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Air fryer tuna mwlt sandwich on a wooden board with salad and crisps.
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5 from 8 votes

Best Air Fryer Tuna Melt

Discover a quick and easy air fryer tuna melt recipe that transforms pantry staples into a delicious lunch. Ready in just 8 minutes, enjoy creamy tuna mayo, melty cheese, and crispy bread without the fuss!
Course Main Course, Snack
Cuisine British
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 13 minutes
Servings 1
Calories 602kcal
Author Beth Sachs

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Equipment

Ingredients

Metric - US Customary
  • 2 Slices of Bread
  • ½ tablespoon Butter softened
  • 145 g Tinned Tuna in Brine drained
  • 2 tablespoon Mayonnaise
  • ¼ teaspoon Dijon Mustard
  • 50 g Extra Mature Cheddar grated

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 180 °C (350 °F).
  • Mix together the tuna mayo ingredients in a small bowl.
    145 g Tinned Tuna in Brine, 2 tablespoon Mayonnaise, ¼ teaspoon Dijon Mustard
  • Put the two slices of bread on a chopping board and spread the softened butter on both slices.
    2 Slices of Bread, ½ tablespoon Butter
  • Turn one slice over (so the buttered side is now touching the board) and spoon over the tuna mayo.
  • Place the grated cheese on top of the tuna mixture and press down with your hand so the grated cheese sticks.
    50 g Extra Mature Cheddar
  • Lay the other slice of bread on top of the cheese, with the buttered side facing up towards you. Press it down firmly with a spatula or your hand.
    Note - You should end up with both buttered sides of the bread on the outside of the sandwich.
  • Air fry for 6 minutes then flip and air fryer for a further 2-4 minutes until the tuna melt is crispy and golden and the cheese has melted.

Notes

Top Tips:
  • Make sure you preheat the air fryer before cooking. This ensures that the air fryer is hot enough to cook the tuna melt evenly.
  • Use good-quality tuna packed in water or brine.
  • Drain the tuna well and squeeze out any excess liquid to prevent your tuna melt from becoming soggy.
  • Pick a sturdy bread like sourdough, rye or whole wheat bread that can hold up to the weight of the filling.
 
Variations:
  • Add diced red onion or diced celery to the tuna mayo mix for extra flavour.
  • Swap the cheddar cheese for mozzarella, gruyere, feta, or any other cheese that melts well.
  • Add thinly sliced tomatoes to the tuna melt before air frying.
  • Swap the Dijon mustard for pesto and a squeeze of lemon juice for a different flavour.
  • Serve the melt with a sliced avocado on top for extra nutrition.
  • Make an open-faced tuna melt with just 1 slice of bread.
 
Storage:
Store - Tuna melt is best eaten fresh out of the air fryer. Store any leftover tuna melt in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat - In the air fryer for 3-5 minutes.
Freeze - Not suitable for freezing.
 
Nutrition:
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
 

Nutritional Information (Approximate)

Calories: 602kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 1155mg | Potassium: 389mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 609IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 462mg | Iron: 5mg
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