Description
This Air Fryer Tuna Melts recipe offers a quick and delicious twist on a classic sandwich. Combining a creamy tuna salad with sharp cheddar cheese melted to perfection, these melts are crispy on the outside and packed with savory flavor. Perfect for a speedy lunch or an easy dinner, they require minimal prep and only 5 minutes of cook time in the air fryer.
Ingredients
Scale
Tuna Salad
- 10 ounces tuna, drained
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons red onion, diced
- 3 tablespoons celery, diced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Sandwich
- 4 slices sourdough bread (or bread of your choice)
- 4 slices sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3-5 minutes to ensure it reaches the ideal temperature for toasting the sandwiches evenly.
- Prepare Tuna Salad: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the drained tuna, mayonnaise, diced red onion, diced celery, chopped fresh parsley, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until well blended.
- Butter the Bread: Spread the unsalted butter evenly on the outer sides of each slice of bread; this will help achieve a golden, crispy crust during air frying.
- Assemble the Sandwiches: On the unbuttered side of two bread slices, spread a generous amount of the tuna salad mixture. On the other two slices, place two slices of cheddar cheese each. Top the cheese slices onto the tuna salad slices to form sandwiches.
- Place in Air Fryer Basket: Carefully place the assembled tuna melt sandwiches into the air fryer basket, making sure they aren’t overlapping to allow even cooking.
- Air Fry the Sandwiches: Cook the sandwiches in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 5-7 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time. This ensures the bread becomes golden brown and crispy and the cheese melts perfectly.
- Serve: Remove the tuna melts from the air fryer carefully and let them cool for about a minute before serving to allow the cheese to set slightly. Enjoy warm.
Notes
- You can substitute sourdough with your favorite bread such as whole wheat or multigrain for a different flavor and texture.
- For a lighter version, use light mayonnaise or Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise.
- Adding a slice of tomato or pickles inside the sandwich can add extra freshness and flavor.
- Adjust the seasoning of the tuna salad to taste, adding more lemon juice or mustard if desired.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, these can also be made on a stovetop griddle or pan but will require flipping often and careful monitoring.
