This recipe makes a spicy tuna melt sandwich that is perfect for serving at lunch time or for dinner. This recipe is super quick and easy so you can have this delicious sandwich whipped up in no time.

This spicy tuna melt is a tasty twist on a regular tuna melt sandwich. It requires similar ingredients but also include jalapenos and hot sauce to give it a spicy kick. If you don’t like spicy food then you can make this recipe without the chillies and hot sauce for an equally tasty sandwich.

This spicy tuna melt recipe is so easy to make and you can have this warm sandwich ready in around 20 minutes. It goes perfectly with a side salad and can be served for lunch or dinner.

What Cheese can you use for a Tuna Melt?

When choosing cheeses for a tuna melt, ensure you use cheeses that melt well. I use mild cheddar and Leerdammer Dutch cheese when making this sandwich as they both melt smoothly.

Mature cheddar doesn’t melt well as it loses moisture during its aging process making it rigid and less capable of melting properly so if you go for cheddar then go for mild.

Other cheeses that melt well include Swiss such as Emmental, provolone, edam, mozzarella, gouda, red Leicester, Monterey jack or American cheese.

Ingredients for Spicy Tuna Melt

For the full list of ingredients and measurements, scroll to the recipe card below.

Tuna - I usually buy tuna steaks in spring water or brine.
Celery – gives the sandwich crunch and texture.
Spring onion – gives the sandwich great flavour.
Herbs – use fresh herbs which include dill, parsley and chives.
Jalapeño – I use pickled jalapenos.
Red peppers – I use sweet drop red peppers which gives the sandwich a sweet flavour.
Gherkins – or pickles.
Lemon juice – I use the juice squeezed from a fresh lemon.
Seasoning – a little salt and black pepper to flavour the sandwich.
Mayonnaise – I use light mayonnaise.
Hot sauce – you can use any hot sauce though I use Cholula.
Bread – I use sourdough bread for this recipe.
Butter – use any butter for this sandwich.
Cheese – for this sandwich, I use mild cheddar and Dutch cheese as they both melt well.

How to Make Spicy Tuna Melt

Prepare the tuna filling

Add the tuna, chopped celery, spring onion, dill, parsley, chives, jalapeños, sweet drop red peppers and gherkins to a bowl then mix.

Season and add wet ingredients

Season with salt and black pepper, then mix in the lemon juice, mayonnaise and hot sauce.

Assemble the sandwich

Butter the outer sides of both slices of bread then lay them down with unbuttered side facing up. Arrange the cheddar cheese slices on 1 slice of the bread then top the cheese with the tuna mixture. Arrange the Dutch cheese on top of the tuna then close the sandwich with the remaining slice of bread ensuring the buttered side is on the outside.

Toast the sandwich

Add the tuna sandwich to a frying pan on a medium heat and toast for 4 - 5 minutes then flip and toast for another 4 - 5 minutes. Once all the cheese has melted and the bread is golden brown, remove the sandwich from the pan, cut in half and serve.

Storage

Make this recipe to serve immediately.

Nutrition

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Spicy Tuna Melt

This spicy tuna melt is spicy, cheesy and so delicious. Serve this tasty sandwich for lunch, brunch or dinner.

Prep Time10

Cook Time8

Total Time18

Author: Andrea

Yield: 1 serving

Calories: 680kcal

Ingredients

60g tuna steaks in brine or spring water drained
1 small stick celery finely chopped
1 spring onion finely chopped
2 sprigs fresh dill finely chopped
2 sprigs fresh parsley finely chopped
2 sprigs fresh chives finely chopped
1 teaspoon pickled jalapeños finely chopped
6 small sweet red drop peppers finely chopped
1 small gherkin or pickle finely chopped
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 pinch salt
1 pinch black pepper
1 tablespoon mayonnaise light or reduced fat
1 tablespoon hot sauce I use Cholula
2 slices sourdough bread
16g butter
1 slice Dutch or Swiss cheese Leerdammer or Emmental (around 20g)
35g mild cheddar sliced

Instructions

To a bowl, add the tuna, chopped celery, spring onion, dill, parsley, chives, jalapeños, sweet drop red peppers and gherkins. Mix the ingredients together then mix in the lemon juice. Add in salt, black pepper, mayonnaise and hot sauce then combine well.
Gather the bread slices and butter the outer sides of both slices. To the unbuttered side of 1 slice arrange the cheddar cheese. Top the cheese with the tuna mixture then layer the Dutch cheese on top of the tuna. Close the sandwich with the remaining slice ensuring the buttered side is on the outside.
Place a large frying pan on a low to medium heat. Add the tuna sandwich to the frying pan and toast for 4 - 5 minutes then flip and toast for another 4 - 5 minutes. Once all the cheese has melted and the bread is golden brown, remove the sandwich from the pan, cut in half and serve.