Name: Tuna Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 (170 g) canned Albacore Tuna, drained well; 1/4 cup mayonaisse; 2 tbsp yellow mustard; 2 tbsp sliced green onions; 1 tsp dried dill; 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes; 1 tbsp honey; salt and pepper, to taste; 2 tomatoes, sliced; 8 slices Velveeta Cheese, Swiss Cheese or Mozzarella; 8 slices of crusty bread ( I used sourdough loaf); 2 tbsp softened butter, for browning the bread slices on the pan or skillet

Go to the Recipe

Tuna Grilled Cheese Sandwich is made with meaty tuna chunks, creamy mayo, tomato slices and a luscious melty cheese. It is beyond delicious!

One of the beautiful things about blogging is the connection that is made between people who share the same interests, no matter which part of the globe they are in.

And when it comes to food, I guess it is safe to say that almost every person has a deep love and fondness for it. And that’s how I got the idea of sharing my version of Tuna Grilled Cheese here on the blog.

One time, my cousin, an amazing cook and a certified food lover, from the Philippines asked me if I can make my version of a Tuna Panini. She said “with tomato slices and cheese”. Hmmm. Tuna, mayo, bread, cheese? Those thoughts sang beautifully in my head.

Close up of a Tuna Grilled Cheese Sandwich.

Tuna Grilled Cheese Sandwich or Tuna Panini

I chose to call this Tuna Grilled Cheese instead of tuna panini just so to make it known to you that you don’t need a grill press ( sandwich press) to make it.
A cast iron pan, a non stick skillet or any regular fry pan can do the job. If you are a grilled sandwich aficionado, there are lots of fancy panini press or sandwich maker in the market. I would love to have one, sure. But for now, let’s work with what we have 🙂

The Simple Ingredients

Canned Albacore Tuna. You can also use chunk or light tuna. I prefer albacore for it’s milder flavor and firmer texture. Make sure to drain the canned tuna well.
Mayonnaise. Along with mustard, mayo is the creamy base for the tuna. The addition of dill, red pepper flakes, and green onions gives it some zing and flavor contrast.
Honey. I added a bit of honey to give a little sweetness, and to offset any richness from the mayonnaise.
Tomato Slices. This is the fresh element in the sandwich.
Cheese. I used Velveeta cheese slices. Other options are mozzarella, Swiss and plain cheddar.
Bread Slices. Basically any bread of your choice will work. I used slices of sour dough loaf. Rye, French bread, white sandwich will work too.
Salt and Pepper. Once everything is mixed, you can adjust the flavor, with salt and pepper, to your tastes.

Let’s Make It

Make the Mayonnaise Base. Combine mayonnaise and mustard in a medium bowl. Add dried dill, red pepper flakes, green onions and honey. Stir well.

Add the drained tuna. Stir to combine everything. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

The ingredients for the Tuna Panini (left). The ingredients combined in a bowl.

Assemble the Tuna Sandwiches. Lay 2 slices of bread in a clean surface. Butter one of the sides of each slice, then turn over.

Spread 2-3 tablespoon of the tuna filling all over the unbuttered side of one bread. Arrange tomato slices on top in a single layer, then top with 2 slices of cheese. Finally, top everything with the other slice of bread, buttered side up.

Assembling tuna grilled cheese sandwich.

Grill. Heat a cast iron, a grill pan or a fry pan over medium heat. Brown the tuna sandwich for 5-7 minutes each side, until the cheese is melted and the bread is nicely golden. Press the sandwich down a few times while cooking to seal the filling in.

Slice the bread in half ( if needed), then serve immediately. Repeat the process for the remainder of the sandwich components.

More Tips

Depending on the size of your bread, you may not need to slice the grilled tuna sandwich into two portions. I used a huge sourdough loaf so I sliced the finished sandwich into two.
Also the amount of tuna filling , the number of tomato slices and cheese will depend on the size of your bread. You can also use French bread, white sandwich bread, Rye etc.

More Easy Lunch

Tuna Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Tuna Grilled Cheese Sandwich is made with meaty tuna chunks, creamy mayo and a luscious melty cheese. It is beyond delicious!

Ingredients

2 (170 g) canned Albacore Tuna, drained well
1/4 cup mayonaisse
2 tbsp yellow mustard
2 tbsp sliced green onions
1 tsp dried dill
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tbsp honey
salt and pepper, to taste
2 tomatoes, sliced
8 slices Velveeta Cheese, Swiss Cheese or Mozzarella
8 slices of crusty bread ( I used sourdough loaf)
2 tbsp softened butter, for browning the bread slices on the pan or skillet

Instructions

In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise and yellow mustard until well incorporated. Add drained tuna, green onions, red pepper flakes, dill and honey. Stir well.
Season with salt and pepper, to your preference.
On a clean surface lay two large slices of sourdough bread. Spread a thin layer of softened butter on the top side of each bread until fully covered. Turn them over to make have the unbuttered sides of both slices facing up.
Spread about 2-3 tbsp of the tuna mixture on one of the bread slice. Arrange 2 slices of tomato over the tuna. Top the tomatoes with 2 slices of cheese in a single layer to cover the entire filling.
Place the other slice of bread over the cheese, buttered side up. Repeat the process for the rest of the tuna mixture and bread slices.
Heat a cast iron skillet or a non stick grill pan over medium heat. Lay the assembled sandwich and heat for 5-8 minutes, or until the underside is lightly browned. Gently press down the sandwich to compress. Using a thin spatula, carefully flip the sandwich to brown the other side and to fully melt the cheese.
Transfer to a plate and slice the bread in hallf. Serve immediately.

Notes

Depending on the size of your bread, you may not need to slice the grilled tuna sandwich into two portions. I used a huge sourdough loaf so I sliced the finished sandwich into two.
Also the amount of tuna filling , the number of tomato slices and cheese will depend on the size of your bread.
You can also use French bread, white sandwich bread, Rye etc.
For the cheese, it is best to use the ones that melt nicely. Swiss, Mozzarella and cheddar are also ideal.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 358Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 866mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 2gSugar: 7gProtein: 18g

Tuna Grilled Cheese Sandwich