Spicy Tuna Melt Sandwich (Printable Version)

Zesty tuna salad with sriracha heat and gooey melted cheddar on toasted sourdough bread.

# What You Need:

→ Spicy Tuna Salad

01 - 2 cans (5 oz each) tuna in water, drained
02 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
03 - 1 tablespoon sriracha or hot sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
05 - 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
06 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
08 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Sandwich Assembly

09 - 8 slices sourdough bread
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
11 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
12 - 1 medium tomato, thinly sliced

# How-To:

01 - In a mixing bowl, combine drained tuna, mayonnaise, sriracha, Dijon mustard, celery, red onion, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until evenly incorporated.
02 - Lay out sourdough bread slices and spread softened butter on one side of each slice.
03 - Place 4 bread slices with unbuttered side facing up. Distribute spicy tuna salad evenly among them. Top each with shredded cheddar cheese and tomato slices.
04 - Cover each sandwich with remaining bread slices, positioning buttered side facing outward.
05 - Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Place sandwiches in skillet and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing gently, until bread is golden brown and cheese is fully melted.
06 - Slice sandwiches in half and serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It brings together creamy, spicy, and cheesy in one perfectly toasted bite that hits every craving at once.
  • You can make it with pantry staples in under 20 minutes, which is a lifesaver on busy nights.
  • The crispy buttered sourdough adds a texture that makes this feel like comfort food elevated.
  • It's endlessly customizable, so you can dial the heat up or down and still get incredible flavor.
02 -
  • Don't crank the heat too high or the bread will burn before the cheese melts, medium heat is your friend here.
  • Drain the tuna really well and even press it with a paper towel if it seems wet, extra moisture will make your sandwich soggy.
  • Taste the tuna salad before you assemble, it's so much easier to adjust the seasoning or heat level at this stage.
03 -
  • Press the sandwiches gently with your spatula while they cook, it helps the cheese melt faster and keeps everything compact.
  • If your skillet isn't big enough for all four sandwiches, work in batches and keep the finished ones warm in a low oven.
  • A little extra butter on the pan between batches keeps the second round just as golden as the first.
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