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Albacore Tuna Melt

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This Albacore Tuna Melt on grilled sourdough is a quick and easy recipe that is perfect to serve for lunch or dinner. Albacore tuna salad topped with melted aged cheddar and jack cheese, mashed avocado, tomato slices, and applewood smoked bacon on grilled parmesan sourdough bread. Perfection!!

Two tuna melt sandwiches with bacon, tomato, cheese, and avocado, stacked on top of each other with a pickle on top.

This is not the classic tuna sandwich from your youth! This is a restaurant quality tuna melt that is simple enough to make at home. The inspiration for this revised tuna on grilled sourdough recipe comes from the Marie Callender’s menu.

I have never tried their version but it sounded like an amazing combination of flavors, and I was right! Feel free to make substitutions to create “your” perfect tuna melt.

Tuna salad on Grilled Sourdough with provolone cheese, lettuce, and tomato slices cut in half and stacked.

Originally published June 2013. Recipe and images updated September 2022.

The image above shows how tuna on grilled sourdough was served at Marie Callender’s back in the 80’s. It was definitely time for an update!

What you will need

Ingredients needed to make Albacore Tuna Melt on Grilled Sourdough.
  • Thick slices of sourdough bread – homemade sourdough bread or store-bought.
  • Softened butter to hold the parmesan cheese in place while grilling in a skillet to a golden brown color.
  • Canned, solid white albacore tuna is the star of the show so pick a good-quality brand with thick, meaty pieces.
  • Mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, grated red onion, lemon juice, and parsley create the perfect tuna salad filling.
  • Aged cheddar, white or orange, and Monterrey Jack cheese melt perfectly to surround the tuna in cheesy goodness.
  • Avocado that can be mashed as shown, or thinly sliced depending on your preference.
  • Cooked, smoked bacon strips add an unexpected and unique flavor to this sandwich.
  • Tomato slices add the finishing touch.
  • *Diced pickles or pickle relish are optional (because I do not like them).

Be sure to check out the detailed printable recipe card below.

Two halves of a tuna melt sandwich with bacon, avocado, and tomatoes stacked on a plate with a Caesar salad.

How to make Albacore Tuna Melt on Grilled Sourdough

Tuna Filling

Mix the drained tuna, mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, garlic, grated onion, and chopped parsley together in a large bowl until thoroughly combined. Set aside.

Tuna, mayo, garlic, grated red onion, parsley, and mustard in a large mixing bowl.

Grilled Sourdough

Butter one side of each slice of sourdough bread, then sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese.

Two slices of sourdough bread spread with softened butter, one with grated Parmesan cheese.

Place cheese side down in a large skillet over medium heat. Top one slice of bread with two slices of cheddar cheese, and the other slice of bread with two slices of Monterrey Jack cheese.

Two slices of sourdough bread topped with two slices of white cheese in a large skillet.

Allow to cook undisturbed until the parmesan is golden brown and the cheese slices are melted, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside.

Two slice of sourdough bread topped with melted slices of cheese on a small plate.

To assemble

Spread tuna salad mixture over one slice of bread.

Tuna salad spread over the top of melted cheese on a slice of sourdough bread.

Mash the avocado in a small bowl with remaining lemon juice, then spread over the tuna mixture.

Mashed avocado on top of tuna salad on a slice of sourdough bread.

Top with two slices of cooked bacon and tomato slices.

Four slices of tomato, two slices of bacon on top of mashed avocado and tuna salad on a slice of bread.

Place the second slice of grilled sourdough on top and serve with a Caesar Salad, French Fries, or potato chips.

Two plates with half a tuna on grilled sourdough and Caesar salad on the side.

If you love this sandwich, you should also try the Shrimp Grilled Cheese, Pesto and Sun-dried Tomato Grilled Cheese, and the Pizza Margarita Grilled Cheese. When you think about it, a tuna melt is basically a grilled cheese filled with tuna salad, right?

Recipe Notes & Tips

  • This sandwich serves 4 people, half a sandwich each, when using large slices of sourdough bread. Adjust as needed if using regular sandwich bread.
  • Store any leftover sandwich in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in a hot skillet or serve cold.

Tools used to create this recipe

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More delicious tuna recipes

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Enjoy!!

Two tuna melt sandwiches with bacon, tomato, cheese, and avocado, stacked on top of each other with a pickle on top.

Tuna on Grilled Sourdough

Albacore tuna salad topped with melted aged cheddar and jack cheese, avocado, tomato, and bacon on grilled parmesan sourdough.
5 from 2 votes
Print Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: tuna salad, tuna salad on sourdough
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 634kcal
Author: Lisa Johnson

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Tuna Salad

  • 12 ounce can solid white albacore tuna
  • .33 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon country-style mustard
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon grated red onion or finely minced
  • 1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley
  • 1 large clove garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish optional

For the Grilled Sourdough

  • 4 slices sourdough bread large, thick-cut
  • 4 tablespoons butter softened
  • .05 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 4 slices aged cheddar cheese or as much as you like
  • 4 slices Monterrey Jack cheese

To Assemble

  • 1 large avocado mashed or sliced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice the other side of the lemon used above
  • sea salt and black pepper to taste
  • 4 slices applewood smoked thick-cut bacon, cooked
  • 2 Roma tomatoes sliced – or tomato of your choice

Instructions

Tuna Salad

  • Mix the drained tuna, mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, garlic, grated onion, and chopped parsley together in a large bowl until thoroughly combined. Set aside.

Grilled Sourdough

  • Butter one side of each slice of sourdough bread, then sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese.
  • Place cheese side down in a large skillet over medium heat. Top one slice of bread with two slices of cheddar cheese, and the other slice of bread with two slices of Monterrey Jack cheese.
  • Allow to cook undisturbed until the parmesan is golden brown and the cheese slices are melted, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside.

To Assemble

  • Spread tuna salad mixture over one slice of bread.
  • Mash the avocado in a small bowl with remaining lemon juice, then spread over the tuna mixture.
  • Top with two slices of cooked bacon and tomato slices. Place the second slice of grilled sourdough on top and serve with a Caesar SaladFrench Fries, or potato chips.

Notes

  • This sandwich serves 4 people, half a sandwich each, when using large slices of sourdough bread. Adjust as needed if using regular sandwich bread.
  • Store any leftover sandwich in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in a hot skillet or serve cold.

Nutrition

Calories: 634kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 1146mg | Potassium: 351mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 230IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 219mg | Iron: 6mg

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14 Comments

  1. Everything is better on sourdough! I love tuna sandwiches but never order them out because of all the mayo. I forget to make them at home, but you have inspired me to make tuna salad for lunch this week!

  2. yum! What a great twist on an old fav!

    Thanks for linking it up to Super Sunday – see you next week!

  3. Oh, Lisa! 🙂 I LOVE sourdough! And with tuna? Yes, please! 🙂 Thank you so much for linking up with me this week at Tasty Tuesdays! I’ve pinned this & shared it with my followers! Please be sure to stop back by the party and check out some of the other links!

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