourdough Pullman bread. Pullman bread is perfectly square and great for sandwiches, but it can be tricky to find. If you have a favorite bread, go for that! Ideally, try to use bread that is not too thick.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1 tuna melt
Calories
412kcal
(21%)
Carbohydrates
31g
(10%)
Protein
24g
(48%)
Fat
21g
(32%)
Saturated Fat
8g
(40%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
5g
Monounsaturated Fat
5g
Trans Fat
0.3g
Cholesterol
62mg
(21%)
Sodium
994mg
(41%)
Potassium
267mg
(8%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
5g
(10%)
Vitamin A
442IU
(9%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
221mg
(22%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 412
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 tuna melt | |
| Calories | 412kcal | 21% |
| Carbohydrates | 31g | 10% |
| Protein | 24g | 48% |
| Fat | 21g | 32% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5g | 29% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Trans Fat | 0.3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 62mg | 21% |
| Sodium | 994mg | 41% |
| Potassium | 267mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 442IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 221mg | 22% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.