Spicy Tuna Melt with Pickled Jalapeños and Cheddar on Rye
A warm tuna melt sandwich with a spicy kick from pickled jalapeños, melted sharp cheddar, and a creamy tangy spread on toasted rye bread. This American-inspired sandwich and wrap recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs canned tuna in water, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 1, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 5 oz, drained canned tuna in water
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp chopped pickled jalapeños
- 2 oz sliced sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 rye bread slices
- 1 tbsp softened butter
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp chopped fresh chives
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: In a bowl, mix together 5 oz drained canned tuna, 2 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp chopped pickled jalapeños, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp chopped fresh chives until combined but still chunky.
- Step 2: Spread 1 tbsp softened butter on one side of each 2 slices rye bread.
- Step 3: Flip the bread slices over and evenly spread the tuna mixture onto the unbuttered sides.
- Step 4: Layer 2 oz sliced sharp cheddar cheese over the tuna mixture on one slice, then top with the other slice, buttered side out.
- Step 5: Heat a skillet over medium heat (about 350°F). Place the sandwich in the skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes until the bread is golden brown and crispy.
- Step 6: Carefully flip the sandwich and cook the other side for another 4 minutes until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted.
- Step 7: Remove from heat, let rest for 1 minute, slice diagonally, and serve warm.








