Open Faced Tuna Melt is the ultimate sandwich for all you tuna lovers! Serving them open faced is an easy way to make them healthier and cut the calories.
Tuna Melt
Diner comfort food just got a makeover! This classic tuna melt has the perfect amount of crunch, melty cheddar cheese, and veggies. Melts are one of my favorite types of lunch sandwiches. If you love a hot sandwich, you should also try these Open-Faced Turkey Melts and Egg and Tomato Breakfast Melts. If you want a cold sandwich, definitely check out my Open Faced Tuna Sandwich with Avocado.
When I was a kid, my mom owned a luncheonette where she was the cook. She would often make me a tuna melt, which I loved! Tuna is such an easy protein since it requires very minimal prep work – just open up the can and drain. If you want to turn tuna into a larger meal, we love our homemade tuna casserole.
Are tuna melts good for you?
Adding veggies to your tuna and serving it open-faced makes this classic sandwich healthier and lighter! By using only one slice of bread, you cut the carbs in half. For a more low-carb tuna melt, try these tomato tuna melts.
Use your favorite whole grain bread – I love Dave’s Killer Bread. It’s organic, non-GMO, and tastes great. Another good option would be to use homemade bagels instead of sandwich bread.
How To Make Tuna Salad
There are so many ways to make tuna salad, but this recipe is my go-to. Start with a can of tuna, drain it, and mix in mayonnaise, chopped red onion, celery, carrots, and a little red wine vinegar. The vinegar gives it a little zing that makes it delicious!
Tips to make this quicker:
To speed up the prep time, I love using my Cuisinart 4-cup mini food processor (affil link), I put the carrots, celery, and onion in and pulse a few times, which saves a lot of time.
What sides go with tuna melts?
This healthy tuna melt is excellent on its own, but you can definitely add a side if you want to round out the meal. You could serve your tuna sandwich with a green salad or a cup of soup. This Tomato Basil Soup or French Onion Soup would be delish. You could also serve it with potato salad or a dill pickle.
Variations:
- Swap the whole grain bread for bagels, sourdough, English muffins, or whatever you have on hand.
- Use another cheese like Swiss or gouda in place of the cheddar.
How To Make a Tuna Melt Sandwich
More Canned Tuna Recipes
- Tuna Casserole
- Tomato Tuna Melts
- Mayo-less Tuna Macaroni Salad
- Italian Tuna and Brown Rice Salad (Riso e Tonno)
- Chickpea Tuna Salad
Open-Faced Tuna Melt Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4.5 ounce can tuna (in water), drained
- 1/4 cup carrots, minced
- 1/4 cup minced celery
- 1 tbsp red onion, minced
- 1 tbsp light mayonnaise, Hellman's Light
- 1 tsp red wine vinegar
- salt and pepper
- 2 slices whole wheat bread
- 2 slices 2% reduced fat cheddar or American cheese
- 2 slices tomato
- oil spray, I used my Misto
Instructions
- Combine tuna, celery, carrots, onion, mayonnaise, vinegar, salt and pepper.
- Heat a large skillet over low heat.
- Spray skillet with oil, and place two slices of bread on top.
- Top bread with cheese, then tuna salad and tomato. Cook on low heat until cheese melts and bread gets toasty.
- Serve immediately.
