Tuna Melt Open-Faced Sandwich (Print version)

Creamy tuna salad on toasted bread with melted cheese, broiled until golden and bubbly.

# What You'll Need:

→ Tuna Salad

01 - 2 cans (5 oz each) tuna in water, drained
02 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
03 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
04 - 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
05 - 2 tablespoons red onion, finely chopped
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
08 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Sandwich Assembly

09 - 4 slices hearty bread (sourdough or whole wheat)
10 - 4 slices tomato
11 - 1 cup (about 4 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
12 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Turn on oven broiler or set toaster oven to broil setting.
02 - Combine tuna, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, celery, red onion, parsley, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Mix thoroughly until evenly distributed.
03 - Arrange bread slices on a baking sheet. Spread softened butter lightly on one side of each slice. Place buttered side up under broiler for 1–2 minutes until golden.
04 - Flip bread slices so toasted side faces down. Spread tuna salad evenly over each slice. Layer with tomato slices and top generously with shredded cheese.
05 - Return baking sheet to broiler for 3–5 minutes. Watch closely until cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and edges are golden brown.
06 - Remove from oven. Allow to cool for 2–3 minutes before serving warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of warm, creamy tuna salad and melted cheese creates this incredible comfort factor thats hard to beat
  • It transforms simple pantry staples into something that feels special and restaurant worthy
02 -
  • The broiler can go from perfectly melted to burnt in seconds so I literally stand right there watching
  • I learned the hard way that flipping the bread after the first toast keeps everything from getting soggy
03 -
  • Shredding your own cheese instead of buying pre shredded makes a huge difference in how smoothly it melts
  • Room temperature tuna salad spreads so much more evenly than cold right from the fridge
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