Tuna Melt Sandwich air fryer recipe

I will admit I did dread making this tuna melt sandwich, not because it was my first time making one in an air fryer; it was my first time actually eating a tuna melt of any kind.

I can't compare it to anything which I guess isn't fair, but one thing I do know, this is probably one of my all time favourite sandwiches to make - and I think air frying had a little say in that.

No oil in a pan is needed but buttering one side of two slices of standard white bread is all you need, in terms of extra fat and calories.

Plenty of butter will be needed to produce a golden toasted sandwich, which must be spread up to the sides and edges for even browning.

To make the Tuna Melt Spread - much like a spreadable sandwich filler - I combined Canned Tuna Chunks with Mayonnaise, along with a small portion of chopped Spring Onion and a little Black Pepper to season - with NO SALT needed due to the tuna chunks already brined in salt water.

With all that mixed in a bowl, you will pile it all on partially toasted bread, of which you can melt a bit of mature Cheddar cheese whilst the tuna melt sandwich is assembled inside the air fryer.

About the ingredients

Tuna melt sandwich is a simple recipe and easy to make, with all the ingredients picked up in store, or use what could be available in your kitchen cupboards.

Canned Tuna Chunks

You know what canned tuna I am talking about, its a small can with chunks of tuna inside, weighing approximately 145g when drained. Open the can as normal but do drain away excess water - where risk of a soggy wet tuna melt is a possibility.

Hellmann's Mayonnaise

I like Hellmann's Mayonnaise because I like the egg-taste it has. Regardless, it doesn't matter which brand of mayo you go far, just go for your favourite. Bottle mayo will have to by squeezed onto a tablespoon, to measure approximately two tablespoons worth.

White Bread Slices

Nothing special about what store-bought pre-cut slice bread you use, just be sure two slices can fit together side by side in your air fryer.

Make it a medium cut slice but a bread that isn't too dense or has a punchy taste that distracts from the wholesome tuna melt flavour.

Mature Cheddar Cheese

Mature Cheddar is used because I like to cook with strong cheese because the flavour comes out more when its cooked into other ingredients - with mild Cheddar not quite strong enough to shine through.

Spring Onion

Buy a punch of spring onions of which you will only need 4 sprigs for this tuna melt recipe - so have other uses ready so none if it goes to waste.

Make sure the spring onion is nice and clean whilst cutting off the very tips of the sprigs, before using up to 2-3 inches worth of each sprig.

Serving Suggestions

Tuna melt is a served HOT toast sandwich and thus will have to be paired with a cold side, like a light salad, pickles (gherkins) and perhaps a bag of crisps being a good option.

With a salad, this tuna melt will go well with a coleslaw, which can be store-bought or made at home. Serve with tuna melt on the side of the sandwich with no need to open the sandwich to add extra ingredients, which will get messy if you do.

Cut the tuna melt sandwich in half across or diagonally, has its a big hefty sandwich which needs to be cut prior to serving.

Sauces other than additional mayonnaise can be used if the tuna melt spread is a little dry, with a spicy chilli or sweet chilli sauce adding a little zing.

Recipe PROS & CONS

Making a sandwich of any kind in an air fryer does have its restrictions which you should know about prior to air frying, with plenty of positives when it works out.

PROS:

Tuna melt made in an air fryer is as simple as pie, whether its a classic sandwich like you'll be making here, or an open face tuna melt sandwich which is even easier to air fry - if the air fryer is big enough, you should have little difficulty.

Preparing and making a tuna melt sandwich in a frying pan as normal, requires oil with additional cooking methods, whilst adding extra fat and calories - air fried tuna melt avoids all that, and its a little less fussy to make.

CONS:

Unfortunately, the biggest obstacle when air frying a standard size tuna melt sandwich, is whether your air fryer size will restrict handling of the sandwich. To small, and you will risk burning you hands whilst you follow the air fryer instructions.

Tuna melt sandwich will be fully loaded which means it will be a big sandwich, with the potential for the ingredients to spill as you lift the sandwich out of the air fryer. Regardless, plan ahead and take your time to avoid spillages which can be avoided.

In Pictures: How to make tuna melt in air fryer

What better way to follow instructions for how to make a tuna melt sandwich, than with a step-by-step guide in pictures, which will take you through over step of the way.

STEP 1: Preheat air fryer for 5 minutes

We can't proceed with a tuna melt until the air fryer is peheated, which you can do so whilst you prepare and make the tuna melt mayonnaise mixture.

STEP 2: Decanter drained canned tuna into mixing bowl

Open a single can of tuna and drain quite a bit of the brine, using the lid to squeeze the water into the sink; throw the tuna chunks into a mixing bowl using a fork to get every bit.

STEP 3: Break-down tuna chunks into smaller flakes

Break down the tuna chunks into smaller pieces to make a spreadable sandwich filler, which is easier to spread into the corners and edges. Failure to break down into small flakes, will result in less tuna to spread across your sandwich.

STEP 4: Add 2 tablespoons of mayo into bowl

Drop two big dollops of real mayonnaise  - I used Hellmann's on this occasion - with an option to use an extra spoonful or two of mayo to ensure the tuna melt mixture is fully coated in mayonnaise.

STEP 5: Mix tuna and mayonnaise together

Combine both tuna chunks and mayonnaise together by mixing ingredients thoroughly, with use of a fork. Add additional spoonful of mayonnaise if the mixture looks a little dry.

STEP 6: Add finely chopped spring onions and lightly mix

Cut the tips of four spring onions up to two inches and finely chop into pieces which should combine with the tuna and mayonnaise well, without being too big.

STEP 7: Season with freshly Ground Back Pepper

Tuna melt mixture will need a bit of seasoning at this stage, with a little freshly ground back pepper: NO SALT should be added, with canned tuna chunks having been brined in salt water for some time.

STEP 8: Butter 2 bread slices all the way to the edges

Dry bread can be toasted in the air fryer to save on calories, yet spreading butter generously on one side only, will crisp up the bread to a brittle-like texture, where it will produce a deep golden brown surface to bite into.

STEP 9: Air fry bread butter-side up for 4 minutes at 400°F/205°C

Pop two buttered bread slices to a bare air fryer basket butter-side facing up, whilst setting the time and temperature as stated. Air fry single side for full four minutes, keeping an on toast to ensure it doesn't burn.

STEP 10: Flip one bread slice over; pile on tuna mayonnaise to same slice

Turn over single slice of lightly toasted bread, spooning all tuna melt mixture on bread, making sure to press mixture into sides and corners. WARNING: You may want to do this process BY REMOVING THE SLICE OF TOAST, to avoid burning yourself on air fryer.

STEP 11: Evenly sprinkle on grated Cheddar cheese over tuna mixture

Pile 100g of grated mature Cheddar cheese on top of the tuna melt spread, making sure the cheese is sprinkled evenly over the tuna melt ingredients; press down to ensure the grated cheese combines a little to stop the grated cheese flying about.

STEP 12: Close sandwich; air fry at 400°F/205°C for 6 minutes

With the tuna melt spread and grated cheese on top of the one slice of bread, flip the extra slice of bread on top, making sure the toasted topside remains facing up. Continue to air fry as instructed, to ensure the toasted tuna melt sandwich turns golden.

STEP 13: Carefully remove tuna melt sandwich to serve

Can be a little difficult to remove a fully loaded toasted sandwich, thus its vital you do so carefully, making sure the filling doesn't spill in the process.

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