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tuna melt stacked on a board.

Air Fryer Tuna Melt


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5 from 1 review

Description

Crispy, golden bread with melted cheese and Mediterranean tuna salad make a nostalgic, flavor-packed sandwich in under 10 minutes.


Ingredients

Scale

For the Mediterranean Tuna Salad:

  • 1 can tuna (preferably in olive oil), drained
  • 1 tablespoon red onion, diced or thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons green olives, diced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil, diced
  • 1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley, diced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 small garlic clove, grated (or pinch of garlic powder)
  • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

For the Sandwich:

  • 2 slices bread (sourdough, white, or whole wheat)
  • 1-2 teaspoons mayonnaise (1 teaspoon covers standard sandwich bread; use 2 for large bakery slices)
  • 2 slices cheese (cheddar, gruyere, or American)
  • 2 slices tomato

Instructions

  1. Make the tuna salad. Whisk together red wine vinegar, Dijon, grated garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add red onion, drained tuna, olives, basil, and parsley. Toss. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  2. Toast the bread. Spread mayonnaise in a very thin layer on one side of each bread slice. Place bread slices mayo-side up in air fryer basket. Air fry at 400°F for 3 minutes until golden brown.
  3. Melt the cheese. Flip bread slices. Top each with 1 slice of cheese. Air fry 90-120 seconds until cheese is melted and bubbly.
  4. Assemble. Remove cheesy bread from air fryer. Pile tuna salad onto one slice of bread. Top with tomato slices and season with salt and pepper. Close sandwich with second bread slice. Slice and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Pro Tip: Toast the bread first, then flip and add the cheese. This gets you crispy bread and perfectly melted cheese without overcooking. Cold tuna salad on hot toasted bread is the move here.
  • SWAP IT: Use any melting cheese you have - Swiss, provolone, or pepper jack all work great.
  • SCALE IT: Recipe easily doubles or triples. Just work in batches if your air fryer basket won't hold multiple sandwiches at once.
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 5
  • Category: Easy Recipe
  • Method: air fryer
  • Cuisine: American