Description
These Tuna Melt Bites are delightful puff pastry appetizers filled with a creamy tuna salad and sharp cheddar cheese, perfect for parties or a savory snack. Crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside, they bring the classic tuna melt flavor in a bite-sized form that’s easy to enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
Puff Pastry and Cheese
- 13 oz package puff pastry (room temperature)
- 8 slices sharp cheddar cheese (room temperature)
Tuna Filling
- 7 ounces tuna in water (drained if necessary)
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons celery (finely chopped)
- 1 tablespoon red onion (finely chopped)
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
Garnish
- Dill or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and lightly spray the bottoms of a 12-cup muffin pan with non-stick spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix Tuna Filling: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the drained tuna, mayonnaise, finely chopped celery, red onion, ground black pepper, and salt. Stir well and set the mixture aside.
- Roll Puff Pastry: Unfold the puff pastry on a clean, dry countertop. Use a small rolling pin to gently smooth out creases and even the edges. If the pastry sticks, lightly dust the surface with flour.
- Add Cheese: Place the sharp cheddar slices on top of the pastry, leaving about one inch bare at the top edge. Cut or tear slices to cover the pastry evenly without overlapping.
- Spread Tuna Mixture: Spoon the tuna filling evenly across the cheese, again leaving the top one inch of pastry bare to facilitate rolling.
- Roll the Pastry: Starting from the edge closest to you, slowly and evenly roll the pastry upwards to form a tight log, even if some filling pushes out slightly at the edges.
- Slice the Roll: Using a very sharp, straight-edged knife, cut the rolled pastry into 12 even slices, each about ¾ to 1 inch wide.
- Place in Muffin Pan: Gently reshape each slice if needed, and place them upright into the individual cups of the prepared muffin pan.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-17 minutes until the pastry is golden and puffed. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Remove from Pan: Run a butter knife along the edges of each bite to loosen any stuck cheese. Carefully pop out the bites and place them on a cooling rack lined with paper towels to absorb excess grease.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh dill or parsley and serve warm with chips or fresh crudité for a tasty appetizer or snack.
Notes
- Make sure your puff pastry is fully thawed and at room temperature to roll easily.
- If you prefer a spicier filling, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to the tuna mixture.
- These bites can be made ahead and reheated in the oven for a few minutes before serving.
- For a lighter alternative, use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise.
- Carefully slicing and reshaping the rolls helps maintain their round shape and ensures even cooking.
