Spicy Tuna Melt Sandwich (Printable Version)

Zesty tuna salad with spicy kick and melted cheese on toasted sourdough bread. Quick, easy, and perfect for lunch.

# What You Need:

→ Spicy Tuna Salad

01 - 2 cans (5 oz each) tuna in water, drained
02 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
03 - 1 tablespoon sriracha or hot sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
05 - 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
06 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
07 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
08 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Sandwich Assembly

09 - 8 slices sourdough bread
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
11 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese or pepper jack cheese
12 - 1 medium tomato, thinly sliced

# How To Make:

01 - In a mixing bowl, combine drained tuna, mayonnaise, sriracha, Dijon mustard, celery, red onion, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until evenly incorporated.
02 - Lay out sourdough bread slices and butter one side of each slice with softened butter.
03 - Place 4 bread slices unbuttered side up. Divide spicy tuna salad evenly among them. Top each with shredded cheese and tomato slices.
04 - Crown each sandwich with remaining bread slices, buttered side facing outward.
05 - Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Place sandwiches in the skillet and cook 3-4 minutes per side, pressing gently, until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted.
06 - Slice sandwiches in half and serve immediately while hot.

# Cooking Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in the time it takes to listen to three songs, perfect for when hunger strikes hard.
  • The spicy tuna mixture has just enough kick to wake up your taste buds without overwhelming them.
  • Melted cheese on golden sourdough creates that ideal crispy outside, gooey inside magic every time.
  • You probably already have most of these ingredients hiding in your pantry right now.
02 -
  • Don't crank the heat too high or the bread will burn before the cheese melts, medium heat is your friend here.
  • Drain the tuna really well by pressing it with a fork in the strainer, otherwise your salad will be watery and soak the bread.
  • Butter the bread all the way to the edges so every corner crisps up evenly in the pan.
03 -
  • Press the sandwiches gently with your spatula while they cook to help the cheese melt faster and the bread crisp evenly.
  • Make the tuna salad a few hours ahead and keep it chilled, the flavors meld together and it's even better.
  • Use a cast iron skillet if you have one, it holds heat beautifully and gives the most even golden crust.
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