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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:

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 […]

FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS ๐ŸคŽ๐Ÿฆ No ice cream mak FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS ๐ŸคŽ๐Ÿฆ

No ice cream maker needed! These are layers of Biscoff cookies filled with the creamiest homemade no-churn Biscoff ice cream and an extra swirl of cookie butter through the center.

Easy to make and perfect for summer

Comment ICE CREAM and Iโ€™ll send you the full recipe!

Save this for an easy summer dessert and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more simple, family-friendly recipes.
Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it a day.
Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce T Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce 

The chicken is smoky, garlicky and grilled until juicy, but the creamy cilantro green sauce is what really makes this recipe. I could put it on just about everything.

I kept the heat family-friendly by using just one seeded jalapeรฑo, but you can always leave some of the seeds in or add another jalapeรฑo if you like things spicy. Serve it with rice, grilled corn, potatoes or veggies for an easy summer dinner the whole family will love.

For the chicken:

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp kosher salt
ยฝ tsp black pepper

For the creamy green sauce:

1 packed cup fresh cilantro
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 small jalapeรฑo, seeds removed
1 garlic clove
Juice of 2 limes
2 tbsp grated parmesan
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp honey
ยฝ tsp kosher salt
ยผ tsp black pepper

Whisk together the olive oil, garlic, lime juice, vinegar and seasonings. Add the chicken and toss until well coated. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.

Add all of the green sauce ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and add another squeeze of lime or pinch of salt if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Grill the chicken over medium-high heat for about 5โ€“7 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until cooked through to 165ยฐF. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice and drizzle generously with the creamy green sauce.

Serve with rice, grilled corn, avocado, roasted potatoes or your favorite veggiesโ€”and definitely keep extra green sauce on the side.

Save this easy chicken dinner for later, share it with someone who needs new weeknight dinner ideas, and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy, family-friendly recipes! ๐ŸŒฟ
CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN Rich and cheesy, perfect com CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN

Rich and cheesy, perfect  comfort food mashup I. 

I used our favorite @momofukugoods noodles, Trader Joeโ€™s birria, and plenty of cheese. The birria consommรฉ gets mixed right into the creamy cheese sauce, so you get that birria flavor in every bite. Finish it with onion, cilantro and plenty of lime. 

3 packages Momofuku noodles
1 package Trader Joeโ€™s Beef Birria, cooked and shredded (reserve ยฝ cup consommรฉ)
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 ounces cream cheese
ยพ cup milk
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella
1 ramen seasoning packet
ยผ teaspoon cumin
Diced white onion, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges for serving

Cook the ramen noodles, then drain and set aside.

Melt the butter in the pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.

Add the cream cheese, milk, ยฝ cup birria consommรฉ, ramen seasoning, and cumin. Stir until smooth and creamy.

Reduce the heat to low and add the Monterey Jack mozarella cheese. Stir until melted.

Add the cooked ramen noodles and shredded birria beef and toss until everything is coated in the cheesy birria sauce. Add another splash of consommรฉ if needed to loosen it up.

Top with diced onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and extra consommรฉ if you like.

Make sure to SAVE this one and FOLLOW along for more recipes ๐Ÿ™ƒ
Summer hosting doesnโ€™t have to be complicated. I Summer hosting doesnโ€™t have to be complicated. 
I kept this backyard dinner simple with crispy chicken sandwiches that were a HUGE hit! I lightly coated chicken tenders in @lafishyfry Louisiana Fish Fry Brand Seasoned Chicken Fry, fried them until perfectly golden, then piled them onto toasted buns with sliced cheddar and peppery arugula tossed in @Tessemaes Spicy Dill dressing. So simple, so good.
To round out the spread, I set out @powerupsnacks Power Up Premium Trail Mix for an easy snack, @sourpunchcandy Sour Punch Bites for a sweet treat, and served everything on @SOLOcup cups and plates, which made cleanup so easy.
#Tessemaes #LAFishFry #SOLOBoldHold #SourPunchXBabbleBox #PowerUp
No-bake peanut butter pie. Creamy peanut butter No-bake peanut butter pie. 

Creamy peanut butter filling, a chocolate cookie crust, and absolutely no oven required. 

For the crust:
16 Oreo-style cookies
4 tablespoons melted butter

For the filling:
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
โ…“ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
6 ounces Cool Whip, thawed

Optional toppings:
Melted chocolate, crushed Oreo cookies, chopped peanut butter cups, or chopped peanuts.

Pulse the cookies into fine crumbs and mix with the melted butter. Press into a small pie dish and refrigerate while you make the filling.

Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat until light and creamy. Gently fold in the Cool Whip until everything is combined.

Spread the filling into the crust, smooth the top, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight for the best texture.

Before serving, drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with crushed Oreo cookies if youโ€™d like.

Save this one for your next summer get-together!
FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS ๐ŸคŽ๐Ÿฆ No ice cream mak FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS ๐ŸคŽ๐Ÿฆ

No ice cream maker needed! These are layers of Biscoff cookies filled with the creamiest homemade no-churn Biscoff ice cream and an extra swirl of cookie butter through the center.

Easy to make and perfect for summer

Comment ICE CREAM and Iโ€™ll send you the full recipe!

Save this for an easy summer dessert and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more simple, family-friendly recipes.
Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it a day.
Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce T Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce 

The chicken is smoky, garlicky and grilled until juicy, but the creamy cilantro green sauce is what really makes this recipe. I could put it on just about everything.

I kept the heat family-friendly by using just one seeded jalapeรฑo, but you can always leave some of the seeds in or add another jalapeรฑo if you like things spicy. Serve it with rice, grilled corn, potatoes or veggies for an easy summer dinner the whole family will love.

For the chicken:

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp kosher salt
ยฝ tsp black pepper

For the creamy green sauce:

1 packed cup fresh cilantro
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 small jalapeรฑo, seeds removed
1 garlic clove
Juice of 2 limes
2 tbsp grated parmesan
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp honey
ยฝ tsp kosher salt
ยผ tsp black pepper

Whisk together the olive oil, garlic, lime juice, vinegar and seasonings. Add the chicken and toss until well coated. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.

Add all of the green sauce ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and add another squeeze of lime or pinch of salt if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Grill the chicken over medium-high heat for about 5โ€“7 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until cooked through to 165ยฐF. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice and drizzle generously with the creamy green sauce.

Serve with rice, grilled corn, avocado, roasted potatoes or your favorite veggiesโ€”and definitely keep extra green sauce on the side.

Save this easy chicken dinner for later, share it with someone who needs new weeknight dinner ideas, and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy, family-friendly recipes! ๐ŸŒฟ
CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN Rich and cheesy, perfect com CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN

Rich and cheesy, perfect  comfort food mashup I. 

I used our favorite @momofukugoods noodles, Trader Joeโ€™s birria, and plenty of cheese. The birria consommรฉ gets mixed right into the creamy cheese sauce, so you get that birria flavor in every bite. Finish it with onion, cilantro and plenty of lime. 

3 packages Momofuku noodles
1 package Trader Joeโ€™s Beef Birria, cooked and shredded (reserve ยฝ cup consommรฉ)
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 ounces cream cheese
ยพ cup milk
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella
1 ramen seasoning packet
ยผ teaspoon cumin
Diced white onion, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges for serving

Cook the ramen noodles, then drain and set aside.

Melt the butter in the pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.

Add the cream cheese, milk, ยฝ cup birria consommรฉ, ramen seasoning, and cumin. Stir until smooth and creamy.

Reduce the heat to low and add the Monterey Jack mozarella cheese. Stir until melted.

Add the cooked ramen noodles and shredded birria beef and toss until everything is coated in the cheesy birria sauce. Add another splash of consommรฉ if needed to loosen it up.

Top with diced onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and extra consommรฉ if you like.

Make sure to SAVE this one and FOLLOW along for more recipes ๐Ÿ™ƒ
Summer hosting doesnโ€™t have to be complicated. I Summer hosting doesnโ€™t have to be complicated. 
I kept this backyard dinner simple with crispy chicken sandwiches that were a HUGE hit! I lightly coated chicken tenders in @lafishyfry Louisiana Fish Fry Brand Seasoned Chicken Fry, fried them until perfectly golden, then piled them onto toasted buns with sliced cheddar and peppery arugula tossed in @Tessemaes Spicy Dill dressing. So simple, so good.
To round out the spread, I set out @powerupsnacks Power Up Premium Trail Mix for an easy snack, @sourpunchcandy Sour Punch Bites for a sweet treat, and served everything on @SOLOcup cups and plates, which made cleanup so easy.
#Tessemaes #LAFishFry #SOLOBoldHold #SourPunchXBabbleBox #PowerUp
No-bake peanut butter pie. Creamy peanut butter No-bake peanut butter pie. 

Creamy peanut butter filling, a chocolate cookie crust, and absolutely no oven required. 

For the crust:
16 Oreo-style cookies
4 tablespoons melted butter

For the filling:
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
โ…“ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
6 ounces Cool Whip, thawed

Optional toppings:
Melted chocolate, crushed Oreo cookies, chopped peanut butter cups, or chopped peanuts.

Pulse the cookies into fine crumbs and mix with the melted butter. Press into a small pie dish and refrigerate while you make the filling.

Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat until light and creamy. Gently fold in the Cool Whip until everything is combined.

Spread the filling into the crust, smooth the top, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight for the best texture.

Before serving, drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with crushed Oreo cookies if youโ€™d like.

Save this one for your next summer get-together!
FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS ๐ŸคŽ๐Ÿฆ No ice cream mak FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS ๐ŸคŽ๐Ÿฆ

No ice cream maker needed! These are layers of Biscoff cookies filled with the creamiest homemade no-churn Biscoff ice cream and an extra swirl of cookie butter through the center.

Easy to make and perfect for summer

Comment ICE CREAM and Iโ€™ll send you the full recipe!

Save this for an easy summer dessert and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more simple, family-friendly recipes.
Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it a day.
Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce T Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce 

The chicken is smoky, garlicky and grilled until juicy, but the creamy cilantro green sauce is what really makes this recipe. I could put it on just about everything.

I kept the heat family-friendly by using just one seeded jalapeรฑo, but you can always leave some of the seeds in or add another jalapeรฑo if you like things spicy. Serve it with rice, grilled corn, potatoes or veggies for an easy summer dinner the whole family will love.

For the chicken:

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp kosher salt
ยฝ tsp black pepper

For the creamy green sauce:

1 packed cup fresh cilantro
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 small jalapeรฑo, seeds removed
1 garlic clove
Juice of 2 limes
2 tbsp grated parmesan
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp honey
ยฝ tsp kosher salt
ยผ tsp black pepper

Whisk together the olive oil, garlic, lime juice, vinegar and seasonings. Add the chicken and toss until well coated. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.

Add all of the green sauce ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and add another squeeze of lime or pinch of salt if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Grill the chicken over medium-high heat for about 5โ€“7 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until cooked through to 165ยฐF. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice and drizzle generously with the creamy green sauce.

Serve with rice, grilled corn, avocado, roasted potatoes or your favorite veggiesโ€”and definitely keep extra green sauce on the side.

Save this easy chicken dinner for later, share it with someone who needs new weeknight dinner ideas, and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy, family-friendly recipes! ๐ŸŒฟ
CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN Rich and cheesy, perfect com CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN

Rich and cheesy, perfect  comfort food mashup I. 

I used our favorite @momofukugoods noodles, Trader Joeโ€™s birria, and plenty of cheese. The birria consommรฉ gets mixed right into the creamy cheese sauce, so you get that birria flavor in every bite. Finish it with onion, cilantro and plenty of lime. 

3 packages Momofuku noodles
1 package Trader Joeโ€™s Beef Birria, cooked and shredded (reserve ยฝ cup consommรฉ)
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 ounces cream cheese
ยพ cup milk
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella
1 ramen seasoning packet
ยผ teaspoon cumin
Diced white onion, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges for serving

Cook the ramen noodles, then drain and set aside.

Melt the butter in the pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.

Add the cream cheese, milk, ยฝ cup birria consommรฉ, ramen seasoning, and cumin. Stir until smooth and creamy.

Reduce the heat to low and add the Monterey Jack mozarella cheese. Stir until melted.

Add the cooked ramen noodles and shredded birria beef and toss until everything is coated in the cheesy birria sauce. Add another splash of consommรฉ if needed to loosen it up.

Top with diced onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and extra consommรฉ if you like.

Make sure to SAVE this one and FOLLOW along for more recipes ๐Ÿ™ƒ
Summer hosting doesnโ€™t have to be complicated. I Summer hosting doesnโ€™t have to be complicated. 
I kept this backyard dinner simple with crispy chicken sandwiches that were a HUGE hit! I lightly coated chicken tenders in @lafishyfry Louisiana Fish Fry Brand Seasoned Chicken Fry, fried them until perfectly golden, then piled them onto toasted buns with sliced cheddar and peppery arugula tossed in @Tessemaes Spicy Dill dressing. So simple, so good.
To round out the spread, I set out @powerupsnacks Power Up Premium Trail Mix for an easy snack, @sourpunchcandy Sour Punch Bites for a sweet treat, and served everything on @SOLOcup cups and plates, which made cleanup so easy.
#Tessemaes #LAFishFry #SOLOBoldHold #SourPunchXBabbleBox #PowerUp
No-bake peanut butter pie. Creamy peanut butter No-bake peanut butter pie. 

Creamy peanut butter filling, a chocolate cookie crust, and absolutely no oven required. 

For the crust:
16 Oreo-style cookies
4 tablespoons melted butter

For the filling:
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
โ…“ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
6 ounces Cool Whip, thawed

Optional toppings:
Melted chocolate, crushed Oreo cookies, chopped peanut butter cups, or chopped peanuts.

Pulse the cookies into fine crumbs and mix with the melted butter. Press into a small pie dish and refrigerate while you make the filling.

Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat until light and creamy. Gently fold in the Cool Whip until everything is combined.

Spread the filling into the crust, smooth the top, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight for the best texture.

Before serving, drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with crushed Oreo cookies if youโ€™d like.

Save this one for your next summer get-together!

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