Pesto Tuna Melt

Trust Me On This One

As a sandwich, tuna melts can be quite controversial. So I’m starting this blog post with a heavily emphasized TRUST ME. This recipe for a pesto tuna melt is exactly the upgrade you need as  a tuna melt lover or the recipe to officially convert you to the tuna-melt dark-side.  This recipe is full of little hacks that, when put together, make for an unbelievably tasty, comforting sandwich. It has herby pesto, sharp cheddar cheese, delicious sourdough cheese, and sweet tomatoes. Then is broiled in the oven, meaning it melts up quickly and consistently.

Pesto Tuna Melt Recipe Tips

When you make this pesto tuna melt, here are a few tips to make sure it's delicious:

• Use the best quality tuna your budget allows for. Search for an option packed in olive oil, not water.  This tip was recommended to me a few years ago and completely changed my opinions on canned tuna. The fat from the olive oil makes the fish taste that much richer and tastier.  There’s also a notable difference in buying a higher-quality tuna.  The taste is much nicer and there’s significantly less of that “cat food” smell when you open the can.

• If you have the time, grate your own cheese. It takes a few extra minutes, but your cheese will melt evenly and taste fresher.  Packaged shredded cheese is coated in cellulose, a plant fiber that stops the pieces of cheese from clumping together in the package.  This component can create clumpy feeling to the cheese when you eat it. I'll always have some pre-grated cheese on hand, but when I want to take my dishes to the next level I'll be sure to grate my own.
• This sandwich is also delicious if you toast your bread before you begin assembly.  I love a soft slice of sourdough, but a toasty slice will help you to achieve a classic tuna melt consistency.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients

To make this pesto tuna melt, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Slices of sourdough bread
• canned tuna
• prepared pesto
• greek yogurt
• shredded cheddar cheese
• slices of tomato
• mayonnaise
• olive oil
• flaky salt and fresh ground pepper

For the exact ingredient amounts, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

Equipment

In order to make this pesto tuna melt, you’ll need the following pieces of equipment:

• Mixing bowls and spoons

• cheese grater (if grating your own cheese)
• Large baking tray
• Broiler setting on your oven

The Recipe Details

The first step in making this pesto tuna melt is to assemble the pesto tuna salad. The ingredients themselves are pretty straight forward - high quality tuna, Greek yogurt, and pesto. The pesto can be store-bought shelf stable, refrigerated, or homemade (like this lemony kale pesto recipe). Whatever your preference, it'll be a great addition to this sandwich. Once the pesto tuna salad is created, it's time to begin assembly.  Start with a thin layer of mayo on each slice of sourdough bread. Spoon the pesto tuna salad onto two of the slices, spreading it from edge to edge of the slice of bread. Arrange the slices of tomato onto the tuna and then sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the top  Broil the tuna melts, open-faced, on high for two to three minutes, watching carefully so the cheese doesn’t burn. Once the tuna melts are out of the oven, drizzle the tuna salad side with a small amount of olive oil, freshly cracked black pepper, and flaky sea salt. Top each sandwich the other slice of bread and serve warm and melty. . If you make this pesto tuna melt on sourdough, be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a rating - I can’t wait to hear how it goes. As always, tag me on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook in your photos. It makes me feel like we’re getting to cook together!