Are you looking for a delicious snack or party appetizer idea? This mouth-watering ham and cheese sliders recipe perfectly combines savory ham, gooey cheese, and buttery rolls.
Recipe Science
- A savory, tangy, and slightly sweet butter sauce infuses the ham and rolls with rich flavor, enhancing moisture and taste.
- Hawaiian rolls add a light sweetness that balances the savory ham, with their soft texture complementing the gooey cheese.
- Thick slices of Swiss cheese provide a gooey texture and a mild, nutty flavor that melds well with the warm ham.
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Why It Works
Ham and cheese sliders are the quintessential party food, perfect for bustling game days or festive holiday gatherings. This recipe, ready in 30 minutes, offers a quick and satisfying solution to feed a crowd without spending hours in the kitchen. The warm, melty allure of hot ham and cheese nestled between soft rolls makes them irresistible and convenient as both an appetizer and a main dish.
To ensure your sliders are a success, a few of my simple tips can make all the difference. First, assemble the sliders using the bottom half of the rolls on your baking tray, then stack them with ham and two layers of cheese. Covering the sliders with foil while they bake prevents the tops from burning and helps to melt the cheese while keeping the ham juicy. Remove the foil in the last few minutes of baking for a golden, crispy finish. A perfect contrast of textures makes these sliders delightful.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Butter Sauce: To add flavor to the ham and the rolls, brush them with melted butter, Dijon mustard, honey, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and salt. The savory, tangy, and slightly sweet sauce adds depth to the sliders.
- Bread: Hawaiian rolls add a hint of sweetness to the dish, which balances the savory ham. I use a 12-ounce package of King’s Hawaiian sweet rolls, yielding twelve sliders.
- Ham: Use thicker deli ham for the sliders for flavorful bites. Use at least 8 ounces or eight slices of ham. Add more to your liking for a heartier serving.
- Cheese: Use thick slices of Swiss cheese to complement the warm baked ham. This type of cheese has a mild, nutty, subtle tanginess and sweetness. You’ll need ten slices for the sliders.
- Topping: To add an interesting flavor and crunch to the surface of the rolls, sprinkle on everything bagel seasoning. It’s typically a mixture of poppy seeds, sesame seeds, dried garlic and onion, and salt. You can add these ingredients individually instead or omit a topping altogether.
See the recipe card below for all ingredients and measurements (US and metric).
Ingredient Substitutions
This recipe for ham and cheese sliders is easy to customize! Try these tasty options:
- Bread Swaps: Use dinner rolls or whole wheat rolls instead of the Hawaiian sweet rolls.
- Worchestershire Substitutes: Use soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos. Alternatively, combine half soy sauce and half vinegar to add tanginess to the sauce.
- Sweetener Options: Instead of honey, use maple syrup, agave, or brown sugar.
- Meat: Use leftover honey-glazed ham, deli honey ham, turkey, salami, chicken, or roast beef.
- Cheese: Try provolone, mozzarella, gouda, smoked gouda, pepperjack, or Monterey jack or cheddar cheese.
- Fillings: Add caramelized onions, roasted bell peppers, pickled red onions, or sundried tomatoes.
How to Make Ham and Cheese Sliders
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Position the oven rack in the center for uniform heating and preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil to prevent sticking and simplify cleanup.
Step 2: Make the Butter Sauce
To enhance the flavor of the ham and cheese sandwiches, I make a simple butter sauce. Whisk melted butter with Dijon mustard, honey, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, and salt. This adds a savory, tangy, and sweet dimension. This is added to the meat and rolls.
Step 3: Slice the Rolls
A package of King’s Hawaiian rolls comes with twelve buns attached. Slice the rolls in half lengthwise, creating one big top and bottom piece.
Step 4: Assemble the Sliders
Set the bottom half of the rolls, cut side up, on the prepared baking sheet. Arrange six slices of Swiss cheese over the rolls, overlapping them to ensure complete coverage.
Layer the ham slices evenly on top of the cheese. Brush about half of the prepared butter sauce over the ham.
Add the remaining four slices of Swiss cheese on top of the ham.
Add the top halves, then brush them with the remaining butter sauce. Sprinkle with the seed seasoning mixture. The butter mixture helps them stick.
Tips for Perfect Execution: Sandwiching the ham between the Swiss cheese slices ensures that the slider components stick together after baking. The gooey cheese acts like glue, sticking everything together.
Step 5: Bake the Sliders
Cover the sliders with foil, then bake for 15 minutes. This traps the steam heat, helping the meat warm up and melt the cheese. The foil is removed, and the sliders are baked until the rolls are golden brown and slightly crisp.
Step 6: To Serve
Place the slicers on a cutting board, then slice them into individual sandwiches with a large knife.
Experimentation Encouraged: Consider separating the rolls and cutting the ham and cheese into smaller pieces before assembling. This method eliminates the need to slice the sliders after baking. However, it requires more prep time upfront.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sliders can become soggy when the moisture from sauces or fillings seeps into the bread. This is particularly problematic if the buns aren’t toasted to create a moisture barrier or are inherently soft without a sturdy crust. Instead of drenching, lightly brush the sauce on the meat and the tops of the buns to enhance flavor without overwhelming the bread with moisture.
To keep sliders from burning on the bottom, bake them in the center of the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for even heat distribution. Line your baking pan with parchment paper, foil, or a silicone mat to shield the buns from direct heat. Also, avoid using too much butter, as excess can drip to the bottom and cause the crust to overcook and burn due to the fat.
Yes, you can make ham and cheese sliders without poppy seeds. The seeds are typically used as a topping for added texture and flavor, but they are not essential to the structure or success of the recipe. Depending on your preference, you can leave the tops plain or substitute with another topping, like sesame seeds, dried minced onions, or a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese.
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Ham and Cheese Sliders
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons honey
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 12 Hawaiian sweet rolls, 12-ounce package
- 8 ounces sliced Swiss cheese, 10 slices
- 8 ounces sliced deli ham, 8 slices
- 1 teaspoon everything bagel seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven – Adjust the oven rack to the middle position. Heat to 350°F (177°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and set aside.
- Slice the Rolls – Use a serrated knife to cut the rolls in half lengthwise, keeping them intact once sliced.
- Assemble the Sliders – Place the bottom half of the rolls cut-side up on the lined sheet pan. Layer 6 slices of Swiss cheese, overlapping to cover the bread. Evenly layer the ham on top. Brush the ham with about half of the butter sauce. Layer the remaining 4 slices of Swiss cheese on top. Place the top half of the rolls on the assembled sliders. Brush the remaining butter sauce over the tops. Sprinkle the seeds on top.
- Bake the Sliders – Cover the sliders with foil. Bake for 15 minutes, then uncover. Bake until the cheese is melted and the tops are lightly brown, about 5 minutes.
- To Serve – Transfer the sliders to a cutting board, then cut into individual sliders. Transfer to a platter and serve immediately while hot.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Heartier Sliders: Add 1 pound of ham to the sliders.
- Worchestershire Sauce Substitute: Add ¼ teaspoon soy sauce and ¼ teaspoon vinegar.
- Honey Substitute: Use maple syrup or brown sugar.
- Everything Bagel Seasoning Substitute: Use poppy seeds or sesame seeds.
- Storing: Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to two days.
- Freezing: Wrap the assembled rolls in plastic and foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator, brush with seasoned butter and bake according to recipe directions.
- Reheating: Heat the sliders in the microwave on high setting in 15-second increments until the rolls are soft and the filling is warm.
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
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