Spinach and artichokes meet the tuna melt with these easy, weeknight sandwiches.
Delicious & Easy Spinach Artichoke Tuna Melts: A Weeknight Favorite!
In today’s fast-paced world, finding a meal that is both delicious, nutritious, and doesn’t break the bank can feel like a culinary quest. Many of us remember simpler times when a grocery run felt more manageable, and the weekly bill didn’t induce sticker shock. These days, with costs constantly on the rise, it’s more important than ever to seek out smart, economical choices that still deliver on flavor and satisfaction. If you’re looking for a delightful, family-friendly dinner solution that’s quick to prepare and surprisingly light, you’ve stumbled upon a true gem: the Spinach Artichoke Tuna Melt. This isn’t just any tuna sandwich; it’s an inspired twist on a beloved classic, perfect for those busy weeknights.
For too long, canned tuna has been pigeonholed, often relegated to a simple, mayo-laden sandwich or a retro casserole. While there’s certainly comfort in those familiar preparations, tuna offers so much more potential, especially when you consider its remarkable affordability and versatility. It’s a pantry staple that delivers a powerful punch of protein without the hefty price tag often associated with other meats. Despite its economic advantages, I confess, I haven’t always given tuna the spotlight it deserves in my kitchen. Over five years of sharing recipes, my blog records only a handful of tuna-based dishes. It’s a habit I’m determined to change, and this Spinach Artichoke Tuna Melt is leading the charge!
The Inspiration: Clearing the Freezer and Boosting Flavor
The genesis of this particular recipe came from a common household scenario: a freezer full of forgotten ingredients. On a mission to “clean out the freezer,” I rediscovered several bags of frozen spinach. What better way to tackle this than to combine it with an equally humble yet mighty ingredient like canned tuna? This recipe truly kills two birds with one stone – it helps use up those often-overlooked freezer items and adds an incredibly inexpensive yet robust protein to our dinner table. While my palate can be a bit unpredictable (especially during pregnancy!), I found myself genuinely enjoying these sandwiches far more than I anticipated. They are a delightful departure from your typical tuna sandwich, offering a filling that’s refreshingly light and bursting with flavor, thanks to a clever, mayo-free dressing.
Unlike many traditional tuna melts that rely heavily on mayonnaise for creaminess, our Spinach Artichoke Tuna Melt embraces a brighter, Mediterranean-inspired profile. A zesty lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil dressing provides a delicate binding and an incredible flavor foundation, allowing the natural tastes of the tuna, spinach, and artichoke hearts to shine. This isn’t to say we skimp on richness; the provolone cheese adds that satisfying melted goodness we all crave in a melt. The combination of ingredients creates a symphony of textures and tastes: the flaky tuna, the earthy spinach, the slightly briny artichokes, the sharp red onion, and the pungent capers all come together in a truly harmonious way.
One pleasant surprise about this recipe is its generous yield. While the original recipe suggests it serves four, I found it made enough to feed a small army – or at least six to eight hearty appetites! This means plenty of delicious leftovers, which, let me tell you, make for fantastic lunches the next day. The flavors meld even further overnight, making them an even more satisfying midday meal option. This makes it an ideal choice for meal prepping or feeding a larger family without extra effort.
Spinach and Artichoke Tuna Melts
Deborah Harroun
15 minutes
5 minutes
20 minutes
6 – 8 servings
Pin
Save
Ingredients
- 2 cans 5 oz each tuna, drained and flaked
- 1 can 14 oz artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
- 10 oz. frozen spinach thawed and squeezed dry
- 1 1/2 lemons juiced
- 1/2 red onion finely chopped
- 2 ribs celery chopped
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 3 tablespoons capers drained
- 2 cloves garlic grated or finely chopped
- pepper
- 6-8 ciabatta rolls
- 6-8 slices provolone cheese
- sliced tomatoes for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the broiler.
- In a large bowl, combine the tuna, artichoke hearts, spinach, lemon juice, chopped red onion, chopped celery, extra virgin olive oil, chopped parsley, capers and garlic. Season with pepper.
- Split the ciabatta rolls. Place the bottom halves on a baking sheet and add the tuna mixture to the bread. Top with the cheese. Place the bread tops on the baking sheet. Place under the broiler until the cheese is melted and the tops are toasted.
- Top the sandwiches with the sliced tomato and the bread tops and serve.
- ——————
- Slightly adapted from Every Day with Rachael Ray May 2012
Tips for Making Your Spinach Artichoke Tuna Melts Shine
While the recipe is straightforward, a few tips can ensure your tuna melts are nothing short of spectacular. First, always make sure your frozen spinach is thoroughly thawed and squeezed dry. Excess water will dilute the flavors and make your filling soggy. A clean kitchen towel or paper towels work wonders for this. Second, don’t skimp on the fresh lemon juice – it’s key to the vibrant, non-mayo dressing that makes this recipe so unique. Freshly squeezed lemon juice brightens the entire dish and balances the richness of the cheese.
For the ciabatta rolls, a quick toast under the broiler on their own before adding the filling can prevent them from getting soggy and adds a nice crispness. If you don’t have ciabatta, any sturdy bread like sourdough, rye, or even a robust whole wheat bread will work well. The goal is a bread that can hold up to the hearty filling without falling apart. Lastly, consider the quality of your canned tuna. While budget-friendly, opting for tuna packed in olive oil (drained) can offer a richer flavor profile than tuna packed in water, adding another layer of depth to your sandwich.
Creative Variations and Serving Suggestions
One of the best things about simple recipes like this is their adaptability. Feel free to get creative with your Spinach Artichoke Tuna Melts! Want to amp up the heat? A pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce in the filling can add a welcome kick. For an even more Mediterranean twist, consider adding some chopped Kalamata olives to the mixture. If provolone isn’t your favorite, Swiss, mozzarella, or even a sharp cheddar can be excellent substitutes, each offering a slightly different flavor dynamic to your melt.
Beyond the sandwich itself, think about what complements this flavorful meal. A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette would be perfect, offering a refreshing contrast to the warm, cheesy sandwich. A side of crisp cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, or even some homemade oven-baked sweet potato fries could turn this into a complete and satisfying dinner. For a low-carb option, skip the bread and serve the tuna mixture in lettuce cups or stuffed into bell pepper halves before broiling with cheese on top!
Embracing Budget-Friendly Cooking
This Spinach Artichoke Tuna Melt is more than just a recipe; it’s a testament to smart, budget-friendly cooking. In an era where grocery prices seem to climb relentlessly, rediscovering inexpensive staples like canned tuna and frozen vegetables is a game-changer. These ingredients offer incredible value without sacrificing nutritional content or flavor. By incorporating such items into your meal rotation, you can significantly reduce your food expenditure while still enjoying varied and exciting dishes.
Think about how often frozen spinach or canned artichokes sit untouched in your pantry. This recipe encourages using what you have, minimizing waste, and maximizing your grocery investment. It’s a perfect example of how a little creativity can transform humble ingredients into a star meal. So next time you’re planning your weekly menu, remember the power of canned goods and frozen produce. They are your allies in crafting delicious, economical, and convenient meals that your whole family will love, week after week.
More Twists on the Classic Tuna Sandwich:
If you’ve enjoyed this fresh take on the tuna melt, you might also like to explore other creative tuna recipes. The versatility of tuna allows for endless culinary possibilities, from hearty salads to unique sandwich creations. Here are a few more ideas to inspire your next meal:
- Tuscan Tuna and White Bean Sandwiches from Spache the Spatula
- Pesto Tuna Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes from The Curvy Carrot
- French-Style Tuna Melts from Taste and Tell
- Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps with Capers and Tomatoes from Kalyn’s Kitchen
- Tarragon and Shallot Tuna Salad Sandwich with Avocado from Natalie’s Daily Crave