Tuna Melt (Classic Diner Style)
The tuna melt is diner comfort food perfected. Creamy tuna salad piled on sourdough, topped with sharp cheddar, and toasted until the cheese is bubbly and the bread is golden. It takes 10 minutes and scratches an itch that no fancy sandwich can reach.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 10 minutes to pure comfort food
- Pantry-friendly — canned tuna is always there for you
- The melted cheese over warm tuna salad is unmatched
- Classic for a reason — been perfecting this for decades
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Tuna Melt (Classic Diner Style)
Ingredients
- 2 cans tuna, drained
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 stalk celery, finely diced
- 4 slices sourdough bread
- 4 slices sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon
Instructions
- Mix tuna, mayo, Dijon, celery, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Pile tuna salad onto 2 slices of sourdough. Top each with 2 slices of cheddar. Close with the remaining bread.
- Butter the outside of each sandwich.
- Cook in a skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side until the bread is golden and the cheese is melted.
- Slice diagonally and serve hot with chips or a pickle.
Recipe Tips
- Drain the tuna well and press out excess liquid for better texture.
- Sharp cheddar melts best and adds the most flavor.
- Low and slow heat melts the cheese without burning the bread.
- Open-faced option: skip the top bread and broil until cheese is bubbly.
Calories: 480 | Protein: 36g | Fat: 26g | Carbs: 28g
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Nutritional information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients used.