As I mentioned earlier this week, we’re working on clearing out our freezer and cooking up meals from our pantry in order to keep our grocery budget at $250 for this month, all as part of our challenge to save $1000 in 100 days. This is a quick meal option that uses ingredients I almost always have on hand, and it’s also a GREAT way to use up those pesky hamburger buns that have been in the freezer forever!

This is a meal that goes waaaaay back to my childhood, which I’d totally forgotten about until my mom made them for us recently when we sprang a surprise visit on her and needed to be fed dinner, ha ha (moms are just the best!).

It’s basically nothing more than a basic tuna salad slathered on hamburger buns or bread and then toasted in the oven until warmed up (and until the cheese melts), but it’s delicious (not to mention super easy)! Even though I’m mostly back in the swing of things after having our second baby, I will always love quick meals that don’t require much effort on my part.

Also, a small part part of me feels a wee bit of guilt that we don’t eat more seafood (just because I know it’s so good for you and all), mostly just because I’m not a huge fish fan. But tuna fish?

Tuna I can handle.

So if you’re looking for an easy meal option that comes together in less than 30 minutes and uses mostly ingredients you’re bound to have on hand, give this one a shot!

Open-Faced Tuna Sandwiches

1 (5 ounce) can tuna
1 cup grated cheese
4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1/2 cup Miracle Whip or mayonnaise
2 tablespoons grated onion (or 1 tsp. onion powder)
2 tablespoons chopped green pepper (optional)
2 tablespoons chopped sweet pickle (optional)
3 hamburger buns, split (for a total of 6 halves) OR 4-5 pieces of bread

Mix the first seven ingredients together well, and spread over the bun halves or pieces of bread. Bake at 350 degrees for about 8-12 minutes (make sure you watch so you don’t overcook the bread).