Crispy Tuna Melt on Sourdough Air Fryer
A quick and easy crispy tuna melt made with sourdough bread and sharp cheddar cheese, cooked to golden perfection in the air fryer. Perfect for a comforting lunch, dinner, or midnight snack.
- Prep Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 2 sandwiches (2 servings) 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 slices sourdough bread (preferably rustic, thick-cut)
- 1 can (5 oz / 140 g) canned tuna, drained (chunk light tuna packed in water preferred)
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish (optional)
- 4 slices sharp cheddar cheese
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons softened butter
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the drained canned tuna with mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and sweet pickle relish. Stir well to combine. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. The mixture should be creamy but not runny.
- Spread about 1/2 tablespoon (7 g) softened butter evenly on one side of each sourdough slice. This will be the exterior that crisps up in the air fryer.
- Place two slices of sourdough butter-side down on a plate or cutting board. Evenly distribute the tuna mixture on each slice, then top with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese. Finish with the remaining bread slices, butter-side up.
- Preheat the air fryer to 370°F (188°C) and let it run empty for 3 minutes.
- Place the assembled sandwiches in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through (at about 4-5 minutes), until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning.
- Carefully remove the tuna melts from the air fryer using tongs or a spatula. Let them rest for 1-2 minutes before slicing in half for easier eating.
Notes
If your air fryer cooks unevenly, rotate sandwiches 180 degrees when flipping. Add an extra minute or two if cheese isn’t melting enough but watch closely. Use parchment paper at the bottom of the basket for less mess. For a lighter version, swap mayo for Greek yogurt or mashed avocado. For dairy-free, use vegan cheese and plant-based mayo. Gluten-free bread can be used instead of sourdough.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
Keywords: tuna melt, air fryer recipe, sourdough, quick lunch, easy dinner, crispy sandwich, tuna salad, cheddar cheese