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    Home » Recipes » Lunch Recipes

    Published: Apr 20, 2023 Modified: Apr 21, 2023 by Nicole This post may contain affiliate links.

    Air Fryer Tuna Melt

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    promotional graphic for Air Fryer Tuna Melt

    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.

    air fried tuna melts on a white plate with a side of grapes

    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.

    For more sandwich variety, make sure to check out our Spicy Tuna Sandwiches, Air Fryer Club Sandwich, Air Fryer Turkey Sandwich, and Air Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich.

    Why This Recipe Works

    1. 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.
    2. 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!
    3. Evenly toasted bread. Making grilled cheese in the oven, on a griddle, or in the microwave 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.
    Jump to:
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🍽 Equipment Needed
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🧾 Substitutions
    • 🍴 Recipe Tips
    • 🥗 Side Dishes
    • ⏲️ Make Ahead Instructions
    • 💭 FAQs
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments
    labeled ingredients needed to make air fryer tuna melts

    🥘 Ingredients

    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.

    Tuna- Use canned tuna in water that has been drained.

    Mayonnaise- You'll want some mayo to help make the filling creamy.

    Sweet Relish- Adding in a little sweet relish gives a good contrast of flavor.

    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.

    Salt and Pepper- This will be added to taste depending on your preferences.

    For specific quantities, see the recipe card below.

    🍽 Equipment Needed

    BeeyondCereal is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.

    • Measuring Spoons
    • Can opener
    • Small Bowl
    • Air Fryer
    • Fork

    🔪 Instructions

    Check out how to make Air Fryer Tuna Melt with these simple step-by-step 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.

    tuna mayo relish and mustard in a bowl

    Add the tuna, mayo, relish, and mustard to a small bowl.

    tuna sandwich filling in a bowl

    Mix together with a fork until well blended.

    sandwich bread butter side down in an air fryer basket

    Spared about 1 tablespoon of softened butter on one side of each slice of bread. Place two slices, butter side down into the air fryer.

    sandwich bread butter side down in an air fryer basket topped with sliced cheese

    Top each slice of bread with one slice of cheese.

    sandwich bread butter side down in an air fryer basket with sliced cheese and tuna filling on top

    Top with about ½ cup of tuna ssalad.

    sandwich bread butter side down in an air fryer basket with sliced cheese and tuna filling

    Add a second piece of cheese on top of the tuna.

    buttered tuna and cheese sandwich in an air fryer basket

    Cover the cheese with one slice of bread, butter side facing upward.

    toasted tuna melt in an air fryer basket halfway through cooking

    Toast for 3 minutes at 400 degrees F.

    tuna melt flipped over in an air fryer basket

    Flip to the other side and cook for about 2 minutes.

    toasted air fryer tuna melt in an air fryer basket

    When both sides are perfectly golden in color, remove them from the air fryer.

    Serve warm and enjoy!

    stacked halved tuna melts on a plate wtih red and green grapes to the side

    🧾 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 Munster, while I prefer Swiss or Cheddar.

    🍴 Recipe Tips

    Two sandwiches can fit into an 8-quart air fryer comfortably.

    You do not have to preheat your air fryer before use.

    These sandwiches are very filling and the filling can easily be divided into 3 smaller portioned sandwiches instead of 2, if desired.

    Make sure to check on the sandwich after a minute or 2 of cooking because the top piece of bread will fly or slide off of the sandwich, but once the cheese has melted a little bit, it will hold on more easily.

    Secure the bread

    Note that your bread can fly around in an air fryer basket during the initial toasting process. This is because of the circulated air forcing it upwards. If this happens, the bread will not be very toasted, but you can extend the cooking time for 1-3 minutes to get the bread to your desired level of toastiness.

    You can prevent the bread from flying around by securing it with a small metal trivet (like you'd use in an Instant Pot).

    Toasting tip

    Make sure the bread is darkened to your liking before removing it from the basket because it will not darken anymore.

    Double the cheese

    When I make this air fried tuna sandwich, I like two use a slice of cheese on either side of the filling so that it can hold the bread to the filling and not cause the sandwich contents to slide around as much when being cooked.

    🥗 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.

    ⏲️ 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.

    💭 FAQs

    How long should I put a sandwich in the air fryer?

    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.

    stacked halved tuna melts on a white plate with grapes to the side and an air fryer in the background

    More great air fryer recipes to check out soon

    • 20 Beginner Air Fryer Recipes
    • Air Fryer English Muffin Pizza
    • Air Fryer Canned Green Beans
    • Air Fryer Frozen Mozzarella Sticks

    📖 Recipe

    an upclose view of stacked halved tuna melt on a plate with red and green grapes and an air fryer in the background
    Print Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Air Fryer Tuna Melt

    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.
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 8 minutes mins
    Total Time 13 minutes mins
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 1074kcal
    Cost Recipe $2.59/ Serving $1.30
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Measuring Spoons
    • Can opener
    • Small Bowl
    • Air Fryer
    • Fork

    Ingredients

    • 4 slices Sandwich bread ($0.16)
    • 4 Tablespoons Butter, softened ($0.36)
    • 1 can (5oz) Tuna in water, drained ($0.75)
    • ¼ cup Mayonnaise ($0.31)
    • 1 Tablespoon Sweet relish ($0.06)
    • 1 Tablespoon Yellow mustard ($0.02)
    • 8 slices Cheese ($0.93)
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    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, and mustard to a small bowl.
    • Mix together with a fork until well blended.
    • Spared 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!

    Notes

    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 Munster, while I prefer Swiss or Cheddar.

    Recipe Tips

    • Two sandwiches can fit into an 8-quart air fryer comfortably.
    • You do not have to preheat your air fryer before use.
    • These sandwiches are very filling and the filling can easily be divided into 3 smaller portioned sandwiches instead of 2, if desired.
    • Make sure to check on the sandwich after a minute or 2 of cooking because the top piece of bread will fly or slide off of the sandwich, but once the cheese has melted a little bit, it will hold on more easily.
    Secure the bread
    • Note that your bread can fly around in an air fryer basket during the initial toasting process. This is because of the circulated air forcing it upwards. If this happens, the bread will not be very toasted, but you can extend the cooking time for 1-3 minutes to get the bread to your desired level of toastiness.
    • You can prevent the bread from flying around by securing it with a small metal trivet (like you'd use in an Instant Pot).
    Toasting tip
    • Make sure the bread is darkened to your liking before removing it from the basket because it will not darken anymore.
    Double the cheese
    • When I make this air fried tuna sandwich, I like two use a slice of cheese on either side of the filling so that it can hold the bread to the filling and not cause the sandwich contents to slide around as much when being cooked.

    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.

    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.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 1074kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 85g | Saturated Fat: 40g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 215mg | Sodium: 1949mg | Potassium: 320mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1986IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 927mg | Iron: 4mg
    Author NicoleDurham
    Course lunch
    Cuisine American
    Tried this recipe?Mention @BeeyondCereal on Instagram and hashtag it #BeeyondCereal
    To view how this recipe was calculated you can visit my Pricing Disclosure Page for more information.

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