Open Face Tuna Melts

Open-face tuna melts are the perfect light and healthy lunch topped with homemade tuna salad without mayo, fresh tomato slices, and melted cheese. Use slices of sourdough, English muffins, or your favorite gluten-free bread!

Easy & healthy tuna melt open-face sandwiches

These healthy open-face tuna melts are a must-try recipe! It’s my family’s favorite quick and easy lunch since they are easy to make, high in protein, fillings, and cheesy. I use this homemade tuna salad made without mayo, which makes this recipe lighter and healthier than every other one. Don’t worry, you can’t tell!

These tuna melts are incredibly delicious. They are topped with healthy tuna salad, fresh tomato slices, and lots of cheese.

Let’s not forget that they only take 15 minutes to make and have over 33 grams of protein per serving! The best of both worlds.

I grew up eating tuna melts, so I am excited to share this classic, lighter version. You cannot tell if they are healthier, lower in carbs, have fewer calories, and lower in fat. Once you try this recipe, you’ll never be able to enjoy another tuna melt recipe.

Why you’ll love this recipe:

• Under 15-minute lunch.
• Topped with cheese and fresh tomato slices.
• Over 33 grams of protein per serving!
• Use English muffins, sourdough, or your favorite type of bread.
• Easily make this recipe gluten-free.
• Option to make low carb and keto.
• The tuna salad has NO MAYO and is made healthy with Greek yogurt.
• This recipe is made with four simple ingredients.
• Try this healthy Mediterranean tuna melt recipe next!

Ingredients needed

This is seriously the best-ever open-face tuna melt recipe! You need your favorite bread, cheese, tomato, and tuna salad. Here is a list of everything you need so you are prepared:

• Tuna Salad: Make one batch of this healthy tuna salad without mayo. You can use another recipe if you want to.
• Bread: Grab English muffins or 6 slices of your favorite bread. I love sourdough, white, whole wheat, whole grain, or bagels. You can also use gluten-free bread.
• Cheese: I love extra-sharp cheddar cheese slices or shredded cheese, but you can use any type you want! Try Swiss, Colby, Jalapeño Jack, or Monetary.
• Tomato: For a little fresh and healthy twist.

How to make open-face tuna melts

These cheesy and healthier open-face tuna melts take under 15 minutes to make! They make for the perfect lunch, and any level cook can make them since they are so easy to prepare. Here are detailed step-by-step instructions with pictures for visual reference so any level cook can make them. The full recipe and ingredient measurements are at the bottom of this page in the recipe card.

Step 1:

First, preheat your oven or toaster oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2:

Next, arrange the English muffin halves or bread slices on the baking sheet.

Step 3:

Top each half with tuna salad, dividing it evenly among the slices.

Step 4:

Top with the tomato slices (1 slice if on an English muffin and two if on a piece of bread). Then top with cheese.

Step 5:

Bake for 10 – 15 minutes, until the cheese, is melted and the bread is toasted. Enjoy!

Recipe tips and variations

1. Fewer Carbs: Instead of bread, wrap your tuna salad in a romaine lettuce wrap or use slices of keto bread.
2. Spicy: add 1 finely diced jalapeño to your tuna salad.
3. Cheese: I love sharp cheddar cheese, but you can use any type you want! Try Swiss, Colby, Jalapeño Jack, or Monetary.
4. Bread: I love tuna melts on sourdough slices or English muffins. You can also use white bread, whole wheat, whole grain, or a bagel.
5. Tortilla Wrap: Feel free to use a tortilla wrap too!
6. Remove the Tomato: If you don’t like tomatoes, no problem! Just remove them from the recipe.
7. Don’t store tuna melts: Tuna melts are best enjoyed warm straight out of the oven. If you plan to meal prep this recipe, store the tuna salad separately and assemble the sandwich when you are ready to enjoy. If not, the bread will be soggy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best bread for tuna melts?

You can use any bread for tuna melts. I recommend typing sourdough bread, English muffins, white bread, whole wheat, or seeded grain bread. Try to stay away from softer types of bread like challah, brioche, Hawaiian, or focaccia.

Can I use an English muffin?

Yes, I love open-face tuna melts on English muffins. Feel free to use white, whole wheat, or gluten-free English muffins.

Can I use a bagel?

Yes, you can also use a bagel for these open-face tuna melts. Since bagels are thicker than slices of bread, I like to toast them for 3 – 4 minutes before adding the tuna salad, tomato slices, and cheese on top.

Can I use gluten-free bread?

Absolutely! Use your favorite gluten-free bread or English muffin. I love Canyon Road Bakhouse.

How long does tuna salad last?

Tuna salad lasts up to 5 days if stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

Can I make this tuna melt dairy-free?

Yes! Simply use dairy-free cheese and swap the Greek yogurt in the tuna salad with dairy-free yogurt or mayo.

Are open-face tuna melts healthy?

I consider open-face tuna melts to be healthy. They have less calories, fewer carbs, and will leave you full for hours. In this recipe, we use homemade tuna salad without mayo, a healthy alternative to classic tuna salads.

Storage tips:

Tuna melts are best enjoyed warm straight out of the oven. I don’t recommend storing a full sandwich. If you want to store extras for meal prep, simply keep your tuna salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you are ready to enjoy a tuna melt, assemble it, bake, and enjoy!

If you love this recipe, try these next!

• Healthy Mediterranean Tuna Melt Sandwich
• Tuna Salad without Mayo
• Easy Breakfast Sandwiches
• Air Fryer Tilapia
• Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad

Did you make this recipe?

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!

I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. In full disclosure, by purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. Thank you for supporting Healthful Blondie!

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