Turn up the heat with this bold and savory Spicy Tuna Melt with bacon and tomato—packed with flavor and just the right kick. A rich tuna salad gets layered with crispy bacon, juicy tomato slices, sharp red onion, and fiery pickled jalapeños. Melted mozzarella and pepper jack cheeses bring the gooey goodness, all toasted together until golden and bubbling. It’s smoky, spicy, melty, and utterly addictive.
This is a quick to make but super flavorful lunch or dinner option. My entire family really liked these. They have a bit of spicy but aren’t over the top spicy. You can increase or decrease the spice level with the number of jalapeno slices you add. I think the addition of avocado to these would be amazing too.
Also check out some of my other *many* amazing sandwich recipes. My family loves sandwiches so I make quite a few of them 🙂
Spicy Tuna Melt with Bacon and Tomato
Ingredients
- 12 slices crisp cooked bacon
- 2 cans water packed tuna well drained
- 1/2 cup mayo or more to taste
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese
- 4 slices pepper jack cheese
- 1/4 cup minced red onion
- 2 tbsp minced pickled jalapenos or more to taste, we would have liked a bit more
- salt and pepper
- 8 slices bread
- sliced tomato
- butter for frying
Instructions
- Combine the tuna, mayo, red onion and jalapenos and a bowl and mix well. Season well with salt and pepper. Cook bacon until crisp (I use the oven for this).
- In a skillet, heat 2 tbsp butter over medium heat and toast one side of each piece of bread (these will be the insides, you will toast the outside once assembled).
- On the toasted side of 4 pieces of bread, place a slice of mozzarella and top with a layer of the tuna salad. Top this with bacon and tomato, followed by the pepper jack and the toasted side of the other piece of bread.
- Heat more butter in the same skillet over medium and toast the 4 assembled sandwiches, flipping occasionally, until they are nicely toasted and the cheese is fully melted. You can turn to low if they are getting too browned. Serve immediately.