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Home » Air Fryer

Air Fryer Tuna Melt

Published: Mar 29, 2023 · Last Updated: Mar 29, 2023 by Aimee - This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Tuna melts in the air fryer are so easy to make! This air fryer tuna melt is made with a delicious homemade tuna salad and then topped with tomatoes and extra cheese.

Air fryer tuna melt on a white plate.

I mean, who doesn't love a tuna melt? I do. I love tuna salad and I love melted cheese.

And when I can make them easily in my air fryer? Such a quick and easy lunch.

The tuna salad is perfectly seasoned. The tomatoes ripe and juicy. And the cheese gets all melty in the air fryer.

A quick and easy lunch that can be ready in less than 15 minutes! 10 if you're really fast!

Ingredients

  • Bread
  • Canned tuna
  • Mayo
  • Green onions
  • Celery Salt
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Tomato (roma, campari, or another tomato that is good for slicing)
  • Cheese (I used sharp cheddar, but you can use monterrey jack or cheddar jack)

What is a tuna melt?

A tuna melt is simply a tuna sandwich that has cheese on it, hence the "melt" language.

Sometimes they are regular tuna salad sandwiches that just have the addition of cheese, and some people do them as open faced sandwiches without the top layer of bread.

In my version, I did a mix, where I used two slices of bread, but then also topped with tomato and extra cheese!

How to customize

Even though I did two slices of bread, you can instead leave off the top slice of bread and top with cheese and tomato slices.

Want it spicier? Either spice up your tuna salad with some harissa, calabrian chili paste, or red pepper flakes!

Customize by adding avocado or cooked bacon to really load up your tuna melt with delicious flavors and textures!

I used a sharp white cheddar cheese for my tuna melt, but many other cheeses would be delicious! Pepper jack or Monterrey jack are great options, as is mozzarella.

What to serve with the tuna melt

I love serving tuna melts with a delicious side dish! If serving with a salad, I love a simple arugula salad or this Tuscan kale salad.

If serving with an air fryer vegetable, my favorites are air fryer lemon zucchini, air fryer lemon asparagus, air fryer lemon potatoes, or air fryer fennel.

Recipe notes

  • All air fryers cook differently. Please adjust cooking times as needed.
  • To make this recipe even easier, you can use a store-bought tuna salad. I love making my own though! It's so easy.

How to make a tuna melt in the air fryer

First, make your tuna salad to put in the tuna melt. This can be your favorite tuna salad, but if you're following along with this recipe, I added canned tuna, mayo, celery salt, green onions, salt, and pepper to a bowl.

Mixing together tuna, mayo, and green onions.

Mash together until combined.

Mixing together tuna, mayo, and green onions.

Take two slices of bread and on one side of each, spread with mayo (or butter). On the opposite side of one of the slices, add your tuna salad.

Making a tuna melt

Top with shredded cheese.

Adding cheese to a tuna melt

Place the other slice of bread on the sandwich (mayo side up), and then add tomato slices and more cheese. Place in your air fryer basket.

Uncooked tuna melt in air fryer.

Air fry at 380 degrees F for 5-7 minutes.

Cooked tuna melt in air fryer

Remove from the air fryer, slice, and enjoy!

Air fryer tuna melt on a white plate.
Air fryer tuna melt on a white plate.

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air fried tuna melt

Air Fryer Tuna Melt

Recipe by Aimee
Tuna melts in the air fryer are so easy to make! This air fryer tuna melt is made with a delicious homemade tuna salad and then topped with tomatoes and extra cheese.
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 7 minutes mins
Total Time 12 minutes mins
Course Air Fryer, Main Course, Sandwich
Cuisine American
Servings 1
Calories 708 kcal

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Ingredients
  

For the tuna salad

  • 5 oz canned tuna
  • 2 Tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2 Tablespoons green onions sliced
  • ⅛ teaspoon celery salt
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 pinch black pepper

For the sandwich

  • 2 slices bread
  • 1 Tablespoon mayonnaise (or butter)
  • 1 tomato roma, campari, or other small slicing tomato
  • ¼ cup cheddar cheese grated

Instructions
 

  • Drain the can of tuna. Add it to a bowl with the mayo, green onions, celery salt, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine to create the tuna salad.
  • Butter each slice of bread with either mayo or butter (this will be the outside of the sandwich). Then to the sandwich add the tuna salad, and most of the cheese. Place the other slice of bread on top (butter/mayo side up), and then add a few slices of tomato. Top with additional cheese.
  • Place sandwich in the air fryer. Air fry at 380 degrees F for 5-7 minutes.
  • Slice in half and enjoy!

Notes

  • All air fryers cook differently. Please adjust cooking times as needed.
  • To make this recipe even easier, you can use a store-bought tuna salad. I love making my own though! It's so easy.

Nutrition

Calories: 708kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 41gFat: 45gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 21gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 1364mgPotassium: 685mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1537IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 320mgIron: 5mg

If nutrition info is shown, values are based on an online calculator and are estimates. Please verify using your own data.

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Hi! I'm Aimee, and I'm so glad you stopped by! I love sharing easy recipes that are flavorful and delicious.
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