These gluten-free crostini tuna melt appetizers make the perfect finger food appetizer for any holiday party! Made with 3 main ingredients so when you need a quick appetizer dish to win the crowd over, this one is it!
Disclosure: I received products from Tonnino Tuna, by Cedar Bay Grilling Company. All opinions and words are my own and I only recommend products and ingredients I highly recommend.
Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 16 minutes (7 minutes to crisp, then 3-4 more with the topping)
- 🍽️ Serving: 4
- ⚡ Calories: 74kcal
- 🥣 Ingredients: 3 main ones (gluten-free baguette, shaved Parmesan, jarred tuna fillets in olive oil)
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Salty Parmesan and garlicky olive oil tuna, finished with paprika and fresh dill
- ✋ Difficulty: Slice, toast, top, melt. No mayonnaise anywhere.
Quick Answer
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and slice a gluten-free baguette into ½ inch slices. Bake them 7 minutes to crisp into toasts. Mash a 6.7 ounce jar of tuna fillets in olive oil to break up the large chunks, top each toast with shaved Parmesan, then tuna, then more Parmesan, and bake another 3 to 4 minutes until it starts to gently brown. Finish each one with a sprinkle of paprika and fresh dill. It makes 4 servings at 74 calories and takes about 21 minutes start to finish.
Jump to:
These tuna crostinis are a delicious delicate appetizer that takes minutes to make. Perfect when you need quick and effortless appetizer! Plus they are loaded with health benefits!
One way to increase muscle mass and boost brain power is by eating seafood. Some seafood is almost entirely carbohydrate free making it perfect to consume for most diets. And paired with small amounts of mini bread slices and sharp Parmesan cheese keeps the carb content down.
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Parmesan under the tuna is the trick. Being afraid they would get soggy from the olive oil, I found out they do not by adding Parmesan cheese as a base layer under the tuna.
- Two bakes, not one. Crisping the bread first for 7 minutes means the toast holds up once the topping goes on.
- No mayonnaise at all. The flavor is all in the olive oil and seasonings the tuna has been perfectly bathed in.
- Jarred fillets, not canned flakes. This tuna needs to stand out and be created into a position alone as the main ingredient, not to have its infused flavors camouflaged by too many other elements.
- Paprika and dill in place of tomato. Tuna melts have always been a family favorite of ours (with the addition of juicy tomatoes on top!), and here the garnish keeps the toast from going soft.
Why You'll Love These Appetizers
- Three main ingredients and about 20 minutes.
- Gluten-free with the right baguette.
- 74 calories a serving, low carb for a party bite, lighter than my buffalo ranch chicken dip.
- No mayonnaise, so they hold up on a platter.
- Party ready next to shrimp deviled eggs, cannellini tahini hummus or simple nachos.
Key Ingredients
- 1 gluten-free baguette bread loaf. I love to use Schar Gluten Free Baguettes as they are fabulous in flavor, slightly naturally sweet, do not crumble and are a great source of additional fiber.
- ¾ cup shaved Parmesan cheese, half under the tuna and half on top.
- 1 jar (6.7 ounce) Tonnino Tuna Fillets, Garlic in Olive Oil or Lemon and Peppers in Olive Oil.
- Fresh dill and paprika for garnish.
- Equipment: a baking sheet and a bowl to mash the tuna.
The flavors of these tuna delights come in Olive Oil, Garlic in Olive Oil and Lemon and Peppers in Olive Oil. I used the Garlic and Lemon and Peppers for this recipe and it is fabulous!
Full recipe ingredients and measurements are in the recipe card below.
Best Gluten-Free Baguette to Use
I love to use Schar Gluten Free Baguettes as they are fabulous in flavor, slightly naturally sweet, do not crumble and are a great source of additional fiber. They are kinda pricey at the store for about $6.99 but they come in a 2-pack, which makes that more affordable.
Tonnino tuna fillets are wonderful to have on-hand for a quick snack or appetizer into these crostini tuna melts. They can be found at your local Whole Foods or ordered from Amazon. To learn more you can visit them on Facebook here and on Instagram here.
Baking gluten-free at home instead? My gluten-free flour and starch guide covers which blends behave.
How to Make Crostini Tuna Melts
1Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Slice the baguette loaf into ½ inch slices. Place on a baking sheet and cook for 7 minutes to crisp into toasts.
2Remove the crispy bread from the oven. Pour the tuna into a bowl and mash it gently to break up large tuna chunks. Top each bread slice evenly with Parmesan cheese then top each slice with tuna. After the tuna add the remaining Parmesan cheese on top.
3Bake an additional 3-4 minutes or until it starts to brown gently.
4Top each slice with a sprinkle of paprika and fresh dill, and a squeeze of lemon. Wholaaa! Magnificent tuna melt crostini appetizers seafood lovers will love!
As always, be sure to check out the full recipe details in the recipe card below.
Expert Tips
- Cheese goes down first. A base layer of Parmesan under the tuna is what keeps the olive oil from soaking into the toast.
- Mash gently. Break up the big chunks but leave some texture; these fillets are too delicate to shred.
- Half inch slices. Thinner and they snap when someone picks one up, thicker and they are a mouthful.
- Watch the second bake. Three to four minutes is enough; you want the cheese melted and gently browned, not dark.
- Assemble just before serving. These are best warm, and the garnish goes on last. Round the table out with artichoke jalapeno dip or vegetarian potstickers.
- Make it a spread with deviled eggs and a healthy snack platter on the same table.
Serving Ideas
These babies are seriously addicting, quick to assemble and zesty in flavor! I love seafood and could consume it almost everyday without a complaint. In high school I used to eat tuna fish straight out of the can for lunch after working out. Tuna is affordable, rebuilds muscles, and is rich in high levels of omega-3 fatty acids which help lower bad cholesterol. Tuna has always been a love of my life!
Serve them as a holiday starter with party punch, or build a whole seafood spread with shrimp ceviche, gluten-free crab cakes and shrimp deviled eggs. For more tuna, try my Low Fat Tuna Casserole Recipe and Tuna Stuffed Spaghetti Squash.
If you make this recipe I would love to see and share your creation with others! Tag me @delightfulmomfood on Instagram with a hashtag #delightfulmomfood!
Crostini Tuna Melt FAQs
Put a layer of Parmesan cheese on the bread before the tuna. Being afraid they would get soggy from the olive oil, I found out they do not by adding Parmesan cheese as a base layer under the tuna.
Schar Gluten Free Baguettes. They are fabulous in flavor, slightly naturally sweet, do not crumble and are a great source of additional fiber. They run about $6.99 but come in a 2-pack.
You can, but the recipe is built around fillets packed in olive oil, where the flavor is all in the olive oil and seasonings the tuna has been bathed in. Canned tuna in water will need more seasoning.
Crisp the bread slices ahead and keep them at room temperature, then top and do the final 3 to 4 minute bake just before guests arrive. Assembled ones soften as they sit.
No. There is no mayonnaise involved at all. The flavor comes from the olive oil and seasonings the tuna is packed in, plus the Parmesan.
One 6.7 ounce jar tops a sliced baguette for about 4 servings. For a bigger party, plan on a jar and a baguette for every four people.
Crostini Tuna Melt Appetizer
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Ingredients
- 1 baguette bread loaf (gluten free)
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese shaved
- 1 6.7 ounce jar Tonnino Tuna Fillets Garlic in Olive Oil or Lemon and Peppers in Olive Oil
- dill fresh, for garnish
- paprika for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Slice the baguette loaf into ½ inch slices. Place on a baking sheet and cook for 7 minutes to crisp into toasts.
- Remove the crispy bread from the oven. Pour the tuna into a bowl and mash it gently to break up large tuna chunks. Top each bread slice evenly with Parmesan cheese then top each slice with tuna. After the tuna add the remaining Parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake an additional 3-4 minutes or until it starts to brown gently.
- Top each slice with a sprinkle of paprika and fresh dill.
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