Tuna Melt

Name: Tuna Melt
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 18 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 2 cans (5 oz each) tuna in water, drained; 1/3 cup mayonnaise; 2 stalks celery, finely diced; 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice; 1/4 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 8 slices bread; 2 tbsp softened butter; 8 slices cheddar or American cheese

4 servings10 min prep8 min cookEasy

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Tuna Melt

Story updated September 18, 2026

The tuna melt, a hot sandwich of tuna salad and melted cheese, emerged as a diner and lunch-counter staple in mid-20th-century America, building on the earlier popularity of cold tuna salad sandwiches.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings

2 cans (5 oz each) tuna in water, drained
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 stalks celery, finely diced
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
8 slices bread
2 tbsp softened butter
8 slices cheddar or American cheese

Instructions

1In a bowl, mix the drained tuna with mayonnaise, celery, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to make the tuna salad.
2Lay out the bread slices and spread the tuna salad evenly over four of them, then top each with a slice of cheese and the remaining bread.
3Butter the outside of each sandwich lightly.
4Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook the sandwiches for 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing gently, until the bread is golden and the cheese has melted.
5Slice in half and serve warm.

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