Air Fryer Tuna Melt: A Quick and Cheesy Delight

Indulge in the irresistible goodness of an Air Fryer Tuna Melt, featuring a flavorful tuna salad, melted cheddar cheese, and perfectly toasted bread. Whether you opt for a no-chop tuna salad or your favorite recipe, this easy-to-make sandwich is a savory delight that cooks up in just 8 minutes in your air fryer.

Ingredients:

For No-Chop Tuna Salad (3 servings):

  • 2 (5-ounce) cans of tuna fish packed in water, drained
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise (avocado oil mayo works great)
  • 2 tablespoons dill pickle relish, drained
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • (optional) 1 teaspoon dijon mustard

For Air Fryer Tuna Melt (per sandwich):

  • 2 slices sandwich bread
  • 1–2 tablespoons mayonnaise or room temperature butter
  • 1 1/2–2 slices cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup tuna salad (from above or your favorite!)

Instructions:

  1. Make Tuna Salad:
    • In a bowl, combine all tuna salad ingredients and stir until well combined. You can find more details and the full recipe for Lazy No-Chop Tuna Salad here.
    • Alternatively, use your preferred tuna salad recipe.
  2. Assemble Sandwich:
    • Spread mayonnaise or room temperature butter on one side of each slice of bread.
    • Place one slice of bread, mayo side down, into the air fryer basket.
    • Layer cheddar cheese slices on the bread, ensuring they stay within the edges.
    • Spoon 1/2 cup of tuna salad onto the cheese, spreading it out evenly.
    • Top with the remaining slice of bread, mayo side up.
  3. Cook & Serve:
    • Close the air fryer basket and set it to cook at 380°F for 8 minutes, flipping the sandwich halfway through.
    • The tuna melt is ready when the cheese is melted and the edges of the bread are golden brown.
    • Remove from the air fryer and carefully cut the sandwich in half on a cutting board.
    • Repeat the process for additional tuna melts, cooking one at a time if using a basket-style air fryer.

Enjoy the delightful combination of flavors and textures in this Air Fryer Tuna Melt, perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. With its cheesy goodness and crispy bread, it’s sure to become a favorite in your meal rotation.

This Air Fryer Tuna Melt can be made with your fave tuna salad or my quick no-chop recipe! Either way, it makes a delicious, cheddar cheesy, melty sandwich you can cook in your air fryer in only 8 minutes!

Ingredients

For No-Chop Tuna Salad (3 servings):

2 (5-ounce) cans of tuna fish packed in water, drained

1/3 cup mayonnaise (I use avocado oil mayo)

2 tablespoons dill pickle relish, drained

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

(optional) 1 teaspoon dijon mustard

For Air Fryer Tuna Melt (per sandwich):

2 slices sandwich bread

1–2 tablespoons mayonnaise or room temperature butter

1 1/2–2 slices cheddar cheese

1/2 cup tuna salad (from above or your fave!)

Instructions

Make tuna salad: Add all tuna salad ingredients to a bowl and stir until combined. More details and full recipe for Lazy No-Chop Tuna Salad here! You can also use your own tuna salad recipe.

Assemble sandwich: First, cover one side of bread with the mayo or room temp butter. Place that piece of bread into the air fryer, mayo side down. Next, put the cheese slices on the bread, taking care that the cheese doesn’t go over the edges of the bread. Add 1/2 cup of tuna salad on top of the cheese and use a spoon to push it out to each edge of the bread. Finally, take the last pieces of bread and coat one side in mayonnaise, just like the other side. Add that piece of bread to the top of the sandwich, mayo side up.

Cook & serve: Shut the air fryer basket and set the air fryer to cook at 380F for 8 minutes, flipping the sandwich halfway through. The tuna melt is done when you see melty cheese and golden brown edges to your preference! Remove from air fryer and cut in half on a cutting board. Repeat for as many tuna melts as you need. I recommend cooking only one tuna melt at a time if you’re using the basket style air fryer.