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Airfryer Tuna Bagel Melt

8 August 2025

12 Minutes

super easy

2 Persons

Can’t muster up the energy for breakfast, or so busy you can only make a sad bowl of cereal? Say hi to my Air-Fryer Tuna Bagel Melt—crunchy edges, a gooey cheesy top, tuna packed with flavor, barely any dishes, and the best part? It just might taste better than your local deli!

I have a confession—I’m the ultimate sloth when it comes to mornings because I’m not a morning person at all. My husband gets up all chirpy; he even busts some moves and says “Good morning!” while I struggle to keep both eyes open and physically drag myself to the washroom. So when it comes to breakfast, the only thing I can manage is cereal. But I’ve reached my threshold of sad cereal bowls in the morning.

I might not be able to bust a move at dawn and shout an ecstatic “Good morning!” but I can sure as heck make it my half-year resolution to make breakfasts great again for myself and for everyone around me who’s a walking sloth in the morning. So I made this Airfryer Tuna Bagel Melt. It’s so delicious you’ll wonder whether you really made it with one eye open and a hot coffee in hand to push that restart button in you, or if you zombie-walked to the nearest deli, bought it, and don’t remember.

All this hype about the Airfryer Tuna Bagel Melt leads to one question: what makes a good tuna melt? Two things: good-quality bagels and good-quality canned tuna. No, don’t go on a hunt for the absolute best bagels and tuna, but if you know where to get them without selling your kidneys in this economy, that’s great! Those two ingredients are the most important, because bad bagels and low-quality canned tuna can’t be saved by any herbs or spices.

This recipe is also perfect if you have a can of tuna in your pantry and you’re wondering “How do I make tuna less boring?”—this is it!

B roll 2: Side view of Airfryer Tuna Bagel Melt with a side of wild peach and mandarin arugula salad on modern ceramic plate on textured beige table cloth
B roll 1: Top view of half eaten Airfryer Tuna Bagel Melt with a side of wild peach and mandarin arugula salad on modern ceramic plate and another airfryer tuna bagel melt in the background on textured beige table cloth
Half eaten Airfryer Tuna Bagel Melt with a side of wild peach and mandarin arugula salad on modern ceramic plate and another airfryer tuna bagel melt in the background on textured beige table cloth

Airfryer Tuna Bagel Melt

Can’t muster up the energy for breakfast, or so busy you can only make a sad bowl of cereal? Say hi to my Air-Fryer Tuna Bagel Melt—crunchy edges, a gooey cheesy top, tuna packed with flavor, barely any dishes, and the best part? It just might taste better than your local deli!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 6 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 12 minutes
Course Breakfast, Lunch
Cuisine American
Servings 2 Tuna Bagel Melt
Calories 440 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 Bagels
  • 1 rib Celery
  • 2 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp Onion Powder
  • 1 tsp Smoked Paprika Powder/Paprika Powder
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 160 g Canned Tuna (with oil) drained
  • 1 tbsp Mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp Whole Grain Mustard/Dijon Mustard
  • Mild Cheese see Recipe Notes

Instructions
 

  • If you’re using fresh bagels, proceed to the next step. If you’re using pre-baked bagels, bake them in the air-fryer at 160 °C for 4 minutes, or follow the instructions on the packaging.
  • While the pre-baked bagels are in the airfryer, slice the celery rib in two (lengthwise) if it’s thick, then slice it thinly.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine the thinly sliced celery, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika (or regular paprika), ground black pepper, mayonnaise, whole-grain mustard (or Dijon mustard), and salt. Mix well and set aside.
  • Remove the bagels from the airfryer, hold one with a tea towel (they’ll be hot), and carefully slice it in half with a serrated knife for a clean cut.
  • On the bottom half, spread the tuna mixture around the bagel, avoiding the center hole. Be generous and divide the filling evenly between both bottom halves bagels. Use the back of a spoon to pat the filling lightly so it stays put. Lay your chosen mild cheese over the tuna. If you’re using cheese slices, press them gently onto the filling so they don’t “fly” around in the air-fryer.
  • Air-fry the bottom halves topped with the tuna mixture at 180 °C for 6 minutes.
  • Serve warm—with the bagel top placed on the tuna melt or served on the side—and, if you like, pair it with one of the salads here, such as the Apple Arugula Sumac Salad, The Everything Salad, or any salad of your choice.

Notes

Cheese: If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What cheeses go with tuna?” use this quick guide the next time you reach for the cheese: pick a mild variety such as Emmental, Mozzarella, Gouda, American or etc.
Q: Why mild cheese?
A: Because mild cheeses complement the tuna’s flavour, while stronger ones overpower it.
Keyword 12-minute recipe, Airfryer Breakfast, Airfryer Tuna Bagel Melt, deli-style sandwich, Quick Breakfast, Tuna Melt
Reviews
Nutritional Information
440 kcal Calories
18.7 g Total Fat
2090 mg Sodium
3 g Dietary Fiber
31.5 g Protein
2.5 mg Vitamin C
85 mg Cholestrol
34 g Carbohydrates
4 g Sugar
490 IU Vitamin A
2.5 mg Iron
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