• About
  • Contact

Gina Gibson

simple, healthy, meals

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
    • Salads
    • Desserts
    • Smoothies & Juices
  • Lifestyle
    • Mom Life
    • Travel
  • Shop
    • Kitchen
    • Home
    • Beauty
    • Dress Me
    • Baby & Toddler
  • Homemade Products

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:

Default ThumbnailMexican Skillet Default ThumbnailStuffed Sweet Potato Roasted Spaghetti Squash With Sauce and Cheese Default ThumbnailVegan BLT Summer Salad

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 […]

  2. Brie and Apple Grilled Cheese - Gina Gibson says:
    November 8, 2022 at 4:45 pm

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

This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Loaf is everything This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Loaf is everything you want from a fall bake โ€” a soft, spiced crumb, juicy apples, a cinnamon swirl running through the center, and a buttery crumb topping on top.

Comment โ€œAPPLEโ€ and Iโ€™ll send you the full recipe!
A dinner you donโ€™t want to miss. I cut a hole st A dinner you donโ€™t want to miss. 

I cut a hole straight into savory Hawaiian rolls and dropped a protein-packed meatball right in โ€”  meatballs made extra tender (and boosted with protein) thanks to a little cottage cheese blended into the mix. Load with marinara, mozzarella, bake until bubbly, and pull apart to serve.

Comment โ€œMEATBALLโ€ and Iโ€™ll send you the full recipe!
Instead of stacking a fried egg onto a bagel, you Instead of stacking a fried egg onto a bagel, you cook the egg thin in the pan and let the bagel halves press right into it โ€” no sliding eggs, no mess. 

Lightly toast the bagel. Whisk the eggs with a little salt and pour into a nonstick pan, spreading it thin. When the egg is almost cooked through, place the two bagel halves on top, pressing gently โ€” this holds the egg in place and keeps it from sliding out. Flip the pan so the bagel side is down and the egg side is up onto a plate. Add your toppings, fold any extra egg over the top, and close the sandwich.

Use a low carb or regular bagel, both work great. I love bagels from @westernbagel
Save this sandwich โ€” your fall grilled cheese. Bu Save this sandwich โ€” your fall grilled cheese.

Buttery, golden sourdough stuffed with melty brie, sharp white cheddar, jammy caramelized onions, and crisp apple slices. Itโ€™s creamy, sweet, tangy, and toasted to perfection.

Use sourdough or whatever bread you love, and make extra caramelized onions โ€” youโ€™ll want them again tomorrow.
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan #ad This is exactly th Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan #ad

This is exactly the kind of dinner I want during the weekโ€”crispy chicken, plenty of sauce, and melted cheese, without making dinner more complicated than it needs to be.

Another winner from @TestKitchen, where every recipe is tested to make sure it works at home. And at under 45 minutes, this one is definitely going into my weeknight rotation.
 
Want to try it? Comment RECIPE and Iโ€™ll send you a link to trial Americaโ€™s Test Kitchen and get the recipe. You can also find the link in my bio.

And be sure to give @TestKitchen a follow for more tested, reliable recipes!
This Harvest Chicken Salad is one of my favorite w This Harvest Chicken Salad is one of my favorite ways to switch up lunch this time of year. Sweet apple, crunchy celery, and a lightened-up dressing come together for something thatโ€™s fresh, filling, and way better than the usual mayo-heavy version. Serve it on a bed of lettuce, in a wrap, or with crackers. Make sure youโ€™re following @gina_gibson_cooks for more recipes. 

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked chicken breast, finely shredded
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 small apple, finely chopped
1/4 dried cranberry 
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 
salt and pepper to taste
Optional 1/4 cup chopped walnuts for crunch.

Instructions:
Finely shred or mash the cooked chicken breast to your preferred texture. In a large bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, light mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice, mixing until smooth. Add the chicken, apple, celery, red onion, and parsley, and stir until everything is evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper, and mix in the walnuts if using. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the flavors meld, then serve chilled on lettuce, in a wrap, or with crackers.
This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Loaf is everything This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Loaf is everything you want from a fall bake โ€” a soft, spiced crumb, juicy apples, a cinnamon swirl running through the center, and a buttery crumb topping on top.

Comment โ€œAPPLEโ€ and Iโ€™ll send you the full recipe!
A dinner you donโ€™t want to miss. I cut a hole st A dinner you donโ€™t want to miss. 

I cut a hole straight into savory Hawaiian rolls and dropped a protein-packed meatball right in โ€”  meatballs made extra tender (and boosted with protein) thanks to a little cottage cheese blended into the mix. Load with marinara, mozzarella, bake until bubbly, and pull apart to serve.

Comment โ€œMEATBALLโ€ and Iโ€™ll send you the full recipe!
Instead of stacking a fried egg onto a bagel, you Instead of stacking a fried egg onto a bagel, you cook the egg thin in the pan and let the bagel halves press right into it โ€” no sliding eggs, no mess. 

Lightly toast the bagel. Whisk the eggs with a little salt and pour into a nonstick pan, spreading it thin. When the egg is almost cooked through, place the two bagel halves on top, pressing gently โ€” this holds the egg in place and keeps it from sliding out. Flip the pan so the bagel side is down and the egg side is up onto a plate. Add your toppings, fold any extra egg over the top, and close the sandwich.

Use a low carb or regular bagel, both work great. I love bagels from @westernbagel
Save this sandwich โ€” your fall grilled cheese. Bu Save this sandwich โ€” your fall grilled cheese.

Buttery, golden sourdough stuffed with melty brie, sharp white cheddar, jammy caramelized onions, and crisp apple slices. Itโ€™s creamy, sweet, tangy, and toasted to perfection.

Use sourdough or whatever bread you love, and make extra caramelized onions โ€” youโ€™ll want them again tomorrow.
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan #ad This is exactly th Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan #ad

This is exactly the kind of dinner I want during the weekโ€”crispy chicken, plenty of sauce, and melted cheese, without making dinner more complicated than it needs to be.

Another winner from @TestKitchen, where every recipe is tested to make sure it works at home. And at under 45 minutes, this one is definitely going into my weeknight rotation.
 
Want to try it? Comment RECIPE and Iโ€™ll send you a link to trial Americaโ€™s Test Kitchen and get the recipe. You can also find the link in my bio.

And be sure to give @TestKitchen a follow for more tested, reliable recipes!
This Harvest Chicken Salad is one of my favorite w This Harvest Chicken Salad is one of my favorite ways to switch up lunch this time of year. Sweet apple, crunchy celery, and a lightened-up dressing come together for something thatโ€™s fresh, filling, and way better than the usual mayo-heavy version. Serve it on a bed of lettuce, in a wrap, or with crackers. Make sure youโ€™re following @gina_gibson_cooks for more recipes. 

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked chicken breast, finely shredded
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 small apple, finely chopped
1/4 dried cranberry 
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 
salt and pepper to taste
Optional 1/4 cup chopped walnuts for crunch.

Instructions:
Finely shred or mash the cooked chicken breast to your preferred texture. In a large bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, light mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice, mixing until smooth. Add the chicken, apple, celery, red onion, and parsley, and stir until everything is evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper, and mix in the walnuts if using. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the flavors meld, then serve chilled on lettuce, in a wrap, or with crackers.
This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Loaf is everything This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Loaf is everything you want from a fall bake โ€” a soft, spiced crumb, juicy apples, a cinnamon swirl running through the center, and a buttery crumb topping on top.

Comment โ€œAPPLEโ€ and Iโ€™ll send you the full recipe!
A dinner you donโ€™t want to miss. I cut a hole st A dinner you donโ€™t want to miss. 

I cut a hole straight into savory Hawaiian rolls and dropped a protein-packed meatball right in โ€”  meatballs made extra tender (and boosted with protein) thanks to a little cottage cheese blended into the mix. Load with marinara, mozzarella, bake until bubbly, and pull apart to serve.

Comment โ€œMEATBALLโ€ and Iโ€™ll send you the full recipe!
Instead of stacking a fried egg onto a bagel, you Instead of stacking a fried egg onto a bagel, you cook the egg thin in the pan and let the bagel halves press right into it โ€” no sliding eggs, no mess. 

Lightly toast the bagel. Whisk the eggs with a little salt and pour into a nonstick pan, spreading it thin. When the egg is almost cooked through, place the two bagel halves on top, pressing gently โ€” this holds the egg in place and keeps it from sliding out. Flip the pan so the bagel side is down and the egg side is up onto a plate. Add your toppings, fold any extra egg over the top, and close the sandwich.

Use a low carb or regular bagel, both work great. I love bagels from @westernbagel
Save this sandwich โ€” your fall grilled cheese. Bu Save this sandwich โ€” your fall grilled cheese.

Buttery, golden sourdough stuffed with melty brie, sharp white cheddar, jammy caramelized onions, and crisp apple slices. Itโ€™s creamy, sweet, tangy, and toasted to perfection.

Use sourdough or whatever bread you love, and make extra caramelized onions โ€” youโ€™ll want them again tomorrow.
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan #ad This is exactly th Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan #ad

This is exactly the kind of dinner I want during the weekโ€”crispy chicken, plenty of sauce, and melted cheese, without making dinner more complicated than it needs to be.

Another winner from @TestKitchen, where every recipe is tested to make sure it works at home. And at under 45 minutes, this one is definitely going into my weeknight rotation.
 
Want to try it? Comment RECIPE and Iโ€™ll send you a link to trial Americaโ€™s Test Kitchen and get the recipe. You can also find the link in my bio.

And be sure to give @TestKitchen a follow for more tested, reliable recipes!
This Harvest Chicken Salad is one of my favorite w This Harvest Chicken Salad is one of my favorite ways to switch up lunch this time of year. Sweet apple, crunchy celery, and a lightened-up dressing come together for something thatโ€™s fresh, filling, and way better than the usual mayo-heavy version. Serve it on a bed of lettuce, in a wrap, or with crackers. Make sure youโ€™re following @gina_gibson_cooks for more recipes. 

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked chicken breast, finely shredded
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 small apple, finely chopped
1/4 dried cranberry 
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 
salt and pepper to taste
Optional 1/4 cup chopped walnuts for crunch.

Instructions:
Finely shred or mash the cooked chicken breast to your preferred texture. In a large bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, light mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice, mixing until smooth. Add the chicken, apple, celery, red onion, and parsley, and stir until everything is evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper, and mix in the walnuts if using. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the flavors meld, then serve chilled on lettuce, in a wrap, or with crackers.

Copyright © 2026 ยท Daphne v2 ยท Designed by Designer Blogs