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Home » Easy Main Meals » The Best Tuna Melt.

The Best Tuna Melt.

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This Tuna Melt recipe is one I am very passionate about. I have put a huge amount of work into bringing it to a sandwich toaster near you. It is packed full of red onion, melting cheese, tuna and sweet chilli sauce. In short, a real taste sensation and no one can get enough.

tuna melt panini on a wooden board on top of white paper with red onion in the background and crisps to the side at the back.

My slight obsession with Tuna Melts began when I tasted a particular one in a nearby local cafe. It was so incredible I knew I just had to be able to make it at home. My life would not be complete without it and that was a foodie fact.

Luxurious with melting, stringy cheese and with the  bite of red onion and sweet chilli I was an absolute gonna. It was one of the best things I had ever tasted.

The one thing that sealed the deal was that it had all the tuna flavour without the fishy overtone. Do you know what I mean panini people?

What Is Tuna Melt Made Of?

It means a sandwich with tuna and melted cheese, usually served hot. It's all about the cheesy ooze.

It means a toasted sandwich filled with tuna flakes in a slightly sweet and softly spiced mayo sauce with oozing mild cheese.

I prefer to use brined tuna and mild cheddar and mozzarella to get the melt thing going. The tuna is best a little salty and the brined stuff is perfect for that. Otherwise you need to season carefully to get the same amazing flavours to sing together.

Panini or Sandwich?

I prefer a Panini if I'm making it for lunch with a friend say, I'm not really sure why but I think it's to do with that's how I first realised the joy that this filling could bring. I'm nothing if not nostalgic. It's one of those foodie moments that I can't quite forget.

However I often make it for the family with plain old sandwich bread (thick and white if possible) and I butter the outside of the bread to really make this baby sing....outrageously gorgeous I know.

tuna melt panini on a wooden board on top of white paper with red onion in the background and crisps to the side. Plates at the back have forks resting on them.

Equipment Required

  • Sandwich Toaster
  • Serrated Knife
  • Medium to Large Mixing Bowl
  • Mixing Spoon
  • Digital Scales

Ingredients

tuna,paninis, sweet chilli sauce, cheese, red onion and mayonnaise on a white board

435 grams (15.3 oz) 3 x small tins Tinned Tuna - it needs to be in brine however if you don't have it this way then make sure to add a big old pinch of salt. It is needed here.

80 grams (2.8 oz) Red Onion - this is the preferable choice as it is sweeter than white but white will still do.

150 grams (5.3 oz) Pizza Cheese - I buy the ready mixed and grated cheese here. It is basically a mix of mozzarella and cheddar.

5 tbsp Sweet Chilli Sauce - any bottled shop bought is fine.

150 grams (5.3 oz) Mayonnaise - your favourite brand however full fat is best.

4 standard Paninis

 Recipe Steps

  • Turn on your sandwich toaster to heat up.
  • Drain the tuna very well and place with all the other ingredients in a medium to large mixing bowl. 
tuna melt ingredients in a brown mixing bowl with paninis to the side
  • Mix together well.
  • Spread a ¼ of your mixture on your panini or bread ( bread buttered on one side) 
panini split on the sandwich toaster and half the tuna mix spread onto it with a bowl of the tuna melt mix nearby
  • Cook for a couple of minutes or so according to your sandwich toaster. You want the cheese to be mostly melted inside.
  • Cut in half with a serrated knife and serve. Make sure to remind everyone it's hot, hot, hot!
tuna melt panini on a wooden board on top of white paper with red onion in the background and crisps to the side at the back

Expert Tips

  • Chop your red onion small. Click for a  really helpful link if you are unsure about how best to do this.
  • Drain your tuna well. Otherwise you will get a watery mix.
  • Make sure you add salt if you haven't used tuna in brine.
  • If you're using bread make sure it is thickly sliced as the sandwich toaster will squash it thinner or at least mine does.
  • To get ahead you can make the sandwich mix before it is required and simply cover and store in the fridge.

Storage

  • Cover and store in the fridge.
  • I often store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days and help myself to it for an easy and indulgent lunch as required.
  • I wouldn't recommend freezing it as the mayonnaise will split when frozen.

Variations

  • You could add on in there anything that goes with tuna..... chopped cucumber, chopped tomato and sweetcorn are the most obvious ones. I haven't just because I don't want to mess with the magic.

Other Light Bite Recipes You Might Like 

Cheese and Onion Scones

Cheese Scones

Savoury Muffins

Brisket Buns

Cheese and Onion Quiche

Quiche Lorraine

Ham and Cheese Sliders

ham and cheees sliders
tuna melt panini on a wooden board on top of white paper with red onion in the background and crisps to the side at the back

Tuna Melt

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This Tuna Melt recipe is for the best I have ever eaten. Made with just 5 ingredients it is an incredible taste sensation. My favourite sandwich filling and perfect for lunch or light bite.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 3 minutes mins
0 minutes mins
Total Time 13 minutes mins
Course Sandwiches
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 796 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 435 grams tuna in brine 3 small tins
  • 150 grams pizza cheese cheddar and mozzarella mix
  • 150 grams mayonnaise full fat
  • 5 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
  • 80 grams red onion chopped
  • 4 standard paninis

Instructions
 

  • Switch on your sandwich toaster to heat up.
  • Mix all your ingredients together in the bowl.
  • Place your sandwich bread on the toaster and fill with ¼ of the mix. Repeat as required or as many as your sandwich toaster will allow at a time. Mine allows me to cook 2 at a time.
  • Cook for a few minutes and until the cheese is melted mostly inside.
  • Use a serrated knife to cut the sandwich in half and serve. Remember that the sandwich filling will be hot!
  • Apply To Seriously Smug Face

Notes

  • Chop your red onion small. Click for a  really helpful link if you are unsure about how best to do this.
  • Drain your tuna well. Otherwise you will get a watery mix.
  • Make sure you add salt if you haven't used tuna in brine.
  • If you're using bread make sure it is thickly sliced as the sandwich toaster will squash it thinner or at least mine does.
  • To get ahead you can make the sandwich mix before it is required and simply cover and store in the fridge.
The Nutrition guide is only meant as an approximate guide.

Nutrition

Calories: 796kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 797mg | Potassium: 224mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 86IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 2mg

All nutritional information is approximate and intended only as a guide.

Keyword tuna, tuna melt
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5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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Hi, I'm Jenny Walters. A mother of two and passionate filler of bellies with stress free, simple and delicious recipes that gladden the soul. I am at heart a home cook.

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