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These Hawaiian Roll Ham and Cheese Sliders are the ultimate crowd-pleaser! Served hot with a buttery Dijon glaze, they are the perfect 30-minute appetizer for game days, holidays, or an easy weeknight dinner. I love these so much I featured them in my book, Entertaining with Charm.
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“These are always a hit when I make them and never last more than a few minutes. Thanks for the recipe!” — Amy, Verified Reader
Why these are the Best Ham and Cheese Sliders
If you are looking for the perfect party appetizer, these are my absolute GO-TO. I first served them at a tropical-themed party, and they were gone in under 30 minutes!
- Flavor Balance: The sweetness of the Hawaiian rolls pairs perfectly with salty ham and tangy Dijon.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: These are the best make-ahead sliders—prep them a day early and bake when guests arrive.
- Versatile: A great way to use up leftover honey glazed ham from the holidays!
If you need more easy party food, try my Mini Lobster Rolls, Easy Meatball Appetizer and Epic Cheese Platter.
Ham and Cheese Slider Ingredients
- Hawaiian Rolls: I recommend King’s Hawaiian for that classic soft, sweet base.
- Ham: Use high-quality honey ham or Black Forest ham. Shaved deli meat works best for melting!
- Swiss Cheese: The gold standard for ham sliders, but provolone or cheddar are great substitutes.
- The Glaze: A mix of melted butter, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, poppy seeds, and dried minced onion.
How to Make Ham and Cheese Sliders
- Prep the Glaze: Whisk together melted butter, mustard, poppyseeds, Worcestershire, and onion.
- The Slab Cut: Slice the entire pack of rolls in half horizontally (keep them connected!).
- Layer Up: Place the bottom slab in a 9×13 baking dish. Layer on the ham and cheese.
- The Butter Pour: Place the tops back on and pour that “magic” buttery sauce all over.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 5 more minutes until the tops are golden brown and the cheese is melty.
Eden’s Recipe Tips
The Assembly Hack: Use a serrated knife to slice the entire slab at once. It’s faster and ensures the sliders stay together during baking.
Prevent Soggy Bottoms: Top Expert Tip! If prepping for a party, wait to pour the butter sauce until right before baking. You can also lightly toast the bottom bun halves for 3–5 minutes before layering to create a moisture barrier.
The “Thin-Slicing” Secret: Use shaved or ultra-thin deli ham. Thin layers create air pockets that trap the melted Swiss cheese.
Maximum Melt: Layer your cheese above and below the ham to act as a “glue” that keeps the slider together.
The Perfect Golden Top: Bake covered with foil for 15–20 minutes, then uncover for the last 5 to get that perfect crunch without burning the bread.
Ham and Cheese Sliders FAQs
Yes! Assemble the sandwiches (ham and cheese only), cover with foil, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Add the butter sauce just before popping them in the oven.
I love using Swiss for its classic flavor, but you can totally switch it up! Try cheddar for sharpness, provolone for meltiness, or pepper jack for a little kick. Use what you love or what you have on hand!
Yes! After baking, let them cool completely, then wrap them individually and freeze. Reheat in the oven wrapped in foil for 10–15 minutes at 350°F. Great for busy weeknights or last-minute guests.
Keep them in the baking dish covered with foil in a 200°F oven. Alternatively, serve them on a warming tray to keep the cheese melty.
Deli-sliced honey ham or black forest ham are great choices for flavor and texture. Thin slices layer beautifully and melt into the cheese.
More Party Appetizers
Let me know if you make this ham and cheese slider recipe by leaving a review and rating below! We would love to see what you think!
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Ham and Cheese Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 bag King's Hawaiian Rolls
- 1/2 lb Swiss cheese, sliced
- 1/2 lb ham, sliced
- 5 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 tbsp poppy seeds
- 1/2 tbsp dried minced onion
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Melt the butter mustard, poppy seeds, Worcestershire sauce and dried minced onion in a bowl. Set aside while you assemble the sliders.
- Hawaiian rolls are connected when removed from the bag. You can leave them connected and then just cut horizontally through the center to make a top and a bottom.
- This helps because then you can make one large sandwich and cut them after they bake!
- Once you have the top and bottom, place the bottom rolls in a 9 x 13 baking pan.
- Add half of the ham on the bottom, then half of the cheese, then ham and cheese again.
- Place the Hawaiian roll tops back on, and then Pour the melted butter mixture all over.
- Since these are baked ham and cheese sliders, toss them in a preheated 350-degree oven for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- When they’re done, cut each roll individually. Serve warm!
Notes
You can assemble the sliders a few hours in advance—just wait to pour the sauce until right before baking. Cover and refrigerate for up to 5 hours. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and reheat the next day. To Keep Warm
Keep sliders wrapped in foil in a 200°F oven until ready to serve, or wrap them individually to hold heat on the table.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Hahah, thanks!
I have tried this with eggs, ham, and shredded cheese. But to make them more solid, I poured the scrambled eggs into a 12″ frying pan, lifting the edges to run the egg underneath to thicken up but did not scramble. At the end I sprinkled my Mexican shredded cheese on top. I covered with a lid to melt the cheese and finish cooking the eggs. Sliding this onto a plate, it was easy to cut into the sizes I needed to fit my breakfast sammies. I had the layers of ham, and then put in fresh basil leaves. Yum. Then instead of the butter flavored with salt, pepper, garlic and onion, you melt a quarter of a cup of butter into a quarter cup of maple syrup, brushing that over the top after you’ve heated them up and they are partially browned. (You don’t want to put the sugar on too early or it might burn). I think if I did it again I would add non-shredded cheese so that it would stay on the sandwich and that way it could melt into the ham also. But people said it tasted better than a McGriddle (haven’t tasted that, but they were pleased).
These ham and cheese sliders on sweet Hawaiian rolls are a total crowd-pleaser! 🧀🍖 The fluffy rolls, melty cheese, and savory sauce make them irresistible. 😍 Perfect for a quick and delicious snack or party dish! 🥪🔥
Yay! SO happy!!!
These are always a hit when I make them and never last more than a few minutes. Thanks for the recipe!
So glad you liked them!!
One of the best game day foods to make! They never last long in our house when we make them!
These are soooo delicious and come together in minutes!! My family loves them! Thanks for sharing!
Comfort food at its finest! These sliders are SO GOOD! It’s hard to stop eating them!