This vegan tuna melt recipe is made with tasty vegan tuna salad and topped with melted vegan cheese between two slices of bread. It’s like a vegan grilled cheese sandwich with a delicious chickpea tuna bonus!
A tuna melt is merely a grilled cheese sandwich with tuna salad. Believe it or not, it’s so easy to veganize this favorite comfort food sandwich. Simply substitute chickpea tuna salad and use vegan cheddar slices and you’ll be so glad you did!
Why This Recipe is a Winner
Use thickly-sliced bread to help the cheese get gooey while the bread is toasting
Keeping the heat on medium to low helps toast the bread slowly, allowing the cheese to melt more evenly
Use softened vegan butter to spread it more evenly across the soft bread before grilling
Key Ingredients
You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.
Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe:
Vegan tuna salad — Follow my recipe for vegan tuna salad that uses chickpeas.
Bread — Use your favorite dairy-free sandwich bread, such as whole wheat or sourdough.
Vegan cheddar cheese slices — I prefer vegan cheddar, but there are so many tasty vegan cheeses these days. Substitute your favorites!
Vegan Butter — We’ll use vegan butter to toast the bread. You can use storebought dairy-free butter or margarine or make your own vegan butter.
Marly’s Tips
For an even crispier crust and slightly herbal flavor, try brushing the bread with olive oil instead of softened vegan butter.
How to Make Vegan Tuna Melt
Prepare the vegan tuna salad recipe.
Butter one side of four slices of bread.
Make sandwiches by spreading vegan tuna salad on two slices of bread. Top with cheese slices. Place a bread slice on top, buttered side up.
Cook sandwiches in a heated skillet over medium heat until golden brown on one side.
Use a spatula to gently turn each sandwich.
Microwave the sandwiches for up to a minute to encourage the cheese to melt even more.
Transfer sandwiches to plates and serve warm.
Storage Tips
Store leftover sandwiches in an airtight container in the fridge. To serve it, heat it up in the skillet until the bread is toasted.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these tasty sandwiches with any of the following on the side:
Prepare the chickpea tuna salad recipe as directed.
Butter one side of four slices of bread.
Spread a generous portion of chickpea tuna salad on two slices of bread. Top with 2 cheese slices. Place a bread slice on top, buttered side up.
Place a skillet over medium heat. Place the sandwiches on the heated skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until golden brown. Then use a spatula and carefully turn each sandwich, cooking on the other side for another 2 to 3 minutes, until golden brown and the cheese is melting.
If the cheese doesn't melt entirely, you can place it in the microwave and heat it for 30 seconds to a minute.
Transfer sandwiches to plates and serve immediately.
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The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I used to hate (eating) fish! I never got how people could like that fishy flavor, but to each their own. A non-fishy tuna melt is something I can definitely get behind! Sorry you got hatemail for creating yummy recipes (weirdos), some people are just haters.
How funny… not only did I recently make tuna melts, but I used the exact same cheese on mine as well! I think simple meals like this are just the best.
I love anything with chickpeas and less than 5 ingredients! Looks like a perfect lunch.
We are kindred spirits for sure!
I used to hate (eating) fish! I never got how people could like that fishy flavor, but to each their own. A non-fishy tuna melt is something I can definitely get behind! Sorry you got hatemail for creating yummy recipes (weirdos), some people are just haters.
That looks sooooo miam!
I had to look this up to learn that “miam” is French for yummy. Thanks – love this expression!
How funny… not only did I recently make tuna melts, but I used the exact same cheese on mine as well! I think simple meals like this are just the best.
Great minds!
Great appetizer!
This sounds wonderful Marly! Love the golden cheese!!!