Take your sandwich game to the next level with this ULTIMATE Open-Faced Tuna Melt! Made with loaded tuna salad, sharp cheddar cheese, sliced avocado, and whole grain bread… you’ve never had a tuna melt this good before!

I’m pretty sure everyone has a couple “go to” dinner recipes for nights when they don’t feel like cooking. I know I do… and tuna melts are definitely one of them. They’re super comforting, easy to whip up with whatever you have on hand, and extra delicious with a bowl of tomato soup for dipping.

Recently, though, I was craving a little something extra. Something more elevated than a basic “clean out the fridge” kind of melt. So I started thinking: if I could create the ULTIMATE tuna melt, what would it be?

And that’s exactly how this sandwich came to be. Delicious, crunchy whole grain bread topped with the best loaded tuna salad, sharp cheddar cheese, and sliced avocado. It’s packed with the flavors of bacon and jalapeño and literally HAS IT ALL.

So if tuna melts aren’t on your go to dinner list? They should be! And after you try this one, I have the feeling they will be.

what you’ll need for this recipe

Bread – Since these are open-faced, I used just one piece of bread for each melt. I always prefer whole grain, so I chose a hearty whole grain variety made locally. You could also use white, sourdough, bagels, or any type of bread you enjoy.

Tuna Salad – The tuna salad is arguably the most important part of a tuna melt since it’s where most of the flavor comes from. I used my Loaded Tuna Salad recipe, which is loaded with mayo, mustard, red onion, bacon, and jalapeño. You could also use a Classic Tuna Salad, mayo-free Caprese Tuna Salad, or any tuna salad you prefer.

Cheese – Melted cheese is what separates a tuna melt from a regular old tuna sandwich. I used sliced sharp cheddar, but you could also use colby jack, pepper jack, provolone, or any meltable cheese.

Avocado – Finally, I topped my tuna melt off with sliced avocado, which gives it a delicious creamy finish you’ll absolutely LOVE!

how to make open faced tuna melts

Make the tuna salad. Start by making your tuna salad according to recipe instructions. This can be used immediately or made up to 2 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for melts.

Assemble the melts. Place slices of bread on a baking sheet and top with tuna salad and sliced cheese.

Bake and garnish. Bake at 400°F for 10-15 minutes, until cheese is melted and bread is toasted through. Remove from oven; garnish with sliced avocado and fresh pepper.

Recipe Variations

Use any of your favorite tuna salad recipes
Substitute white, sourdough, bagels, or any type of bread
Top with colby jack, pepper jack, provolone, or any type of cheese
Add sliced tomatoes before or after baking
Garnish with thinly sliced apples or jalapeños
Drizzle with sriracha or hot sauce
Drizzle with wasabi mayo or spicy mayo

more tuna salad flavor combos

Looking for interesting new ways to do tuna salad? These are some of our favorite chicken salad recipes that could easily be made with canned tuna!

Reheating Tips

Tuna Melts can easily be reheated by removing the sliced avocado and placing the tuna melt on a small baking sheet. Place it in the oven at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and tuna salad is heated through. Replace avocado before serving.