This tuna bagel melt is an easy lunch made with creamy tuna salad, celery, and melted cheese. Scoop out a little of the bagel's soft center to make room for the filling, then broil until the cheese is hot and bubbly. Use your favorite bagel and cheese for a quick deli-style meal.
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Why Scoop The Bagel?
Scooping out some of the soft center leaves room for more tuna salad and helps the bagel stay crisp under the filling. Leave a thin layer inside so the bagel still holds its shape.
Ingredients
To make the perfect tuna melt on a bagel, here's what you'll need:
- Bagels
- Canned tuna, drained. Use solid white albacore tuna in water for best results
- Mayonnaise
- Celery
- Cheese: American, Swiss, or cheddar works best.
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional tuna salad add-ins: Mix in diced red onion, chopped dill, or shredded carrots. A squeeze of lemon juice or a little Dijon mustard can add extra flavor.
See recipe card below for exact amounts
How to Make a Tuna Melt on a Bagel
Step 1: Set your broiler to high or preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Add the tuna to a medium-sized bowl and use the back of a fork to break it into small pieces. Mix in the celery, mayo, salt, and pepper until well combined.
Step 2: Slice the bagel in half and scoop out some of the inside with your fingers or a spoon to create space for the filling. If the bagel is cold, toast it for a minute to crisp it up.
Step 3: Spread the tuna salad evenly over both bagel halves. Top each half with a slice of cheese.
Step 4: Place the bagel halves on a foil-lined baking sheet. Broil them for about 1 minute. You can also bake them for about 3 minutes, or until the cheese melts and bubbles.
How To Scoop a Bagel
- Start by slicing the bagel in half with a serrated knife.
- Using a spoon, gently pull out the soft inside, being careful not to tear the outer crust.
- Leave a thin layer of bread inside so the bagel keeps its shape.
Best Cheese for a Tuna Melt
American cheese is the classic choice for a tuna melt because it melts quickly and evenly under the broiler. It gives the sandwich that creamy, old-fashioned diner taste.
Cheddar is another good option if you want a sharper flavor. Use mild or medium cheddar for the smoothest melt.
Swiss, provolone, and mozzarella also work well, especially if that is what you have in the refrigerator.
For this tuna bagel melt, use one slice of cheese on each half of the bagel. Broil just until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned in spots.
Tips for the Best Tuna Melt
- If the bagel is coming out of the freezer, scoop it out and then toast it for a minute to crisp it up.
- Choose the right cheese. American melts the best, but Swiss and cheddar add great flavor.
- Watch the broiler to avoid burning your sandwich.
Serving Suggestions
- Sweet Coleslaw
- New York Deli Macaroni Salad
- Deli Potato Salad
- Sour Cream Dill Potato Salad
- Sour or half-sour pickles
- Potato chips or French fries
More Deli-Style Recipes
- Tuna Melt on a Tortilla
- Veggie Tuna Salad
- Veggie Egg Salad
- Deli-Style Chicken Salad
- Whole Foods Cranberry Apple Tuna Salad
For more inspiration, check out these easy Deli-Style Salad Recipes
Tuna Bagel Melt FAQ
Everything bagels are great because the garlic, onion, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds add extra flavor. Plain, sesame, or onion bagels also work well. Use whatever bagel you have and enjoy.
Scooping out some of the soft center makes room for more tuna salad and cheese. It also helps the bagel stay crisp instead of getting too thick and doughy.
Yes. Bake the tuna bagel at 400°F until the cheese melts, usually about 3 to 5 minutes. You can also use an air fryer for a few minutes. For a skillet version, place the bagel halves in a skillet over medium heat, cover the pan, and cook until the cheese melts.
American cheese melts smoothly and gives the tuna melt that classic diner taste. Cheddar, Swiss, provolone, or mozzarella also work well.
Yes. Air fry the scooped-out bagel halves at 375°F for 2 minutes to toast them. Add the tuna salad and cheese, then air fry for 3 to 4 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Tuna Bagel Melt
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Fork
- Spoon
- Baking sheet
Ingredients
- 2 bagels, scooped out, any flavor
- 1 12- ounce can of solid white albacore tuna in water, drained (or two 6-ounce cans)
- 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 diced celery stalks
- 4 slices cheese (American, Swiss, or Cheddar)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Set your broiler to high or preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Add the tuna to a medium-sized bowl and use the back of a fork to break it into small, flaky pieces.
- Mix in the mayo, celery, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Slice the bagel in half and scoop out some of the inside with your fingers or a spoon to create space for the filling. Toast or broil the bagel for a minute if it's cold.
- Spread the tuna salad evenly over bagel halves.
- Top each half with a slice of cheese.
- Place the bagel halves on a foil-lined baking sheet and broil for about 1 minute, or bake for about 3 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Melanie says
We're having bagels tonight! Love this idea!
Charlie K says
So that's how you do it! Scooping out now! Thanks
Lisa V says
We love tuna melts on everything bagels!