We did a thing… 😂😂😂Hey, when life hands you a quarantine, you set up a bounce house in your living room. Isn’t that how the saying goes?
In related news: the kids are on the up and up, thank goodness! Last week and weekend were extremely stressful but these crazies are pulling through and spirits are high. Clearly! Truly we could be on lock down right now (thinking of those of you who are – I’m sure were not far behind) and I’d still be riding high because these little bits are happy and healthy. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – what👏🏻a👏🏻cra👏🏻zy👏🏻time.👏🏻 I mean, clearly! I have a freaking bounce house in my living room! And I LIKE it! I don’t even know who I am anymore!
In other news, I’ve had sooo many people asking for easy lunch recipes and ideas now that many are working from home and swinging by the local deli or burger joint isn’t an option. Salads and leftovers are great, but sizzling Tuna Melt Sandwiches are even better!
Gwen and I split a batch of tuna salad for lunch at least a couple days a week. It’s an easy, healthy option for her especially (girlfriend won’t touch a vegetable with a ten foot pole,) and we usually dunk into bowls with almond crackers, but stuffing the mixture between slices of buttered bread with cheddar cheese then sizzling on a hot griddle or skillet until golden brown is a total treat. Plus this protein-packed combo keeps me full until dinner time. If you’ve been struggling with constantly snacking while at home, you won’t even think about it with this filling lunch in your belly.
This is a basic Tuna Melt Sandwich recipe so feel free to add a few slices of fresh tomato between the tuna salad and cheddar before cooking, or open it up after browning to stuff fresh arugula inside. Ok YUM – there’s an idea! I know this easy, fridge and pantry staple recipe will make you jump for joy (#fullcirclemoment) so let’s get after it!
More Easy Lunch Ideas:
- Dill Pickle Tuna Salad >
- BBQ Chicken Quesadillas >
- Apple Tarragon Chicken Salad >
- BLT Egg Salad >
- California Turkey and Bacon Lettuce Wraps >
- Mediterranean Tuna Salad >
- Mediterranean Turkey Wrap >
How to Make It:
My favorite tuna salad is a mixture of a 5oz can wild-caught albacore tuna, drained, plus 3-4 Tablespoons mayonnaise (I use Hellman’s Vegan Mayo for Gwen,) 2 minced pickle spears, and 1/4 teaspoon steak seasoning. Yes, steak seasoning! It’s got all the good stuff. We use a blend from a butcher shop in DC (they don’t sell it anymore but I have a copycat recipe here) though you could simply use salt and pepper or homemade seasoning salt instead.
This is our FAVORITE tuna, by the way. It’s pretty pricey at the regular grocery store but Costco sells them in a stack for a great price. Always a great idea to grab one when you can!
Scoop the tuna salad between two slices of buttered bread (I’m currently obsessed with Franz Gluten Free Bread – another Costco staple of mine!) with a slice of cheddar cheese then cook on a griddle or in a skillet over medium heat until hot and golden brown on both sides. OH MY WORD, such a fabulous step up from your standard tuna salad sandwich. I hope you love this simple, delicious dish – enjoy!
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Tuna Melt Sandwiches
Description
Tuna Melt Sandwiches hot, crispy, cheesy, and filling! This simple yet scrumptious recipe is perfect for an easy yet tasty lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
- 5oz can tuna, drained (I prefer Wild Planet wild albacore tuna)
- 3-4 Tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 pickle spears, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon steak seasoning (see notes)
- 2 slices cheddar cheese
- 4 slices gluten free bread
- butter
Directions
- Preheat a large flat skillet or griddle over medium heat.
- In a medium-sized bowl stir together tuna, mayonnaise, minced pickles, and steak seasoning. Butter one side of each slice of bread then flip two over and top each with half the tuna mixture. Add a slice of cheese then cover with remaining slices of buttered bread.
- Place sandwiches onto preheated skillet or griddle then cook until golden brown. Flip then cook until the second side is golden brown and cheese is melted. Remove sandwiches to plates then slice and serve.
Notes
- I love this homemade steak seasoning recipe >
- Feel free to add a few fresh tomato slices under the cheese if you have them! This "recipe" is more of an idea so feel free to make it your own.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Speaking of picky toddlers, I would love to know if you have any lunch ideas for them. My son also has a dairy intolerance and it’s hard to find things he’ll actually eat, and so many kids meal ideas are cheese based.
Dairy free is tough, I know it! A very typical lunch plate for my kids is: deli meat sandwich, peppers or carrots with hummus, crackers, and fruit. A few days ago I made them French Toast Sticks (just cut bread into thirds to form “sticks”) with hash browns and fruit, and that was a big hit! Other dairy free snacks we like besides fruit or vegetables: apple slices + peanut butter, Veggie Straws, banana slices topped with peanut butter and a chocolate chip, trail mix (pistachios or peanuts, dried cranberries, pretzels, and maybe mini marshmallows or chocolate chips if I’m feeling generous 😂), Chobani coconut yogurt (we tried a LOT of dairy free yogurt and this is the only one my daughter likes), peanut butter toast, or cereal.
YUM! We love tuna at our house and this is going on the menu. They have shut down schools for the entire remainder of the school year here in Kansas plus I am teleworking until this is over. This is the perfect easy lunch idea! I love the bounce house! So fun! Is a bounce house in the living room considered P.E.? Asking for a friend ;)
PE AND recess! Highly recommend. ;) I heard about KS schools last week – I have a feeling we are going to be right there with you!! Hang in there, Lacey!!
Love the bounce house. The tuna melt is a great stand by and delicious. Have had this many times. Thinking of you all!
Thanks Aunt Bev! Thinking about you and ALL the babies!!
Just made and ate these for lunch! Perfect option on a dreary Seattle day. My husband was sure he could eat two more… Keep the lunch ideas coming please! Thank you!
Amazing!! So glad you guys enjoyed – stay healthy out there!
I’ve had tuna salad where I’ve added hard boiled eggs to the mix. More protein and delicious
I don’t want to be THAT girl, especially because I love your blog (even though I’m not gf) and many of your recipes are staples in my house. I also love Wild Planet Tuna but I would recommend the Skipjack over the Albacore, esp if you’re eating multiple times a week. It’s not a taste thing, but Skipjack has the lowest mercury levels.
Just a little PSA. Again, LOVE your blog!
I love and appreciate your self awareness, Gracie! 😂❤️ This is great info – I will look for that variety the next time I stock up! Thank you for the heads up!
Would never had thought to add steak seasoning to tuna, but it was great!
This recipe was outstanding, the two dill pickles were the perfect salty flavor and the steak seasoning really enhanced the flavors. This will be my go to tuna melt recipe and maybe make a salad with pasta too.
My husband made these a couple of nights ago and they were delicious! Neither of us is a big fan of canned tuna, but we really liked this recipe. I think the pickles made the difference.
I made this tonight and hubs was SO HAPPY he loves this kind of comfort food! Thank you!
I make more recipes on this site than any other but I am not good at commenting when I make. So here it is: unfussy, easy, tasty and crowd pleasing. I tried to ‘healthify’ and used Ezekiel bread, dairy free cheese and grated carrot in the tuna mix. I recommend! Thanks again IGE for another winner :)
When I first saw the picture I thought that cheese was a yellow pepper, and that would be delicious. I love tuna salad but no one else here does. I like mayo, hint of yellow mustard, diced onion, celery, tomatoes, grated egg, grated sharp cheddar and S&P. Yum!! Now that steak seasoning sounds great too. Thanks.
I’m dying for a sandwich, but I cannot get over the taste of gf bread, did you struggle with this?! My store has Udi’s & canyon bakehouse which of the two are better? Appreciate the help.🙂
Definitely go with Canyon Bakehouse – it’s fantastic! I also really love Franz gluten free bread though I can only currently find that at Costco.
I recommend not draining the tuna. The fish is cooked in the can so the “juice” is fish oil. I mix it all together and end up using a lot less mayo.
From Wild Planet tuna faq page:
Our albacore and skipjack tuna has no liquid added; it is simply tuna in its own juices. Our sashimi grade tuna steaks are hand cut and placed in the can, sealed, and then cooked. The liquid present when you open the can is only what was originally in the fish itself. That is why we recommend that you use the liquid, and the nutrition panel is based on the whole contents, both meat and liquid.
An exception to this method is our tuna packed in extra virgin olive oil.
I am very happy with PRINT RECIPE . Tuna Melt Sandwiches are hot, crispy, cheesy. Keep it up. Thanks for sharing this dish information. I really like this dish. After eat i feel really good.
Amazing!! I used sweet pickles and it tasted so good! We will be adding this to our regular lunch rotation!
I’ve always thought my tuna salad recipe was just fine, but I was intrigued by your addition of pickles – never heard of that! Just tried it for fun, and I have to say – YUM! The pickle taste wasn’t overwhelming at all. This is my new tuna salad recipe!