If you're looking for a tasty lunch option, then look no further because these air fryer tuna melts are a fantastic option any day of the week. Made in a few short minutes and with minimal prep, these crispy tuna melts are not too far away.
Recipe: $3.51 | Per Serving: $1.76 | Servings: 2
These cheesy tuna melt sandwiches are such a simple yet delicious recipe. We've made them a few times this week (they're too good to resist!) From the crispy buttery bread to the melty gooey cheese and warm tuna filling inside, every bite is worth savoring.
While we love a good sandwich like Spicy Tuna Sandwich and this Southern Egg Salad Recipe, air fryer sandwiches have become one of our fast favorites for so many reasons. Especially since I can make two at once in less time than if I used a skillet.
Some of our other air fryer sandwich favorites include this Air Fryer Club Sandwich, Air Fryer Turkey Sandwich, and Air Fryer Peanut Butter and Jelly .
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🍯 Why This Recipe Works
- It's really fast! From start to finish you can enjoy this sandwich in less than 10 minutes. The hands-on time is roughly 2 to 3 minutes and then there are about 5 minutes of patience required as the air fryer does its thing.
- Easy/minimal prep work. This is exactly like making tuna sandwich, except you're adding some cheese to make it a tuna melt sandwich. If you can make one, you can definitely make the other!
- Evenly toasted bread. Making grilled cheese in the oven, on a griddle, or even a microwaved grilled cheese can result in unevenly toasted bread. The air fryer cooks the bread more evenly than any other method I've ever seen, giving you the most picture-perfect results every time.
🥘 Ingredients
Ingredient Notes:
Sandwich Bread- You will want 4 slices of sandwich bread. This will make two sandwiches, But I find that I can usually stretch this recipe into 3 or 4 sandwiches if I try.
Butter- You'll want some softened butter to spread over the bread for that tasty golden color. Alternatively, you can try spraying some olive oil over the bread instead.
Mustard- Use some yellow mustard to help add some acidity and tanginess to the filling. This helps to keep it from feeling too sweet.
Cheese- You'll want 8 slices of cheese (2 per sandwich). This not only makes the sandwich taste great but also helps to hold the bread to the filling while it's cooking.
For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.
🧾 Substitutions
Bread. My kids are big fans of the cheap sliced sandwich bread but feel free to use any bread you want. Thicker bread slices (like homemade bread) may require a little longer cooking time (about 1-2 minutes)
Cheese. You can use any sliced cheese of your preference. My husband likes Muenster, while I prefer Swiss or Cheddar.
🔪 Instructions for Air Fryer Tuna Melt
Step 1: Start by draining the canned tuna and breaking it up with a fork. This will help to remove a lot of the chunks and make it easier to incorporate into the filling.
Step 2: Add the tuna, mayo, relish, and mustard to a small bowl.
Step 3: Mix together with a fork until well blended.
Step 4: Spread about 1 tablespoon of softened butter on one side of each slice of bread. Place two slices, butter side down into the air fryer.
Step 5: Top each slice of bread with one slice of cheese.
Step 6: Top with about ½ cup of tuna salad.
Step 7: Add a second piece of cheese on top of the tuna.
Step 8: Cover the cheese with one slice of bread, butter side facing upward.
Step 9: Toast for 3 minutes at 400 degrees F.
Step 10: Flip to the other side and cook for about 2 minutes.
Step 11: When both sides are perfectly golden in color, remove them from the air fryer.
Serve warm and enjoy!
🍴 Recipe Tips
- Make them 2 at a time. Two sandwiches fit comfortably in an 8-quart air fryer.
- No preheating is required for your air fryer.
- More or less servings. The filling can be divided into 3 smaller sandwiches if desired, as they are very filling.
- Secure bread. Use a small metal trivet to prevent bread from flying around due to circulated air during toasting. You can ensure bread reaches desired toastiness by extending cooking time if it flies around initially.
- Pro Tip. Check the sandwich after a minute or two of cooking to prevent the top bread from sliding off; it will hold better once the cheese melts slightly.
- My Biggest Tip. Use double cheese slices on each side of the filling to secure bread and prevent sliding during cooking.
🥗 Side Dishes
You can serve your tuna melt with anything, but some of the more popular items to serve alongside a tuna melt include potato chips, french fries, or fresh fruit.
I like to serve mine up with some Sour Patch Grapes, Homemade Cheese Crackers, or No Bake Apple Donuts.
⏲️ Make Ahead Instructions
You can prepare the tuna filling up to 3 days in advance and keep it stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Assemble and cook when ready.
💭 Recipe FAQs
Your sandwich will only take about 5-8 minutes at 360 degrees F, depending on how dark you want it to be. Just make sure to flip the sandwich over about halfway through the cooking process.
You can prepare the filling up to 3 days in advance but I do not recommend adding it to bread until ready to toast and serve. This will prevent the bread from getting soggy.
Absolutely! You can add in your favorite seasonings, toppings, or turn your tuna melt into an open faced sandwich if you want. You can even swap out the bread and cheese for more variations.
❤️ More Delicious Air Fryer Recipes
If you tried this air fryer tuna melt, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Tuna Melt
Ingredients
- 1 can (5oz) tuna in water, drained ($0.96)
- ¼ cup mayonnaise ($0.22)
- 1 Tablespoon sweet relish ($0.08)
- 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard ($0.03)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 4 Tablespoons butter, softened ($0.50)
- 4 slices sandwich bread ($0.24)
- 8 slices cheese ($1.48)
Instructions
- Start by draining the canned tuna and breaking it up with a fork. This will help to remove a lot of the chunks and make it easier to incorporate into the filling.
- Add the tuna, mayo, relish, mustard, salt, and pepper to a small bowl.
- Mix together with a fork until well blended.
- Spread about 1 tablespoon of softened butter on one side of each slice of bread. Place two slices, butter side down into the air fryer.
- Top each slice of bread with one slice of cheese.
- Top with about ½ cup of tuna ssalad.
- Add a second piece of cheese on top of the tuna.
- Cover the cheese with one slice of bread, butter side facing upward.
- Toast for 3 minutes at 400 degrees F.
- Flip to the other side and cook for about 2 minutes.
- When both sides are perfectly golden in color, remove them from the air fryer.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
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