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.

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.

Per the USDA, tuna lands at 0 on the fiber spectrum, so needless to say, it is not a good source of the carb. However, with 24 grams of protein and 0 grams of carbohydrates or sugar in just 3 ounces, plus Omega-3 fatty acids (per StarKist), it's pretty perfect for the keto diet.

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).

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.

Why won't my cheese melt? There are many reasons, but the biggest is the moisture content. The moisture content of the cheese has a great effect on the melting process. Cheese that contains higher amounts of fat will melt better than one that doesn't.

The best side dishes to serve with tuna melts are sweet potato fries, tomato basil soup, coleslaw, pickles, french fries, blooming onion, chicken wings, guacamole, potato salad, garden salad, avocado and corn salad, and dill pickle pasta salad.

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.

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.

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.

Is chunk light tuna keto friendly? ›

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.

Cheesy Tuna Melt: 490 calories & 44g protein #tunamelt #healthylunchideas. Tuna Sandwich Recipes. Tuna Sandwich Calories.

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.

But for an easy and effective way to fix water tuna salad, go for hard-boiled eggs. Delicious, nutritious, and creamy, hard-boiled eggs are such a boon to tuna salad, that you might be motivated to include them even when the salad isn't overly soggy.