Good olive-oil tinned tuna is meaty and rich where cheap water-packed tuna is stringy and gray. Griddle it low and slow so the cheese melts before the bread burns.
By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026
Prep10 min
Cook8 min
Makes2 sandwiches
CuisineAmerican
Cost$$$
Contains dairy · gluten · fish
Make it gluten-free: swap in gluten-free versions of the wheat items (check the other labels too).
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for2sandwiches
Tinned tuna
Olive-oil-packed tuna is meaty and holds together in flakes.
Can you make Tuna Melt in an air fryer? — Not needed
It’s a salad — nothing to air-fry once it’s tossed. You can crisp a topping in one, though: croutons, bacon, or chickpeas in a single layer while you build the rest.
Can you freeze Tuna Melt? — Best fresh
Not really — the vegetables and dressing turn to mush once thawed. Salads are a make-fresh thing.
Can you make Tuna Melt ahead of time? — Yes
Yes — it actually wants a few hours in the fridge for the flavors to settle. Make it ahead and give it a stir before serving.
Is Tuna Melt gluten-free? — Not as written
Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in gluten-free versions of the wheat items (check the other labels too).
Is Tuna Melt vegan? — No
No — it contains seafood, so it isn’t vegetarian or vegan.
Community Notes
Cooked it? Changed something that worked? Leave a note for the next person — first-name basis, no account.
Open data. Every maker on this site is published as a free dataset under CC BY 4.0 — use it in anything, commercial or not, as long as you credit 5best2buy. Browse the datasets →