Open Faced Tuna Melts {Broiled or Baked)

An Open Faced Tuna Melt is a blend of creamy tuna salad, gooey melted cheese and crunchy toasted bread. It’s perfect for an easy lunch or dinner and ready in only 15 minutes!

This isn’t just another hot sandwich recipe – it’s an easy crowd-pleaser that combines nostalgia with simplicity. The classic tuna salad is made with pantry basics and comes together in no time.

Then add a few fresh ingredients and crusty bread for a classic tuna melt. And this sandwich is easily adaptable so you can keep it simple or dress it up.

Tuna melts are a classic sandwich that you’ll find in retro diners, delis and sandwich shops. But did you know they are super easy to make at home? And sooo much cheaper if you need to save a little coin.

Even if you’re a fan of canned tuna, it can be hard to come up with new recipes outside of plain tuna salad. But this recipe is one that will really knock your socks off!

I think the key to an amazing tuna melt is in the bread selection. It also adds a nice crunch and brings all of the flavors together. Be sure to read further down because I’ve included some of my favorite breads for this sandwich.

If you’re looking for more retro-style sandwich recipes be sure to try old fashioned ham salad, baked Italian subs, loose meat sliders and patty melts – they’re sure to be new favorites!

Open Faced Tuna Melt Ingredients

• Tuna – I like to use tuna packed in water, either canned or in a pouch is fine. Remember to drain the excess liquid before you make the salad.
• Celery – this adds a little crunch, but you can also use celery seed if you just want the celery flavor.
• Mayonnaise – use more or less depending on how creamy you like your tuna melt.
• Lemon juice – I always recommend using fresh lemon juice. But if I don’t have fresh lemons on hand, I use Sicilia or Italia Garden lemon juice – it’s the next best thing. Look for it in the produce section of your local grocery store.
• Other ingredients – onion, fresh parsley, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, tomatoes, and butter.
• Bread – my favorite for this sandwich is sourdough bread, but look below for more options.
• Cheese – choose a good melting cheese like mozzarella, Havarti, cheddar, Swiss or Pepper Jack for a spicy kick.

How to Make Open Face Tuna Melt Sandwiches

Prepare the Tuna Salad

Add the drained tuna to a large bowl with the celery, onion and parsley. Stir in the mayo, mustard and lemon juice until thoroughly combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Assemble the Sandwiches

The assembly will vary slightly depending on whether you are broiling or baking your tuna melts. Basically it starts with toasting the bread, then adding the tuna salad mixture then cheese and tomato slices.

How To Cook Open Faced Tuna Melts

You can easily make this recipe in your oven by using the bake or broiler function. If you want to turn these into full-blown sandwiches with two slices of bread I recommend the baking method. For a true open face tuna melt broiling is the way to go.

Broiled Tuna Melts

Toast your bread slices on both sides using the broiler, then add the tuna salad and top with a slice of tomato and cheese. Return the baking sheet back to the broiler until the cheese melts. Make sure you keep a close eye on the oven so they don’t burn.

Baked Tuna Melt

Butter the bread and toast on a sheet pan in a 400 degrees F oven. Then add the tuna mixture, tomato, and cheese slice. Top with an additional slice of bread if desired. Bake until the cheese has melted.

Tips for Making Homestyle Tuna Melts

• To avoid a gloppy tuna salad, start with a lesser amount of mayonnaise and gradually add to it until you get the desired consistency. You’re looking for a creamy, but not runny, salad mixture.
• If broiling, don’t walk away from the oven. It’s easy to go from perfectly golden to burned in just seconds.
• If you don’t want to toast your bread in the oven, you can use the toaster.
• The tuna salad can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• Add chopped sweet or dill pickles to the salad mixture for more flavor and texture.
• For a spicy kick add a couple dashes of sriracha or your favorite hot sauce to the tuna salad.
• Try adding sliced avocado – place it on top of the tuna before adding the cheese slice.
• If you aren’t a fan of tomatoes, you can leave those off and your melt will still taste great.

The Best Bread for Tuna Melts

Anytime you have a sandwich with a creamy filling you want to use a hearty, good quality bread that is good for toasting and won’t get mushy from the filling. Sourdough is my go-to for this classic sandwich but you can also use ciabatta rolls, french, rye, or even English muffin halves.

What to Serve With Toasted Tuna Sandwiches

Go old school and serve them with pickle spears and homemade potato chips. If you’re looking for something more substantial, try our easy vegetable salad, fruit cocktail salad or a batch of our favorite pasta salad.

Originally published 3/12/21.