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These Hawaiian Roll Ham and Cheese Sliders are my most-requested party appetizer, and I can see why. Sweet King’s Hawaiian rolls, two layers of salty ham and melty Swiss, and a buttery Dijon glaze that gets golden and crispy in the oven. Ready in 30 minutes, make-ahead friendly, and guaranteed to disappear in under that time. 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
Table of Contents
- Why these are the Best Ham and Cheese Sliders
- Ham and Cheese Slider Ingredients
- How to Make Ham and Cheese Sliders
- Easy Slider Variations
- Eden’s Expert Tips for the Best Sliders
- What to Serve with Ham and Cheese Sliders
- How Many Ham and Cheese Sliders Per Person?
- Ham and Cheese Sliders FAQs
- More Party Appetizers
- Ham and Cheese Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls Recipe
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: Sweet Hawaiian rolls, salty ham, and tangy Dijon are the perfect trio. Every bite hits all the right notes!
Make-Ahead Friendly: Assemble up to 24 hours ahead, refrigerate, and bake when guests arrive. One of the best stress-free party foods I know!
Feeds a Crowd: One pack of 12 rolls makes 12 sliders, enough for 4 to 6 people as an appetizer. Need more? Just double the recipe and use two baking dishes.
Versatile: A great way to use up leftover ham from my baked ham recipe after Easter or Christmas. They also work beautifully with turkey or chicken!
Ham and Cheese Slider Ingredients
- Hawaiian Rolls (1 pack, 12 rolls): King’s Hawaiian is the only way to go! Their soft, slightly sweet rolls are what make these sliders iconic. Don’t substitute with regular dinner rolls if you can help it. I love these rolls so much I use them for my mini lobster rolls too!
- Ham (1/2 lb, shaved or thinly sliced): Honey ham or Black Forest ham both work beautifully. Ask the deli counter to slice it thin. Thin layers melt into the cheese and stay put when you bite in.
- Swiss Cheese (1/2 lb, about 8 slices): The classic choice! Provolone melts beautifully too, and cheddar gives a sharper flavor. You’ll layer the ham and cheese twice, so every bite gets that cheese pull.
- The Glaze: 5 tablespoons melted butter, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 tablespoon poppy seeds, and 1/2 tablespoon dried minced onion. This is the magic sauce that makes everything golden and delicious!
How to Make Ham and Cheese Sliders
- Prep the Glaze: Whisk together the melted butter, Dijon, Worcestershire, poppy seeds, and dried 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 half the ham, half the cheese, then repeat. Two layers means melty cheese in every single bite.
- 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 the foil and bake 5 more minutes, until the tops are golden brown and the cheese is melty.
Easy Slider Variations
These sliders are endlessly adaptable! Here are my favorite ways to switch it up:
Turkey and Provolone: Swap the ham for deli turkey and use provolone for a lighter version. Still amazing with the Dijon glaze!
Chicken and Cheddar: Rotisserie chicken with sharp cheddar is incredible, especially with a little honey mustard inside. Great for using up leftover chicken!
Funeral Sandwich Style: Add a teaspoon of brown sugar to the glaze for the sweet, sticky, old-fashioned version. So good.
Garlic Herb Butter: Swap the Dijon glaze for melted butter with garlic powder and Italian seasoning for a more savory, herby flavor.
Spicy: Use pepper jack or add a few jalapeño slices for a kick that pairs perfectly with the sweet rolls.
Eden’s Expert Tips for the Best Sliders
The Slab Slice: Use a serrated knife to slice the whole pack of rolls in half at once. Keep them connected! It’s the biggest time-saver when you’re hosting, and it keeps everything uniform.
Prevent Soggy Bottoms: Wait to pour the glaze until right before baking. You can also lightly toast the bottom halves in the oven for 3 to 5 minutes first to create a little moisture barrier. This is the tip that makes the biggest difference!
Shaved Ham Is Key: Thin layers create little pockets that trap the melted cheese and keep the filling in place when you bite in.
Layer It Twice: Ham, cheese, ham, cheese. The melted cheese acts like glue, holding everything together and giving you that perfect pull in every bite.
Golden Top Every Time: Bake covered with foil for 15 minutes, then uncover for 5 more. Perfectly golden tops, never burnt bread.
Air Fryer Reheat: Got leftovers? Pop them in the air fryer at 325°F for 3 to 4 minutes. Crispy on top, warm in the middle, and so much better than the microwave!
What to Serve with Ham and Cheese Sliders
These sliders are the star of the show, but here are my favorite things to serve alongside them!
For a game day spread, pair with my easy meatball appetizer, slow-cooker chili, and a colorful fruit platter.
For a party appetizer table, set them out alongside my mini lobster rolls, a beautiful cheese platter, and my whipped ricotta dip. And if you really want to charm your guests, end the night with a dessert charcuterie board!
For a holiday dinner, these pair perfectly with my baked ham recipe, bacon-wrapped dates, and a fruit and cheese platter.
For a weeknight dinner, serve with a simple green salad and call it done. Easy and satisfying!
How Many Ham and Cheese Sliders Per Person?
Great question, and one I always get when people are planning a party! Here’s my easy guide:
Appetizer: 2 to 3 sliders per person.
Main course: 3 to 4 sliders per person.
Game day (with other food): 2 sliders per person.
One pack of 12 King’s Hawaiian rolls makes 12 sliders, which serves 4 to 6 as an appetizer. For 10 or more guests, or if sliders are the main event, double the batch and use two 9×13 dishes. The glaze doubles easily. They hold beautifully in a 200°F oven while guests arrive!
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.
These sliders have an old Southern nickname, funeral sandwiches, because they were the dish everyone brought to a gathering after a service. They feed a crowd, travel well, and need no utensils. The name stuck, but these days you’ll spot them at game days and holiday parties far more often!
I love 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.
King’s Hawaiian rolls are truly the best here. Their slight sweetness against the salty ham is the whole magic. In a pinch, brioche slider buns or soft potato rolls will work, but it won’t be quite the same.
Keep them covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 325°F for 3 to 4 minutes, or in the oven wrapped in foil at 325°F for 8 to 10 minutes.
Can I freeze ham and cheese sliders?
Yes, two ways! For the best texture, assemble them without the glaze, wrap the pan tightly, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, add the glaze, and bake as directed. Already baked? Wrap leftovers individually and freeze, then reheat in foil at 350°F for 10 to 15 minutes.
What is the best way to keep sliders warm for a party?
Keep them in the baking dish covered with foil in a 200°F oven for up to 30 minutes, or serve them on a warming tray to keep the cheese melty.
Deli-sliced honey ham or Black Forest ham. Thin slices layer beautifully and melt right into the cheese.
Plan for 2 to 3 per person as an appetizer, or 3 to 4 as a main. One pack of 12 rolls serves about 4 to 6 people as an appetizer. Feeding more? Double the recipe. Two dishes bake at the same time!
More Party Appetizers
Snacks & Appetizers
Whipped Ricotta Dip (Easy 5-Minute Recipe)
Snacks & Appetizers
Burrata Platter with Delicious Marinated Tomatoes
Let me know if you make this ham and cheese slider recipe by leaving a review and rating below! I 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
- Whisk together 5 tbsp melted butter, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1/2 tbsp poppy seeds, 1/2 tbsp dried minced onion, and 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce in a bowl. Set aside.
- Without separating the rolls, use a serrated knife to slice the entire bag of King's Hawaiian rolls horizontally through the center to make one large top and one large bottom slab.
- Place the bottom slab in a 9×13 baking pan.
- Layer 1/4 lb ham, then 1/4 lb Swiss cheese, then the remaining 1/4 lb ham, then the remaining 1/4 lb Swiss cheese on top.
- Place the top slab of rolls back on.
- Pour the entire butter glaze evenly over the top of the rolls.
- Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 5 more minutes until the tops are golden and the cheese is melted.
- Cut along the roll lines into individual sliders and serve warm!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is the second time I have fixed this!! My husband wanted to try roast beef. I used ham and roast beef and aged Swiss cheese. Delicious!!!!
I make these for all of my parties! This is an easy, fool-proof recipe, and they’re so tasty!
Maybe the best on the interwebs
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!