Cheesy Keto Tuna Melts | Tuna Melt Recipe made with Cheese Slices (2024)

FAQs

Why is my tuna melt soggy? ›

The key to preventing a soggy tuna melt is to drain your canned tuna really well. To do this, empty the tuna into a fine-mesh strainer then press down on it to release any liquid.

High in protein and low in calories and carbohydrates, tuna makes for a great fish option when planning your keto diet dinners.

Things like American cheese, Monterey jack or Swiss cheese are all great, but we love the sharp bite of cheddar. — Variations. We packed this sandwich full of celery, pickles, and red onion, but just like our classic tuna salad, feel free to switch up the toppings.

According to The Cheese Empire, a creamy cheese with good melting properties that doesn't have too strong a flavor is the best way to go, with the outlet citing mozzarella, cheddar, and Gruyère as excellent choices to layer onto a tuna melt (or a toastie, as grilled cheese sandwiches are dubbed in the UK).

My favorite combination is provolone and extra sharp cheddar. Other great cheeses to use are Swiss cheese, Havarti, Mozzarella, Colby Jack, Cheddar Jack, Monterey Jack, or Pepper Jack. All of these cheeses melt great and will give you that good “cheese pull”.

Any mayonnaise with added sugar or sugar alternatives (high fructose corn syrup) should be avoided. There are many sugar-free mayo brands on the market, so you don't have to sacrifice your Keto diet to enjoy mayo.

Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.

Keto fruits by definition are low in carbohydrates. You still need to exercise portion control with most keto-friendly fruits to be within the limits of a keto diet. Keto-friendly fruits include avocados, watermelon, strawberries, lemons, tomatoes, raspberries, peaches, cantaloupe, star fruit, and blackberries.

Sodium citrate is an extremely common emulsifying salt that is used to keep the cheese creamy as it melts. It's thanks to this little molecule that American cheese won't break, instead staying glossy and gooey no matter how much you seem to heat it and cool it down.

Is it OK to mix cheese with tuna? ›

Great method! We wanted a heartier tuna mixture and found the perfect ratio to be one can of tuna to two ounces of cream cheese. For our family, two cans of tuna to a half block of cheese yields the right amount. The wonderful benefit of this cream cheese base is that the spread does not get runny!

StarKist^® makes it easy to incorporate seafood into your lifestyle. With 160 calories and 20g of protein per can, this nutrient dense tuna can works well with Mediterranean, Weight Watchers, Keto, and Paleo diet plans.

While sources can differ in serving sizes, one 2 ounce serving of canned chunky, light tuna includes 50 calories, 1 gram of fat, less than 1 gram of carbs and 10 grams of protein[*]. Regardless of the type, you can count on tuna providing about 5 grams of protein per ounce.

Here's what's in a serving of canned tuna packed in water:

Total fat: 0.5g. Saturated fat: 0g. Sodium: 140mg. Total Carb: 0g.

Ingredients that remedy watery tuna

In addition to boiled eggs, Julie's Cafe Bakery says that further means of fixing watery tuna salad are to include either potato, croutons, or pasta. They can all sop up some of that sogginess and incorporate additional tastes and textures.

Additional Fixes For Watery Tuna Salad

If you don't want to end up with more tuna salad than you can eat before it goes bad, ground nuts and bread crumbs are both options for soaking up the sog. Typically, ground nuts are considered superior because they don't get soggy the way breadcrumbs can.

If you're meal prepping tuna salads for lunch, here's how to prevent the bread from getting soggy. Choose a sturdy bread like wheat, white or sourdough that's about 1/2 inch thick. Build your sandwich so that the lettuce. is on the bottom, catching any of the liquid. Also layer any tomatoes or avocado on the bottom.

Tuna dries out quite quickly and turns crumbly, so it should be cooked very briefly over a high heat in a frying pan, on a griddle or over a barbecue; or cooked under oil (confit), sous vide or simmered in a sauce.