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Spicy Tuna Melt

May 17, 2022 by Gina +

One of my favorite sandwiches has always been a tuna melt. From simple versions to fancy ones, I just love a good tuna melt. When I want something hardy, healthy, and nostalgic, it’s something I also love to make at home. Recently I decided to add some jalapeno into the mix and loved the result. I like to add hot sauce to lots of my savory meals so a spicy tuna melt just makes sense to me.

Jump to Recipe

The jalapeno is the kick I’m looking for in this spicy tuna melt, but you can definitely leave it out if you are not a fan of the spicy food. It will still be just as delicious. Nonnegotiables for me though are good bread, my favorite being sourdough, and good cheese. I prefer sourdough because it’s sturdy (I like to load the tuna on) and because sourdough goes through a fermentation process, it is more gentle on the gut. As for the cheese, I use white cheddar, but use your favorite! I also like to kick it up at the end with some chips crushed on top because you need that crunch right?!

So here’s the thing. A good tuna sandwhich doesn’t have to be fancy. In fact, I typically just like tuna wiht a bit of mayo, maybe so dijion too. But for this one, I’m adding it all. Veggies for crunch and flavor. Dijion and jalapeno for a kick. And cheddar to add a cheesy, melty top. I keep this open faced with just one slice of bread. If you prefer a toast top instead of just cheese, go ahead and add it! Just toast the bread in your toaster oven, over the stove, or in the toaster. Top with tuna then cheese, then quickly broil to melt the cheese.

Ingredients needed for the Spicy Tuna Salad

  • Toast – I love sourdough for this
  • 2 cans of 3oz tuna
  • Mayo – love this one
  • Jalapeno
  • Celery
  • Red onion
  • Dijion
  • White cheddar Cheese – or whatever you prefer
  • Salt & pepper

How to make a Spicy Tuna Melt

  • Start by making the tuna. Mix the tuna, mayo, jalapeno, celery, red onion, dijion, and a little salt and pepper.
  • While you’re making the tuna, get your bread nicely toasted.
  • Spread the tuna over the toast. The mix should be enough for 2 toasts.
  • Top with cheddar cheese.
  • Broil for a couple minutes to melt the cheese.

Why we love this recipe…

  • A quick and healthy lunch or dinner.
  • Tuna is protein packed! Plus we add celery and onion for a little more nutitional boost.
  • The tuna is easy to double for more tuna melts later in the week. Great for meal planning and prepping.

More recipes you will like…

Mexican Street Corn Salad
Buffalo Vegan Chick’n Salad
Tomato, Cucumber, Feta Salad

Tips for A Spicy Tuna Melt

  • Tuna is super customizable. Add whatever ingredients you love if what I include isn’t your thing.
  • I like using dourdough because it’s a hardy toast and good for the gut.
  • I lik to double the recipe so my husband and me can have a couple melts. Makes meal planning easier.
  • For a little more crunch, add some chips on top! The best move in my opinion

Spicy Tuna Melt

Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 2 minutes mins
Servings: 2 Melts
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 3oz cans of drained tuna
  • 2 slices sourdough or bread of choice
  • 1/2 cup diced celery
  • 1/2 cup diced red onion
  • 1 diced jalapeno seeds removed if you don't like it spicy
  • 1/4 cup mayo add more if you like it creamier
  • 1 tbsp dijion mustard
  • squeeze of lemon juice from a half lemon
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • Sliced cheddar I like white cheddar but use whatever cheese you like!

Method
 

  1. Start by toasting the bread and preheat the broiler.
  2. Stir together the tuna , celery, onion, jalapeno, mayo, mustard, lemon, and a little salt and pepper.
  3. When the bread is toasted, spread the tuna over each slice. Top with cheese. Broil for a couple minutes until cheese is melted.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

You might also like:

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Filed Under: Dinners, Lifestyle, Recipes Tagged With: melt, sourdough, spicy, tuna

Trackbacks

  1. No Peel Egg Salad - Gina Gibson says:
    September 13, 2022 at 2:39 pm

    […] Mashed White Bean & Herb Toast Miso Mushroom Avocado Toast Spicy Tuna Melt […]

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    November 8, 2022 at 4:45 pm

    […] Brie Spicy Tuna Melt Miso Mushroom Avocado […]

The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house loves

Make sure youโ€™re following @gina_gibson_cooks for easy healthier recipes and save this one. I promise youโ€™ll love it. 

Theyโ€™re packed with protein from eggs, sausage, cottage cheese, and cheese.

Ingredients:
1 lb breakfast sausage
4 eggs (scrambled)
1 egg (mixed in)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt + pepper

Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Push to one side and scramble 4 eggs.

Add sausage + eggs to a bowl with 1 more egg, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.

Scoop with a 2 tbsp scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375ยฐF for about 18 minutes, or until golden. Makes about 15 biscuits.
A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco s A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco skillet. Made with simple ingredients you probably already have. It bakes in the oven for an easy, hands-off dinner and comes together in under 40 minutes.

1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
1 cup blended cottage cheese
1 (15 oz) jar salsa
1 cup shredded cheddar or taco cheese blend
1 package taco seasoning
*chips, sour cream, avocado for topping and scooping

Preheat oven to 375ยฐF. In an oven-safe skillet, cook ground beef and onion on medium heat until beef is browned.

Stir in taco seasoning. Add salsa, cottage cheese, the rice, then 1/2 cup water. Mix well.

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes

Remove from oven, top with cheese. Serve with sour cream, avocado, and plenty of chips for scooping

Save this for your next quick dinner night.
2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners โ€” mashed potato 2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners โ€” mashed potatoes the first night sandwiches after that

The sauce is the real star here. Savory, rich, and packed with flavor from the miso, garlic, soy sauce, and ginger.

2 lb chuck roast
Salt + pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp white miso paste
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
1ยฝ cups beef broth
1 tsp sesame 

Mashed potatoes, for serving

Season the chuck roast well with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pan and sear the roast on all sides until deeply browned.

In a bowl, whisk together the miso paste, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, beef broth, and sesame.

Pour the sauce over the roast, cover, and braise at 300ยฐF for about 3 to 3ยฝ hours until the beef is fall apart tender.

Remove the meat and shred or slice it. Simmer the sauce on the stovetop for 5โ€“10 minutes until thickened and glossy.

Serve over mashed potatoes and spoon all that sauce right on top.
Unlocking summer. Iโ€™m so ready and these @bloomsup Unlocking summer. Iโ€™m so ready and these @bloomsupps Ricket blasts are getting us there. Limited time. Whatโ€™s your fave poolside or beach bev?!

#giftedbyoom
#bloompop
Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice ๐Ÿค

This might be one of my favorite easy dinners lately. The buttery garlic shrimp, blistered tomatoes, cilantro lime rice, and salty feta all work so well together

Youโ€™ll need 
1 pound shrimp
1 pint cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic minced
juice of 1 lemon
2 cups cooked rice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
juice of 1 lime
crumbled feta for topping 
salt, and pepper.

Cook the rice and mix with chopped cilantro, lime juice, and a little salt. Add olive oil to a hot skillet and cook the cherry tomatoes until blistered and softened. Push the tomatoes to the side of the skillet, then add butter, garlic, and shrimp. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the shrimp are pink and lightly golden. Squeeze in the lemon juice and mix everything together with the tomatoes. Spoon over the cilantro lime rice and top with feta.

Save this for an easy weeknight dinner and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy family meals and Dinner Diaries ๐Ÿฝ๏ธ
DINNER DIARIES WEEK 11 Bringing back this series DINNER DIARIES WEEK 11

Bringing back this series to help you with easy dinners. 

This weekโ€™s lineup:โ€จโœจ Cheeseburger Sheet Pan Friesโ€จโœจ Chicken Caesar Smash Burger Tacosโ€จโœจ Crispy Chicken Protein Mac & Cheese

we reused ingredients across multiple meals to keep grocery waste low ๐Ÿ™Œ

The crispy chicken on the protein mac & cheese might be one of my favorite dinners Iโ€™ve made in a while 

Comment DINNER and Iโ€™ll send you all 3 recipes + the grocery list
The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house loves

Make sure youโ€™re following @gina_gibson_cooks for easy healthier recipes and save this one. I promise youโ€™ll love it. 

Theyโ€™re packed with protein from eggs, sausage, cottage cheese, and cheese.

Ingredients:
1 lb breakfast sausage
4 eggs (scrambled)
1 egg (mixed in)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt + pepper

Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Push to one side and scramble 4 eggs.

Add sausage + eggs to a bowl with 1 more egg, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.

Scoop with a 2 tbsp scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375ยฐF for about 18 minutes, or until golden. Makes about 15 biscuits.
A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco s A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco skillet. Made with simple ingredients you probably already have. It bakes in the oven for an easy, hands-off dinner and comes together in under 40 minutes.

1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
1 cup blended cottage cheese
1 (15 oz) jar salsa
1 cup shredded cheddar or taco cheese blend
1 package taco seasoning
*chips, sour cream, avocado for topping and scooping

Preheat oven to 375ยฐF. In an oven-safe skillet, cook ground beef and onion on medium heat until beef is browned.

Stir in taco seasoning. Add salsa, cottage cheese, the rice, then 1/2 cup water. Mix well.

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes

Remove from oven, top with cheese. Serve with sour cream, avocado, and plenty of chips for scooping

Save this for your next quick dinner night.
2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners โ€” mashed potato 2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners โ€” mashed potatoes the first night sandwiches after that

The sauce is the real star here. Savory, rich, and packed with flavor from the miso, garlic, soy sauce, and ginger.

2 lb chuck roast
Salt + pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp white miso paste
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
1ยฝ cups beef broth
1 tsp sesame 

Mashed potatoes, for serving

Season the chuck roast well with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pan and sear the roast on all sides until deeply browned.

In a bowl, whisk together the miso paste, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, beef broth, and sesame.

Pour the sauce over the roast, cover, and braise at 300ยฐF for about 3 to 3ยฝ hours until the beef is fall apart tender.

Remove the meat and shred or slice it. Simmer the sauce on the stovetop for 5โ€“10 minutes until thickened and glossy.

Serve over mashed potatoes and spoon all that sauce right on top.
Unlocking summer. Iโ€™m so ready and these @bloomsup Unlocking summer. Iโ€™m so ready and these @bloomsupps Ricket blasts are getting us there. Limited time. Whatโ€™s your fave poolside or beach bev?!

#giftedbyoom
#bloompop
Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice ๐Ÿค

This might be one of my favorite easy dinners lately. The buttery garlic shrimp, blistered tomatoes, cilantro lime rice, and salty feta all work so well together

Youโ€™ll need 
1 pound shrimp
1 pint cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic minced
juice of 1 lemon
2 cups cooked rice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
juice of 1 lime
crumbled feta for topping 
salt, and pepper.

Cook the rice and mix with chopped cilantro, lime juice, and a little salt. Add olive oil to a hot skillet and cook the cherry tomatoes until blistered and softened. Push the tomatoes to the side of the skillet, then add butter, garlic, and shrimp. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the shrimp are pink and lightly golden. Squeeze in the lemon juice and mix everything together with the tomatoes. Spoon over the cilantro lime rice and top with feta.

Save this for an easy weeknight dinner and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy family meals and Dinner Diaries ๐Ÿฝ๏ธ
DINNER DIARIES WEEK 11 Bringing back this series DINNER DIARIES WEEK 11

Bringing back this series to help you with easy dinners. 

This weekโ€™s lineup:โ€จโœจ Cheeseburger Sheet Pan Friesโ€จโœจ Chicken Caesar Smash Burger Tacosโ€จโœจ Crispy Chicken Protein Mac & Cheese

we reused ingredients across multiple meals to keep grocery waste low ๐Ÿ™Œ

The crispy chicken on the protein mac & cheese might be one of my favorite dinners Iโ€™ve made in a while 

Comment DINNER and Iโ€™ll send you all 3 recipes + the grocery list
The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house loves

Make sure youโ€™re following @gina_gibson_cooks for easy healthier recipes and save this one. I promise youโ€™ll love it. 

Theyโ€™re packed with protein from eggs, sausage, cottage cheese, and cheese.

Ingredients:
1 lb breakfast sausage
4 eggs (scrambled)
1 egg (mixed in)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt + pepper

Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Push to one side and scramble 4 eggs.

Add sausage + eggs to a bowl with 1 more egg, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.

Scoop with a 2 tbsp scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375ยฐF for about 18 minutes, or until golden. Makes about 15 biscuits.
A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco s A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco skillet. Made with simple ingredients you probably already have. It bakes in the oven for an easy, hands-off dinner and comes together in under 40 minutes.

1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
1 cup blended cottage cheese
1 (15 oz) jar salsa
1 cup shredded cheddar or taco cheese blend
1 package taco seasoning
*chips, sour cream, avocado for topping and scooping

Preheat oven to 375ยฐF. In an oven-safe skillet, cook ground beef and onion on medium heat until beef is browned.

Stir in taco seasoning. Add salsa, cottage cheese, the rice, then 1/2 cup water. Mix well.

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes

Remove from oven, top with cheese. Serve with sour cream, avocado, and plenty of chips for scooping

Save this for your next quick dinner night.
2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners โ€” mashed potato 2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners โ€” mashed potatoes the first night sandwiches after that

The sauce is the real star here. Savory, rich, and packed with flavor from the miso, garlic, soy sauce, and ginger.

2 lb chuck roast
Salt + pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp white miso paste
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
1ยฝ cups beef broth
1 tsp sesame 

Mashed potatoes, for serving

Season the chuck roast well with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pan and sear the roast on all sides until deeply browned.

In a bowl, whisk together the miso paste, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, beef broth, and sesame.

Pour the sauce over the roast, cover, and braise at 300ยฐF for about 3 to 3ยฝ hours until the beef is fall apart tender.

Remove the meat and shred or slice it. Simmer the sauce on the stovetop for 5โ€“10 minutes until thickened and glossy.

Serve over mashed potatoes and spoon all that sauce right on top.
Unlocking summer. Iโ€™m so ready and these @bloomsup Unlocking summer. Iโ€™m so ready and these @bloomsupps Ricket blasts are getting us there. Limited time. Whatโ€™s your fave poolside or beach bev?!

#giftedbyoom
#bloompop
Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice ๐Ÿค

This might be one of my favorite easy dinners lately. The buttery garlic shrimp, blistered tomatoes, cilantro lime rice, and salty feta all work so well together

Youโ€™ll need 
1 pound shrimp
1 pint cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic minced
juice of 1 lemon
2 cups cooked rice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
juice of 1 lime
crumbled feta for topping 
salt, and pepper.

Cook the rice and mix with chopped cilantro, lime juice, and a little salt. Add olive oil to a hot skillet and cook the cherry tomatoes until blistered and softened. Push the tomatoes to the side of the skillet, then add butter, garlic, and shrimp. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the shrimp are pink and lightly golden. Squeeze in the lemon juice and mix everything together with the tomatoes. Spoon over the cilantro lime rice and top with feta.

Save this for an easy weeknight dinner and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy family meals and Dinner Diaries ๐Ÿฝ๏ธ
DINNER DIARIES WEEK 11 Bringing back this series DINNER DIARIES WEEK 11

Bringing back this series to help you with easy dinners. 

This weekโ€™s lineup:โ€จโœจ Cheeseburger Sheet Pan Friesโ€จโœจ Chicken Caesar Smash Burger Tacosโ€จโœจ Crispy Chicken Protein Mac & Cheese

we reused ingredients across multiple meals to keep grocery waste low ๐Ÿ™Œ

The crispy chicken on the protein mac & cheese might be one of my favorite dinners Iโ€™ve made in a while 

Comment DINNER and Iโ€™ll send you all 3 recipes + the grocery list

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