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Classic avocado tuna melt recipe, featuring avocado, tomato, tuna salad, and Muenster cheese on crunchy toasted whole grain bread. What's not to love? This is the BEST hot, cheesy tuna sandwich ever. This 15 minute recipe is delicious, and a perfect change from the usual ho-hum meal!
Update Notes: This post was originally published in August 2014, but was republished with tips, step by step photos, and a recipe change in August 2020.
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🧾 Avocado Tuna Melt Backstory
The tuna melt is a classic lunch choice. I hadn’t had a tuna melt in a loooong time, and for some reason I just developed a hankering for one. But of course, I could not just make a plain ol’ tuna melt. I decided to make a fancy schmancy, upscale tuna melt. I was just in one of those moods.
Avocado and tomato on the melt elevates the ordinary sandwich into something extra special! And Muenster cheese is a favorite of mine - plus it's a great melting cheese, perfect for this sandwich!
And if you're looking for another great tuna recipe, check out this Lemon Dill Tuna with Noodles!
🥘 Ingredients Needed
- whole grain bread - or substitute with your favor bread!
- white chunk albacore tuna - or your favorite canned tuna.
- mayonnaise - use light, if desired.
- dried dill - adds a bright freshness to the sandwich.
- onion flakes, garlic powder and paprika - to add loads of flavor.
- avocado - for creamy goodness.
- tomato - also gives a bright burst of freshness to the avocado tuna melt.
- Muenster cheese - really you can sub with the cheese you have on hand, but Muenster really elevates this sandwich!
I admit, this recipe was all about ME and the things that I like. As a busy mom constantly working to meet the needs of the family (does that sound like you?), I love this meal because is not only quick and easy to make but also a nutritious meal to share with my family!
But, I am happy to tell you DH also loved this. Thing 1 and Thing 2 pulled out the tomato, and Thing 2 removed the avocado as well. Sigh.
I am not sure how any child of mine could dislike avocado, but there you have it. Oh well, that leaves more avocado for me!
🔪 Instructions
- Lightly toast the bread.
- Make the tuna salad by combining the tuna, mayo, dill, onion flakes, garlic powder, and paprika in a medium bowl.
- Place four slices of bread on a baking sheet and place the avocado slices on top of the bread.
- Top with tomato slices.
- Next pile the tuna salad on top of the tomato.
- Place a slice of cheese on top of the tuna.
- Now place the baking sheet under the broiler on high for 3-4 minutes until the sandwich is hot and the cheese is melted.
💭 Top Tips
How to make the perfect avocado tuna melt sandwich every time!
🥑 Making the best sandwich starts with quality ingredients. Make sure that your bread is fresh, that your spices haven't lost their zing, and that the avocado and tomato are ripe but not overripe.
🥑 Choose your avocado based on when you plan to make your tuna melt sandwich. If it won't be for a few days, pick an avocado that is still fairly firm when you give it a light squeeze.
🥑 Did you know you can put your ripe avocado in the refrigerator to give yourself an extra day or two before it becomes overripe? That fun fact has helped me out many times!
🥑 Be sure to toast the bread. Get it crispy and golden brown without burning.
🥑 Layer the ingredients carefully. Ensuring the tuna salad is spread crust-to-crust before topping with the cheese, will make every bite just as delicious as the one before!
👪 FAQs
Well only the BEST sandwich on each! It's a mixture of tuna and seasoning on crispy bread and topped with avocado, tomato, and melted cheese. This open-faced sandwich will just about literally melt in your mouth!
Yes! Instead use a skillet! Start by preheating your skillet to medium heat. Add the sandwich to the skillet and cover. Heat for about 2-3 minutes until cheese starts to melt. The lid covering the sandwich will act like an oven and help to melt the cheese.
Tuna is a high-quality lean protein and a good source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Plus it's lower in fat than canned chicken! For us, it's a great option for a meal. If you are concerned, you can look for BPA-free cans and check the ingredient label to see what oils or broths may have been added.
You can make this up to three days ahead. Doubling the tuna salad will ensure lunch will be made for a couple of days!
No, it's not something that is recommended. Eat and enjoy while it's fresh!
📖 Variations
- Have a different favorite tuna salad recipe? Use that instead!
- Try this sandwich melt with cooked shredded chicken breast, leftover rotisserie chicken, or even canned chicken.
- Try using this chickpea salad for a meatless option!
- Add some arugula on top after melting the cheese to round out the flavor profile and add a fresh pop of green color.
🥗 Suggested Side Dishes
Keep it simple because it's all about the sandwich - chips and a pickle would be delicious! Though... I would not say no to seafood pasta salad ... just saying! 😋
More of my favorite sandwiches!
There are a TON of great sandwich recipes on the blog, so it's hard to pick and choose! BUT hmmm... this Grilled Chicken Cheese Sandwich is super good... or how about a Chili Cheese Grilled Sandwich?
If one of those doesn't tickle your fancy, then head over and check out this round-up of 15 Grilled Cheese Sandwiches - I'm telling you, you're going to find a new favorite!
I also invite you to follow me on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, or INSTAGRAM to keep up with what’s going on in my kitchen.
📋 Recipe Card
Avocado Tuna Melt
Ingredients
- 4 slices whole grain bread
- 15 ounces white chunk albacore tuna (3 cans)
- 3 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise (can use light, if desired)
- 1/4 teaspoon dried dill
- 1/4 teaspoon onion flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1 avocado (peeled and sliced)
- 1 large tomato (sliced)
- 4 sliced muenster cheese
Instructions
- Lightly toast each slice of bread.
- While the bread is toasting, make the tuna salad by combining the tuna, mayonnaise, dill, onion flakes, garlic powder, and paprika in a medium bowl.
- Place the toasted bread on a baking sheet. Distribute the avocado slices among the 4 pieces of bread.
- Place the tomato slices on top of the avocado.
- Distribute the tuna salad on top of the tomato.
- Place a slice of cheese on top of the tuna.
- Place the baking sheet under the broiler on high for 3-4 minutes until the sandwich is hot and the cheese is melted.
Notes
- Choose your avocado based on when you plan to make your tuna melt sandwich. If it won’t be for a few days, pick an avocado that is still fairly firm when you give it a light squeeze. If you will be making it right away, choose an avocado that gives slightly.
- If your avocado is ripe but you aren't ready to make the tuna melt, place it in the refrigerator and that will buy you an extra day or two.
- Don't skip toasting the bread. The extra crunch really adds to this recipe!
- If you don't have a broiler, use a skillet. Start by preheating your skillet to medium heat. Add the sandwich to the skillet and cover. Heat for about 2-3 minutes until cheese starts to melt. The lid covering the sandwich will act like an oven and help to melt the cheese.
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Nutrition
Check out my Dizzy Busy and Hungry store on Amazon for a whole bunch of great kitchen products I love!
Thanks so much for reading! I also invite you to follow me on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, or INSTAGRAM to keep up with what's going on in my kitchen.
Happy cooking!
Diane Balch
Brilliant idea to add avocado to a tuna melt. Pinned.
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life
I think this looks like the perfect lunch. I love avocados and muenster cheese!
Katrina Vega
This looks amazing! I always love tuna melts and adding the avocado is even better. Thanks for sharing! Pinning 🙂
Cecelia Dardanes
This looks great. I am having a link party for back to school ideas, and I would love if you shared your link to this recipe on the link party. Who ever visits my site will get linked back to yours. Here is the link if you are interested. No pressure, this just looks too super good. 🙂
Cheers!
Cecelia
Back to School Link Party
Platter Talk
This might not be the best thing I've seen all day but if it's not, I'm a monkey's uncle!! I love everything in this one, and once again the photos make it even more tantalizing for my eyes. Wonderful job with this post!!
Kristin King
Haha! I am going to assume that you are not a monkey's uncle, so thanks for the wonderful compliment! 😉
shelby
A tuna melt is pretty much the only way I will eat tuna! I have one avocado left...and I may have just found how I am going to eat it! Looks delicious.
Kristin King
Thanks, Shelby! Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Heidy L. McCallum
This avocado tuna melt looks utterly fantastic! I love the ingredients especially the avocado, which is a favorite of mine!!
Kristin King
Thank, Heidy! The avocado is my favorite part! 🙂
Sandra Shaffer
This would be about me too! I would have eaten this tuna melt exactly as you served it! I love avocados! I had to laugh at Thing 1 and Thing 2 reference. That's what my bro - in-law calls my nephews 🙂
Kristin King
Haha, Sandra, that is too funny! We have been calling our boys that since they were little, it just seemed to fit! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life
I haven't made tuna salad in forever because the kids don't like it. But I do. And I usually put cheese on mine too when I do make it. 🙂 But avocados....yum! What an awesome addition! Avocados definitely make everything taste better! Pinned and I am going to stumble too! Have a great day!
Kristin King
I know, Michelle, if the kids don't like something, I tend not to make it. But sometimes we moms have to do something for ourselves! Make yourself a tuna melt, and sit quietly with a cup of coffee and ENJOY! Sounds like heaven, doesn't it? 🙂
Debi @ Life Currents
This looks great! I love a good tuna melt. I've pinned, SU, and yummlyed it.
Kristin King
Thanks, Debi, I appreciate it! 🙂