This incredible The Perfect Tuna Melt comes together in about 20 minutes and is made right in a skillet for a quick and easy weeknight meal that your family will love! Switch up the ingredients to suit your taste or use it as a ‘clean out the fridge’ meal to get rid of those odds and ends left hanging around. Seriously, when it comes to comfort food, this is one of my go-to recipes, and I can’t wait to share it with you!
Ingredient Breakdown
- Two 5 ounce cans of drained tuna
- 1 medium-sized onion, chopped
- 1/2 stalk of celery, chopped
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon of fresh parsley, chopped
- 3-4 tablespoons of mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1/3 cup of shredded mozzarella
- 4 slices of bread
- Softened butter for grilling
- Salt and pepper to taste
How to Make The Perfect Tuna Melt
1. Prep the Ingredients (5 minutes)
Drain the water from the tuna and put it into a medium bowl. While you’re at it, you can chop the onion, celery, and parsley. Mince the garlic and toss everything into the bowl with the tuna.
2. Mix it Up (5 minutes)
Now it’s time to add in the mayo, olive oil, and shredded mozzarella. Combine all the ingredients until they’re well mixed. Just a couple pinches of salt and pepper and mix again. You want it creamy but not soupy, perfectly seasoned and delicious!
3. Heat the Pan (2 minutes)
Grab a non-stick skillet and place it on the stove over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. You’ll know it’s ready when it shimmers and smells amazing.
4. Assemble the Sandwich (3 minutes)
Take a slice of bread and generously spread butter on one side. Place the bread (buttered side down) in the hot skillet. Using a spoon, scoop about two tablespoons of that tasty tuna mixture on top of the bread while it’s browning!
5. Top it Off (4 minutes)
Butter another slice of bread and then place the non-buttered side on top of the tuna. You want a nice little sandwich going on!
6. Grill it Up (5-6 minutes)
Check that the bottom slice of bread is toasted and golden brown. Flip it over gently using a spatula, watch those cheesy gooey ways! Grill until the other side is perfectly golden too… it’s going to smell divine!
If you loved this tuna melt, be sure to check out my Easy Bang Bang Salmon!
Why This Recipe Works
Quick & Easy:
This dish comes together in under 20 minutes, so it’s perfect for those busy weeknight dinners! Seriously, you can almost make this faster than setting up for takeout.
Customizable:
The best part? You can absolutely use whatever ingredients you have on hand. Switch tuna for chicken, add in different veggies, or throw in some spices you love!
Comfort Food:
This tuna melt is loaded with tons of flavor, and each bite brings that warm, gooey comfort we all crave. It’s like a hug in sandwich form!
Kid-Friendly:
Your kids are going to flip for this! Not just because of the cheese, but they love helping put together the sandwich. Let them sprinkle in ingredients, and they’ll be excited to eat!
Serving and Storage Tips:
Serving Suggestions:
I love serving these tuna melts with a side of crispy chips or a fresh salad. You can also pair it with a bowl of tomato soup, classic combo that everyone loves!
How Long Tuna Melt Keeps:
These melts are best enjoyed fresh but if you have leftovers, they can be stored in the refrigerator for about 2-3 days.
Reheating Instructions:
To reheat, place the melts in a skillet over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes on each side to ensure they’re heated through without burning. You can also use an oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes, just make sure to cover it with foil to keep it moist!
Freezer Friendly:
I don’t recommend freezing these melts because the bread can get soggy once thawed. It’s best to eat them fresh!
Oh! And before I forget, you really can play around with this! I’ve made them with spicy jalapeños, or even added lots of herbs when I’m feeling fancy. Plus, my picky 8-year-old actually asked for seconds, which never happens! So go ahead and enjoy this recipe as much as I do, you won’t regret it!
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The Perfect Tuna Melt
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Description
A quick and easy tuna melt made right in a skillet, perfect for a weeknight meal.
Ingredients
- Two 5 ounce cans of drained tuna
- 1 medium-sized onion, chopped
- 1/2 stalk of celery, chopped
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon of fresh parsley, chopped
- 3–4 tablespoons of mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1/3 cup of shredded mozzarella
- 4 slices of bread
- Softened butter for grilling
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prep the ingredients: Drain the water from the tuna and chop the onion, celery, and parsley. Mince the garlic and combine with the tuna in a bowl.
- Mix it up: Add mayonnaise, olive oil, and mozzarella to the bowl, seasoning with salt and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Heat the pan: In a non-stick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat until shimmering.
- Assemble the sandwich: Spread butter on one side of a slice of bread and place butter side down in the skillet. Scoop about two tablespoons of the tuna mixture on top.
- Top it off: Butter another slice of bread and place it on top of the tuna mixture, non-buttered side facing down.
- Grill it up: Cook until the bottom bread slice is toasted and golden brown, then flip and cook until the other side is golden as well.
Notes
This tuna melt is best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat for 5 minutes on each side.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 55mg