This open-faced air fryer tuna melt is crispy, cheesy, and packed with protein—ready in under 10 minutes! Made with simple ingredients and a healthier twist (no mayo needed!), it’s the perfect quick lunch or dinner when you want something comforting and satisfying.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ✅ Recipe Name: Air Fryer Tuna Melt (Open-Faced & High-Protein)
- 🕒 Ready In: Under 10 minutes
- 👪 Serves: 1 (easy to scale)
- 🍽 Calories: ~350 to 400 (varies by bread and cheese)
- 📋 Protein: ~30g per serving
- 🥣 Main Ingredients: Canned tuna, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, shredded cheese, sourdough or whole grain bread (or English muffins)
- 📖 Dietary Info: High-protein, healthy, single-serve, can be made gluten-free
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: Crispy, cheesy, and air-fried to perfection—this open-faced tuna melt skips the mayo and packs in extra protein. It’s the ultimate quick and comforting lunch or dinner.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
I’ve made a lot of tuna melts over the years, but this air fryer version is my absolute favorite. It’s open-faced, perfectly crispy, and has that melty, cheesy goodness you want—without feeling heavy. I love that it’s high in protein, super quick to throw together, and doesn’t even require a skillet. I even used my viral no-mayo tuna salad for this recipe!
If you’re into easy, healthy air fryer recipes like this, you’ve got to try my air fryer teriyaki salmon bites and air fryer personal tortilla pizzas—they’re just as fast and packed with flavor. And when I want something cozy but a little more filling, I go for my Greek yogurt mac and cheese—another high-protein twist on a classic!
Jump to:
- A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients You'll Need
- Substitutions & Variations
- Need to substitute an ingredient?
- How to Make Open Faced Air Fryer Tuna Melts (Step-by-Step)
- Top Tips
- What to Serve with an Air Fryer Tuna Melt
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Easy Tuna Recipes You'll Love
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Just made this and OMG it’s so good!! The bread got perfectly crispy in the air fryer and the tuna filling was super flavorful — love the Greek yogurt swap instead of mayo. It came together so fast and honestly tastes better than a diner tuna melt. Definitely making this again soon!
- Andrea
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick, easy, and made in the air fryer. No oven required—just 10 minutes for the perfect tuna melt.
- Open-faced, crispy, and cheesy. Air frying gives the bread a golden crunch while melting the cheese to perfection.
- A healthier take on the classic sandwich. Made with high-protein tuna and Greek yogurt instead of mayo.
- Perfect for lunch or dinner. Whether you're meal prepping, working from home, or need something fast post-workout.
- Satisfying and single-serve. It's a quick, balanced meal that tastes indulgent but fits your healthy routine.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Bread: I love using English muffins—they get super crispy and taste amazing. But you can use sourdough, multigrain, white, wheat, or whatever bread you have on hand. That’s the best part about this recipe—it’s super customizable!
- Cheese: Sharp cheddar is my go-to for that classic melt, but mozzarella, Swiss, Monterey Jack, or even dairy-free cheese all work great.
- Tuna: Canned tuna in water has the best texture and flavor for this recipe. Just drain it well before mixing.
- Greek Yogurt or Mayo: I like using 0% or 2% Greek yogurt for a creamy, high-protein tuna salad. Mayo or dairy-free mayo works if that’s more your style.
- Veggies: Celery and red onion add the perfect crunch and bite. Feel free to swap in cucumber, shredded carrot, or whatever you love.
- Dijon Mustard: Adds a subtle tang that pulls everything together.
- Lemon Juice: A little squeeze brightens up the tuna salad—don’t skip it!
- Parsley (optional): Adds a fresh, herby touch. Cilantro works too if that’s what you have.
- Salt & Pepper: Season to taste, always.
Scroll down to the recipe card for exact quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Make it gluten-free: Just use gluten-free bread or English muffins—everything else is naturally gluten-free.
- Make it dairy-free: Swap the Greek yogurt for a plant-based yogurt or mayo. I love Kite Hill’s Greek-style for its thick texture and mild flavor.
- Add tomato or avocado: Layer fresh tomato or avocado slices under the cheese before air frying.
- Use your favorite tuna salad: Already have a go-to tuna salad? Use it here for a personal twist.
- Try pesto: Smear a little pesto on the bread for extra flavor.
- Add bacon: Crispy bacon slices under the cheese = next level.
- Spicy twist: Mix in hot sauce or diced jalapeños to heat things up.
- Kid-friendly: Use slider buns or cut into quarters for little hands.
Need to substitute an ingredient?
Ask AI for suggestions on how to substitute the particular ingredient.
How to Make Open Faced Air Fryer Tuna Melts (Step-by-Step)
- Step 1: Cut the English muffin or bread in half and place both halves face-up in your air fryer basket or tray.
- Step 2: Air fry at 300°F (150°C) for 2–4 minutes until lightly toasted. Check at 2 minutes—air fryer models can vary.
- Step 3: In a medium bowl, add the drained tuna, Greek yogurt or mayo, diced celery, red onion, carrots, parsley, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Add capers if using.
- Step 5: Mix everything together until well combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning or add more lemon juice if needed.
- Step 5: Spoon the prepped tuna salad evenly onto the toasted halves of bread or English muffin.
- Step 6: Top each with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese.
- Step 7: Return to the air fryer and cook at 300°F (150°C) for 5–8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the muffins are crisp.
Top Tips
- Toast the bread first. Giving your English muffin (or any bread) a quick toast before adding the tuna helps lock in that crisp texture. It’s a small step that makes a big difference.
- Drain the tuna well. Press out as much liquid as possible so your tuna salad isn’t watery—this makes the melts crispier and less messy.
- Don’t overload it. Keep the tuna salad layer moderate—too much filling can weigh things down and prevent the cheese from melting evenly.
What to Serve with an Air Fryer Tuna Melt
- Keep it simple: I usually serve this tuna melt with a handful of kettle chips, sliced cucumbers, air fryer pita chips, or a pickle on the side—quick, easy, and satisfying.
- Add a salad: Pair it with a fresh green salad, watermelon feta salad, Caesar salad, or my cucumber carrot salad for a more balanced meal.
- Soup and sandwich vibe: It’s perfect with a cozy bowl of dairy-free tomato soup or my cauliflower leek potato soup on colder days.
- Make it brunchy: Add a fried egg on top and serve with fruit for a high-protein breakfast or brunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
I love using English muffins because they get super crispy in the air fryer, but sourdough, multigrain, or any sturdy sliced bread works too. Just make sure to toast it lightly so it doesn't get soggy.
Any cheese that melts well will work! My go-to is sharp cheddar, but Swiss, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack are also great options. Avoid cheeses like feta, goat cheese, queso fresco, or halloumi—they don’t melt well.
Totally! Mayo works great. I usually go with Greek yogurt for a lighter, high-protein option—but you can use mayo, yogurt, or even a mix of both, depending on your taste.
They’re best fresh, especially since this is a single-serve recipe. I don’t recommend assembling the full sandwich in advance (the bread will get soggy), but you can prep the tuna salad up to 4 days ahead and make the melt in minutes when you're ready to eat.
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If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don't forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Tuna Melt (Open-Faced)
Ingredients
The Melts:
- 1 English muffin or 2 slices of toast, regular, whole wheat, sourdough, or gluten-free
- 2 slices sharp cheddar cheese, or your favorite kind of cheese that melts
Tuna Salad:
- 1 can (4 or 5-ounce) tuna stored in water, drained
- 2 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt or mayo, 0%, 2% or 5%
- ½ stalk celery, diced
- 1 tablespoon red onion, minced
- 1 - 2 baby carrots, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 teaspoon capers, optional but I love them
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Juice from half a lemon
Instructions
- Cut your English muffin in half and add it face-side up to the air fryer basket or tray. “Toast” the bread by air frying it at 300°F (150 degrees Celsius) for 2 - 4 minutes. Every air fryer is different so check at the 2-minute mark. Stop air frying when the muffin is lightly toasted!
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine the drained tuna, Greek yogurt or mayo, diced celery, minced red onion, sliced baby carrots, chopped parsley, capers (if using), Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly combined.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning of the tuna salad to your liking.
- Evenly split and spoon the tuna mixture onto each half of the toasted English muffins.
- Top each English muffin half with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese.
- Air fry at 300°F (150 degrees Celsius) for about 5 - 8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, the sandwich is warm, and the English muffin is toasted to your desired level of crispiness.
- Carefully remove the tuna melts from the air fryer using a spatula. Serve the air fryer tuna melts immediately while they are still warm and enjoy!
Andrea says
Just made this and OMG it’s so good!! The bread got perfectly crispy in the air fryer and the tuna filling was super flavorful — love the Greek yogurt swap instead of mayo. It came together so fast and honestly tastes better than a diner tuna melt. Definitely making this again soon!