This toasted tuna and cheese sandwich (aka The Tuna Melt) is the perfect combination of a creamy tuna salad sandwiched between toasted bread.
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If you follow my blog at all, you know that I LOVE a good sandwich. Sandwiches that are sweet & savory like this Monte Cristo Breakfast sandwich. A Roast Beef sandwich that is anything but ordinary. Or simple Cream Cheese Sliders that everyone will love.
So when I wanted to recreate a tuna sandwich that’s toasted just like one from an area restaurant, I didn’t think it would be that hard. Wrong. Something that this restaurant does just makes it so good, and it’s unlike any other tuna fish sandwich I’ve ever had before.
After many years of trial and error, I think I finally came up with the closest thing to this classic melted sandwich I could. The only thing that was missing was the chocolate malt or Green River fountain soda.
Ingredients
How to make a tuna sandwich on the stovetop-
- Favorite bread. I love to use ciabatta for this recipe
- Butter. This is what makes the golden brown toast on the bread.
- Solid white albacore tuna mixed with mayonnaise. This type of canned tuna is the KEY ingredient in this tuna mixture making this the best tuna sandwich you will ever have.
- Sliced tomato. This is optional, but it’s a great addition.
- Shredded Colby jack cheese. A nice cheese blend that melts perfectly.
Visit YouTube for a video of how to make this
Toasted Tuna and Cheese Sandwich
How to make a toasted tuna and cheese sandwich step-by-step
Start by opening the can of tuna and draining out the water.
Add to a bowl and stir in the good stuff, real mayonnaise.
Slice a tomato into thick slices.
Spread the 4 pieces of bread with the butter.
Place the bread butter side down on a griddle pan, then top with cheese and sliced tomatoes.
Add half of the tuna salad, and more cheese, then butter the top piece of bread and place on top.
Repeat the process with the second sandwich.
Place the griddle pan or skillet on the stovetop over medium-high heat.
Put a heavy pan, like cast iron, on top of the bread so that it squishes the sandwich down. Cook for 2-1/2 minutes.
Using a hot pad, remove the pan from the top of the sandwich, and set it aside. Flip the sandwich, then replace the pan on top. Cook for another 2 minutes.
Take the sandwiches off of the pan. Cut diagonally.
These are the KEY steps for making a GREAT toasted tuna
- Use only solid white albacore tuna – there is no substitute for this. It is essential to make sure this tuna sandwich tastes gourmet.
- The key to a creamy tuna salad for topping on this sandwich is to make it with only REAL mayonnaise.
- Use a heavy pan on top of the sandwich to ensure that it is pressed down when cooking.
Storage
This is a sandwich recipe that is for 2 people, so ideally there will be no leftovers. If you are making this for one person, add the leftover tuna salad to a covered container and refrigerate until its next use. Use within 2 days.
More sandwich recipes
And here you are…..
From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!
Toasted Tuna and Cheese Sandwich
Equipment
- griddle
- heavy pan
Ingredients
- 4 slices bread I used ciabatta
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 5 ounces solid white fancy albacore tuna use half for each sandwich
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 medium tomato sliced
- 1/2 cup shredded colby jack cheese use half for each sandwich
Instructions
- Start by opening the can of tuna and draining out the water.5 ounces solid white fancy albacore tuna
- Add to a bowl and stir in the good stuff, real mayonnaise.2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- Slice a tomato into thick slices.1 medium tomato
- Spread the 4 pieces of bread with the butter.4 slices bread, 1 tablespoon butter
- Place the bread butter side down on a griddle pan, then top with cheese and sliced tomatoes.1/2 cup shredded colby jack cheese
- Add half of the tuna salad, more cheese, then butter the top piece of bread and place on top.
- Repeat the process with the second sandwich.
- Place the griddle pan on the stovetop and turn on the heat to medium-high.
- Put a heavy pan, like cast iron, on the top of the bread so that it squishes the sandwich down. Cook for 2-1/2 minutes
- Using a hot pad, remove the pan from the top of the sandwich, and set it aside. Flip the sandwich, then replace the pan on top. Cook for another 2 minutes.
- Take the sandwiches off of the pan. Cut diagonally.
Video
Notes
Tips for making this recipe:
- Use only solid white albacore tuna – there is no substitute for this. It is essential to make sure this tuna sandwich tastes gourmet.
- The key to a creamy tuna salad for topping on this sandwich is to make it with only REAL mayonnaise.
- Use a heavy pan on top of the sandwich to ensure that it is pressed down when cooking.
- To store: if you do have tuna salad leftover, add it to a covered container and refrigerate. Eat within 2 days.
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Last Updated on April 16, 2023 by Erin@BottomLeftoftheMitten
I love tuna sandwiches! This one sounds and looks delicious!
Thank you, Andrea! It’s really easy & delicious.
Solid white albacore great sweet Vidalia onions diced plenty of Hellman’s mayonnaise grilled toasted Bay English muffins I’ve never had it with cheese but it sounds good oh and you mustn’t forget Cape Cod kettle-cooked potato chips yum top of the tuna oh boy
I am ALL for chips on top of sandwiches. Your upgrades sound amazing too, Dee.
Capers, thinly sliced red onion….yum
Oh, YUM! Great additions.