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6 Delicious Tuna Melt Variations
Tuna melts are one of those wonderfully simple comfort foods that can be turned into an entirely different sandwich with just a few extra ingredients.
A creamy tuna filling, crisp toasted bread, and melted cheese are the foundation. From there, you can take your tuna melt in a classic, spicy, Mediterranean, fresh, or extra-savory direction.
These six variations are easy enough for a quick lunch but satisfying enough for dinner.
Before You Start: A Simple Tuna Salad Base
For approximately 2 tuna melts, combine:
- 1 can tuna, about 5 ounces, drained
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon finely diced celery
- 1 tablespoon finely diced onion
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Mix everything together until combined.
If you prefer a creamier tuna salad, add another tablespoon of mayonnaise. For a lighter version, replace some of the mayonnaise with plain Greek-style yogurt.
Now comes the fun part.
1. Classic Cheddar Tuna Melt
You really can't go wrong with the original.
Ingredients
- Prepared tuna salad
- 4 slices sandwich bread
- 2 to 4 slices cheddar cheese
- Butter or mayonnaise for the outside of the bread
Directions
Spread the tuna salad evenly over two slices of bread.
Top each with cheddar cheese and place the remaining bread slices on top.
Lightly butter or spread mayonnaise on the outside of each sandwich.
Heat a skillet over medium-low heat.
Place the sandwiches in the skillet and cook for approximately 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese has melted.
For thicker sandwiches, cover the skillet for a minute or two to help the cheese melt without over-browning the bread.
Serve immediately.
Easy Upgrade
Add thinly sliced tomato beneath the cheese for a classic diner-style tuna melt.
2. Avocado Tuna Melt
Creamy avocado and tuna are a fantastic combination.
Ingredients
- Prepared tuna salad
- 4 slices sourdough or multigrain bread
- ½ avocado, thinly sliced
- 2 to 4 slices cheddar, Swiss, or provolone cheese
- Butter or mayonnaise for toasting
Directions
Spread tuna salad over two slices of bread.
Add avocado slices.
Top with cheese and the remaining bread.
Lightly coat the outside of each sandwich with butter or mayonnaise.
Toast in a skillet over medium-low heat until golden and crisp on both sides and the cheese has melted.
Tip
Add a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime over the avocado before assembling the sandwich.
The bright citrus cuts through the richness beautifully.
3. Spicy Sriracha Tuna Melt
For anyone who thinks a tuna melt needs a little attitude, this one brings the heat.
Ingredients
- Prepared tuna salad
- 4 slices bread
- 1 to 2 teaspoons sriracha, plus more for serving
- 2 to 4 slices pepper jack or cheddar cheese
- Thinly sliced jalapeño, optional
- Butter or mayonnaise for toasting
Directions
Stir the sriracha into the prepared tuna salad.
Spread the spicy tuna mixture over two slices of bread.
Add pepper jack or cheddar cheese.
Add sliced jalapeño if desired.
Top with the remaining bread.
Toast in a skillet over medium-low heat until both sides are golden brown and the cheese is melted.
Drizzle with additional sriracha before serving if you want even more heat.
Extra Flavor
A little chopped cilantro or green onion makes a great finishing touch.
4. Mediterranean Tuna Melt
This version takes the tuna melt somewhere a little brighter and more savory.
Ingredients
- Prepared tuna salad
- 4 slices sourdough or rustic bread
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup sliced black or Kalamata olives
- Thinly sliced cucumber
- Thinly sliced tomato
- 2 slices mozzarella or provolone, optional
- Dried oregano
- Black pepper
Directions
Spread tuna salad over two slices of bread.
Add cucumber, tomato, olives, and feta.
Sprinkle lightly with oregano and black pepper.
Add mozzarella or provolone if desired.
Top with the remaining bread.
Toast in a skillet over medium-low heat until the bread is crisp and golden.
If using a cheese that needs extra melting time, cover the skillet briefly while the sandwich cooks.
Serving Idea
Serve with a simple cucumber and tomato salad dressed with lemon juice and olive oil.
5. Caprese Tuna Melt
Tuna meets the classic combination of tomato, mozzarella, and basil.
The result is fresh, creamy, savory, and ridiculously good.
Ingredients
- Prepared tuna salad
- 4 slices sourdough or Italian bread
- 1 medium tomato, thinly sliced
- 4 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced
- Fresh basil leaves
- Black pepper
- Olive oil, optional
- Balsamic glaze, optional
Directions
Spread tuna salad over two slices of bread.
Add tomato slices, fresh mozzarella, and basil.
Sprinkle with black pepper.
Top with the remaining bread.
Toast over medium-low heat until the bread is golden and the mozzarella is melted.
Remove from the skillet.
If desired, drizzle lightly with olive oil or balsamic glaze before serving.
Tip
Pat the tomato slices with a paper towel before adding them to the sandwich.
This removes some excess moisture and helps prevent soggy bread.
6. Everything Bagel Tuna Melt
This one is for the everything-bagel lovers.
Instead of ordinary sandwich bread, use a toasted bagel for a heartier tuna melt with plenty of savory crunch.
Ingredients
- 1 plain or everything bagel
- Prepared tuna salad
- 1 to 2 slices cheddar, Swiss, or provolone
- 1 tablespoon cream cheese, optional
- Everything bagel seasoning
- Tomato slices, optional
- Avocado, optional
Directions
Slice the bagel in half.
Spread a thin layer of cream cheese over the cut sides if desired.
Add tuna salad.
Top with cheese.
Place the bagel halves on a baking sheet and broil until the cheese melts and the edges become lightly toasted.
Watch carefully because broilers can turn "perfectly golden" into "oops" remarkably fast.
Remove from the oven and sprinkle with additional everything bagel seasoning.
Add tomato or avocado if desired.
Serve warm.
More Tuna Melt Ideas
Once you've mastered the basics, there are plenty of ways to create your own combinations.
Try adding:
- Pickled jalapeños
- Pickles
- Relish
- Thinly sliced red onion
- Green onions
- Diced apples
- Celery
- Fresh herbs
- Capers
- Roasted red peppers
- Caramelized onions
- Spinach
- Arugula
- Sliced mushrooms
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Pepperoncini
- Banana peppers
You can also experiment with different cheeses.
Try:
- Cheddar
- Pepper jack
- Provolone
- Swiss
- Mozzarella
- Havarti
- Monterey Jack
- Gruyère
Best Bread for Tuna Melts
The bread matters more than you might think.
Good choices include:
- Sourdough
- Multigrain bread
- Rye
- Whole wheat
- Italian bread
- Ciabatta
- English muffins
- Bagels
Choose sturdy bread that can hold the filling without falling apart.
Very soft sandwich bread can work, but keep the tuna layer moderate so the sandwich doesn't become difficult to handle.
Butter or Mayonnaise for Toasting?
Both work.
Butter gives the bread a classic rich, buttery flavor.
Mayonnaise spreads easily and can produce beautifully browned toast.
You can even use a combination.
The important thing is to cook the sandwich over medium-low heat.
High heat can brown the bread before the cheese has a chance to melt.
How to Keep a Tuna Melt From Getting Soggy
A few simple tricks make a huge difference.
Drain the tuna well.
Excess liquid can make the filling watery.
Don't overload the sandwich.
More tuna isn't always better.
Pat juicy vegetables dry.
Tomatoes, cucumbers, and pickles can add a lot of moisture.
Use sturdy bread.
Sourdough and rustic breads are particularly good choices.
Cook over moderate heat.
This gives the cheese time to melt while the bread becomes crisp.
Serve immediately.
Tuna melts are at their absolute best when the bread is hot and crisp and the cheese is still gooey.
What to Serve With a Tuna Melt
Turn your sandwich into a complete meal with simple sides.
Try:
- Tomato soup
- Vegetable soup
- Pickle spears
- Simple green salad
- Cucumber salad
- Coleslaw
- Potato salad
- Fresh fruit
- Carrot sticks
- Celery sticks
- Roasted vegetables
- Sweet potato fries
- Regular fries
For a lighter meal, serve half a tuna melt with a large salad or bowl of vegetable soup.
A Little Lemon Makes a Big Difference
Tuna salad can be rich, especially when mayonnaise and cheese are both involved.
A little acidity helps balance everything.
Try adding:
- Fresh lemon juice
- Pickle juice
- Red wine vinegar
- Apple cider vinegar
- A few chopped pickles
You don't need much.
Start with a teaspoon and adjust to taste.
Make Your Tuna Melt Your Own
The beauty of a tuna melt is that it doesn't require a complicated recipe.
Start with tuna.
Add something creamy.
Add something crunchy.
Add cheese.
Add a little acidity or spice.
Toast it until the bread is crisp and the cheese melts.
That's it.
Once you have the basic formula down, your refrigerator becomes the recipe book.
And honestly, that's when tuna melts get really fun.
Recipe Notes
The amount of mayonnaise needed can vary depending on the tuna and your preferred texture. Start with less and add more as needed. For the best texture, drain canned tuna thoroughly and avoid adding too many watery ingredients to the filling.
Food safety note: Keep tuna salad refrigerated until you're ready to assemble the sandwiches. Refrigerate leftovers promptly and follow current food-safety guidance for storage and reheating.
