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A close-up view of a person holding up a tuna melt sandwich that has been sliced in half.

Amazing Tuna Melt

Course: lunch, Sandwich
Cuisine: American
Keyword: comfort food, how to make a tuna melt
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 562kcal
It's time to take this iconic sandwich to heights you just can't imagine. It all starts with the Best-Ever Tuna Salad. Be sure to go with top-notch bread and cheese, and juicy red tomatoes. The rest comes together beautifully. Simple, straightforward, and unbelievably delicious!
Print Recipe

Equipment

  • 1 large skillet (12") preferably non-stick

Ingredients

  • 4 cups tuna salad click for recipe
  • 8 slices sourdough bread ¼" thick, or croissant bread
  • 8 slices cheddar cheese
  • 3 tomatoes sliced
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 tbsp unsalted butter softened

Instructions

Do Ahead

  • Prepare the tuna salad (link to full recipes in Ingredients list)
    4 cups tuna salad

Make the Tuna Melts

  • Build the sandwiches by starting with 1 bread slice. Add 1 slice of cheese, then about 1/2 cup of the tuna salad, then 1 or 2 slices of tomato, a pinch of salt and pepper, another slice of cheese, and topped with another slice of bread. Repeat to build 3 more sandwiches.
    8 slices sourdough bread, 8 slices cheddar cheese, 3 tomatoes, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Heat a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat and add 2 tbsp of the butter. Swirl until completely melted.
    8 tbsp unsalted butter
  • Carefully add 1 or 2 sandwiches into the hot skillet. Cook until lightly browned on the bottom, about 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Use a spatula to lift each sandwich from the skillet and place it on a cutting board. Carefully flip each sandwich over. Add more butter to the skillet. Once melted, use the spatula to place the sandwich in the skillet. Cook until nicely browned on the bottom, another 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the skillet and repeat with the remaining two sandwiches.
  • Cut in half and serve at once.

Notes

See the video near the top of the blog post for visual guidance. If you liked the video, please subscribe to our YouTube channel.
The tuna salad can be made up to 3 days in advance. The recipe can be doubled or tripled, easily. The salad can be frozen for up to 2 months. 
 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 562kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 1001mg | Potassium: 401mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1809IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 323mg | Iron: 5mg