Fancy Pants Tuna Melt Recipe: An Elevated Tuna Sandwich Recipe by Ann Marie Patitucci
According to legend (and a writer named Warren Bobrow), the tuna melt originated at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Charleston, S.C. Bobrow claims that around 1965, at the Woolworth’s on King Street, an order came in as follows: “I‘ll have a grilled cheese sandwich, white bread with a smear of mayo and slices of American cheese.” The “ladies” began work on his order and others when a freshly made tuna salad fell off a shelf and landed on the cooking grilled cheese below ... and the tuna melt was born! I suppose we can choose to believe the legend or not. Personally, I love the story! (Thank you, Woolworth’s!)
A tuna melt consists of some kind of tuna salad mixture topped with cheese that is melted between two slices of bread. There are often other toppings/layers inside the sandwich like tomatoes, pickles or a specialty mustard. These melted sandwiches are sometimes served open-faced. I happen to love avocados so I’m likely to add avocado slices to mine, though they are not exactly a traditional element.
Tuna melts are a common menu item at American dinners. There’s just something about that combo of toasty bread, soft tuna mixture and melted cheese. Good news, though! Tuna melts also easy to make at home. You can cook them on the stovetop or a griddle. Some tuna melt sandwich recipes even include using your broiler.
Tuna melts are great for lunch and even make a simple, light dinner. Bonus: if you end up with extra tuna mixture, you can store it in an airtight container stored in your refrigerator. When you’re ready to make another tuna melt, you’ll have the tuna mixture ready to go, making it even easier and quicker. There are many variations on the tuna melt recipe. Here’s a great one, with room to make it your own by adding different items under the cheese. Serve this hot tuna melts with the side dish of your choice: a salad, potato chips, fresh vegetables, etc.
Note: 30Seconds is a participant in the Amazon affiliate advertising program and this post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission or fees if you make a purchase via those links.
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons minced green onion
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon leaves (or 2 teaspoons dried tarragon, crumbled)
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper (just a pinch!)
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 2 cans (6 ounces each) solid white tuna, well drained and flaked
- 8 slices Italian loaf bread (or French or sourdough), sliced 1/2-inch thick
- 8 tomato slices, sliced thinly (optional)
- 1 cup grated sharp white cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
Helpful Products
Recipe Notes
- I prefer Hellmann’s Read Mayonnaise with olive oil.
- Try this recipe with canned salmon.
Here’s how to make it
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix the green onion, parsley, tarragon, lemon juice, lemon zest, Dijon mustard, black pepper and mayonnaise. Add the drained tuna. Use a fork to break up the tuna flakes and then combine all the ingredients.
- Cut eight slices of bread. Divide the tuna mixture evenly onto four bread slices. Top the four slices with cheese and tomato slices (or any other ingredients you’d like), if desired. Spread one side of the remaining four bread slices with butter. Place bread slices, buttered side up, on top of the cheese.
- Heat a large griddle or two skillets on medium heat. Place the sandwiches, buttered side down, onto the hot griddle/skillets. Gently spread butter on the bread slices on top. Cook for about 3 minutes, or until nicely browned on the bottom side.
- Use a sturdy spatula to lift up the sandwiches and carefully turn them to the other side. Cook for another 3 minutes or until the second side is also browned. Serve hot.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving
Calories: 446
Total Fat: 29.3g
Saturated Fat: 12.1g
Cholesterol: 78mg
Sodium: 486mg
Total Carbohydrate: 12.6g
Dietary Fiber: 0.7g
Total Sugars: 2.2g
Protein: 32.7g
Vitamin D: 7mcg
Calcium: 230mg
Iron: 2mg
Potassium: 420mg
Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. This recipe has been analyzed by VeryWellFit. However, any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.
Need to convert cooking and baking measurements? Here are some kitchen conversion charts. Here's how to submit your recipes to 30Seconds.
Take 30 seconds and join the 30Seconds community, and follow us on Facebook to get recipes in your newsfeed daily.
Related Products on Amazon We Think You May Like:
30Second Mobile, Inc. is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
join discussion