Tuna Melt Sliders
Tuna melt sliders are delicious mini sandwiches full of the classic flavors of the traditional diner version. These tuna salad filled sliders make a delicious lunch, dinner or even appetizer that everyone will love!
When I go to a diner, there are two things I order: a crazy big breakfast full of pancakes, eggs, bacon and all the fixings OR a tuna melt.
There’s just something so good about the combo of perfectly prepared tuna salad, melted cheese and fresh sliced tomatoes.
Why not take all those things and add them to the yummiest sliders ever?
It makes for a tuna sandwich like none other with sweet Hawaiian rolls and a mouthwatering buttery sauce finishing off the melt combo.
You will definitely want to make this on repeat!
What are tuna melt sliders?
Tuna melt sliders are a take on the classic diner tuna melt sandwich, which are tuna sandwiches that are either served open face on a bottom bun with melted cheese on top or served grilled cheese style between two slices of bread.
These tuna melt sliders take the tuna salad and melted cheese situation of tuna melt and transfers that to Hawaiian rolls brushed with seasoned butter.
Then the sliders get baked in the oven so the cheese melts for a yummy pull apart tuna sandwich.
Ingredients
To make these you need a set of ingredients for the tuna salad itself and a set for the sliders sandwiches themselves.
For the tuna salad you need:
- Canned tuna– Packed in water or oil, it doesn’t matter. Just make sure you drain the liquid well. The tuna packed in water is lighter tasting and less greasy, while the tuna in oil is richer.
- Celery– Dice it up finely. If you aren’t a fan of celery skip it.
- Mayonnaise– Use real, full fat mayo for the best results. Don’t substitute mayonnaise style dressing, low fat mayonnaise or Miracle Whip. It won’t taste nearly as good.
- Dill pickle relish– For a little briny background flavor. Use your favorite brand.
- Spices– Celery salt and a pinch of pepper.
And for the sliders themselves you’ll need:
- Tomatoes– Go for something firm or meaty like beefsteak or Roma. Thinly slice them. Feel free to skip them if you don’t like them.
- Cheese– I like sliced Havarti for this but you could use whatever cheese you like. Regular Swiss, cheddar or provolone would all work well.
- Hawaiian rolls– Cut them in half while keeping them connected to each other.
- Herb butter sauce– Melted butter stirred together with dried minced onion, dried dill, garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce.
How to Make
Making tuna melt sliders is pretty easy!
To start, make the tuna salad filling by draining the tuna, adding it to a large mixing bowl, and flaking it apart with a fork.
Then add all of the remaining filling ingredients to the bowl and stir together until evenly combined.
Once you have the tuna salad ready, you can assemble the sliders by carefully cutting the top half of the buns apart with a large bread knife.
Set the top half of the buns aside and put the bottom buns in a greased 8×8″ baking dish.
Then spread the tuna mixture evenly out over the bottom buns.
Place the tomato slices evenly on top of the tuna followed by the slices of cheese evenly.
Close the sliders by putting the top half of the buns on, lining up as needed so they fit correctly.
Then melt the butter either on the stove top or in a microwave safe bowl.
When the butter is melted, whisk in the seasonings and Worcestershire sauce.
Pour this over the tops of the sliders.
Then cover the pan of sliders with foil and let it sit in the fridge for 1 to 2 hours.
Bake the covered sliders in a 350° oven for 25 minutes.
After 25 minutes, remove the foil and bake them for 5 more minutes or until the tops of the sliders get golden brown and crispy.
Serve warm and enjoy!
Storing Leftovers
I don’t recommend storing leftover tuna melt sliders as they will get soggy if they sit in the fridge too long.
However, you can store leftover tuna salad in a separate airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Can I make tuna melt sliders ahead of time?
I wouldn’t bake them ahead of time.
However, you can prepare the tuna filling a day in advance of serving these sliders if you store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
And the recipe itself does have you assembling the sliders up to 2 hours prior to baking and serving.
Tips and Tricks
- Don’t leave the assembled sliders in the fridge for longer than 2 hours prior to baking.
- Feel free to omit the tomato slices if you don’t like tomato.
- If you hate celery, you can skip it in the tuna.
Other Slider Recipes You’ll Love
Tuna melt sliders are my favorite way to enjoy the diner and deli classic at home.
Make them and enjoy!
Looking for other slider recipes?
Try these:
- Hot Ham & Cheese Sliders
- Chopped Italian Sliders
- Crab Cake Sliders
- Hawaiian Pizza Sliders
- Cuban Style Sliders
If you’ve tried these TUNA MELT SLIDERS, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Tuna Melt Sliders
Ingredients
For The Tuna Filling
- 12-16 oz canned tuna drained
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- heaping 1/2 cup mayo
- 1 tbsp dill pickle relish
- 1/4 tsp celery salt
- pepper to taste
For The Sliders
- thinly sliced tomatoes
- 6 slices Havarti cheese
- 1 16 count pkg sweet Hawaiian rolls halved
For The Sauce
- 1 stick butter
- 2 tbsp dried minced onion
- 1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp dried dill
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
To Make The Tuna Filling
- Add the tuna to a large mixing bowl, and use a sturdy fork to flake it apart.12-16 oz canned tuna
- Add all of the remaining filling ingredients to the bowl. Stir together until evenly combined.1/2 cup diced celery, heaping 1/2 cup mayo, 1 tbsp dill pickle relish, 1/4 tsp celery salt, pepper
To Assemble The Sliders
- Carefully remove the cut top half of the buns, and set aside. Arrange the bottom buns in a greased 8x8" baking dish.1 16 count pkg sweet Hawaiian rolls
- Spread the tuna mixture evenly out over the bottom buns.
- Place the tomato slices followed by the slices of cheese evenly out overtop.thinly sliced tomatoes, 6 slices Havarti cheese
- Carefully place the top half of the buns on, lining up as needed to fit correctly.
To Make The Sauce
- Melt the butter in a skillet over medium low heat. Once melted whisk in the remaining sauce ingredients until combined.1 stick butter, 2 tbsp dried minced onion, 1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 tsp dried dill, 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- Pour the butter sauce evenly out over the assembled sandwiches.
- Cover the sliders with foil, and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
- Bake the sliders, covered still, at 350° for 25 minutes.
- Carefully uncover the sliders, and then bake for another 5 minutes- just until golden brown and crispy on top.
- Slice & serve the sliders while still warm.
Notes
- Don’t leave the assembled sliders in the fridge for longer than 2 hours prior to baking.
- Feel free to omit the tomato slices if you don’t like tomato.
- If you hate celery, you can skip it in the tuna.
Nutrition
The Tuna Melt Sliders are mouthwatering I could eat them every single day! Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday party!