🎉🧀 Baked Ham and Cheese Sliders are made with juicy ham and Swiss cheese nestled in soft Hawaiian rolls and are brushed with a buttery Dijon, onion, and poppy seed topping! Fast, EASY, and a party and family FAVORITE, everyone is going to want this recipe!
Best Ever Ham and Cheese Sliders
If you’re in need of an easy comfort-food recipe for game day, holiday parties or events, an after-school snack that everyone loves, or a quick, easy weeknight dinner on busy weeknights, these Hawaiian roll sliders will do the trick.
This recipe features baked juicy ham and Swiss cheese nestled in soft, sweet Hawaiian rolls with a buttery Dijon, onion, and poppy seed topping. Hawaiian bread is one of my all-time favorite kinds of bread, and it’s absolutely perfect for the sliders.
It stays soft and tender in the interior, while the base of the sliders has an ever-so-slight crispiness from the buttery mixture that drips down during baking.
There’s flavor galore from the juicy ham, savory cheese, sharp Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, dried onions, and Worcestershire sauce.
While eating the sliders, the term ‘butter fingers’ may come to mind. Soft, white, warm bread covered in butter is never a bad thing. As a bonus, your cuticles will be extra moisturized.
“I honestly had to make a second batch! The buttery Dijon and poppy seed topping is what sets these apart from every other slider recipe I’ve tried. That combination of sweet Hawaiian rolls, salty ham, and melty Swiss is just chef’s kiss.”
Dev
Ham and Cheese Sliders Ingredients
For these Hawaiian roll ham sliders, you’ll need the following:
- Hawaiian sweet rolls: These are my go-to and are so much better than white dinner rolls or other types of bread or rolls!
- Cooked sliced ham: I like to use sliced ham from the deli counter (honey ham is great or Black Forest), but you can use ham in packets sold in the refrigerated cases. If you have leftover Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter honey baked ham, this sliders recipe is a wonderful way to use it! Also, check out my Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders recipe for a fun twist to take that ham off your hands.
- Swiss cheese: I like to use Swiss cheese on the sliders, but you can of course use your favorite sliced cheese, such as cheddar cheese, mozzarella, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, Gouda, and more
- Unsalted butter
- Dijon mustard: I love Dijon mustard in this easy sliders recipe, but you can use yellow mustard, spicy mustard, or your favorite mustard
- Poppy seeds: Don’t omit the poppyseeds in the sauce. They cling to the tops of the rolls and add even more texture. It’s a subtle crunch, but it makes a difference. If you don’t have them, in a pinch, some Everything But the Bagel Seasoning (which has poppy seeds) can work. Sprinkle it into the melted butter
- Dried minced onion or onion powder
- Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Baked Ham and Cheese Sliders
Hawaiian roll ham and cheese sliders are a breeze to make! I’ve given the full set of instructions and ingredient ratios in the recipe card below.
Here’s a look at how the hot ham and cheese sliders are prepared:
- Using a large serrated knife, slice the rolls in half so you have a ‘slab’ of tops and a ‘slab’ of bottoms. Don’t pull the rolls apart and slice individually because you want to keep them connected.
- Layer the ham and cheese onto the bottom ‘slab’ of rolls, then place the top ‘slab’ back on.
- Whisk together the melted butter, mustard, poppy seeds, onion, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Brush over the top rolls.
- Before baking, you MUST let the sliders sit for 5 to 10 minutes at room temperature. This gives the butter mixture time to soak into the bread and flavor it.
- Then, cover the dish with foil, and bake the sliders in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted. Remove the foil in the last few minutes of baking, and enjoy warm!
Tip! Prevent soggy bottoms
For crispier roll bases, place the bottom slab cut-side up under the broiler for 1-2 minutes before adding the fillings. Alternatively, bake the sliders in a dark metal pan rather than a glass dish. It conducts heat better and crisps the bottom.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. If you want to prepare in advance, cut the rolls into slabs, then layer on the ham and Swiss cheese, and complete the assembly process. Then, cover the pan tightly with foil and refrigerate up to 24 hours.
If making the hot ham and cheese sliders in advance, wait to brush on the butter mixture until you’re ready to bake them off. Otherwise, the rolls will become soggy. Add about 5 minutes to the baking time if baking the sliders straight from the fridge.
Technically, yes, but with sliders recipes like this, I recommend enjoying them fresh from the oven. However, if your options are to toss the sliders or try freezing them, I say freeze them.
If possible, omit the butter topping. Then, wrap the pan tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, brush on the butter topping, and bake as directed.
Ham and cheese sliders on Hawaiian rolls are sometimes nicknamed “funeral sandwiches” because they’ve long been a go-to dish to bring to gatherings after a funeral. They’re easy to make in bulk, travel well, require no utensils, and feed a crowd without much fuss, which makes them just as popular for potlucks, game days, and holidays as they are for somber occasions.
What to Serve with Ham and Cheese Sliders
Ham and Cheese Sliders
Video
Equipment
- 1 Medium Microwave-Safe Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 package Hawaiian sweet rolls (12 rolls), sliced in half (see directions for more details)
- ¾ pound cooked deli ham, thinly sliced
- ¾ pound Swiss cheese, thinly sliced
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 2 teaspoons dried minced onion
- 2 teaspoons Worcesteshire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9×9-inch or 9×13-inch pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
- Using a large serrated knife, slice the rolls in half so you have a ‘slab’ of tops and a ‘slab’ of bottoms; don’t pull the rolls apart and slice individually because you want to keep them connected.
- Place the bottom ‘slab’ of rolls in prepared pan.
- Evenly layer about half of the ham over the rolls.
- Evenly layer the cheese.
- Evenly layer the remaining ham.
- Add the top ‘slab’ of rolls; set aside.
- To a medium microwave-safe bowl, add the butter and heat on high power to melt, about 1 minute.
- Add the mustard, poppy seeds, onion, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and whisk to combine.
- Evenly and slowly pour the butter mixture over the rolls. Use a spatula to spread the mixture over the tops. Some of the mixture will pool at the base of the rolls.
- Cover with aluminum foil and allow rolls to stand at room temp for about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Bake covered for about 20 minutes or until cheese has melted.
- Uncover and cook for about 3 to 5 minutes, or until as done as desired. Baking time will vary based on the size of pan used, climate and oven variances, etc. Bake until as done as desired; watch to make sure they don’t burn since all ovens and ingredients vary.
- Slice into individual sliders and serve immediately. Sliders are best warm and fresh.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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More Party Sliders Recipes:
Pepperoni Pizza Sliders — Pizza by way of supremely cheesy sliders!! EASY, ready in 15 minutes, and perfect for parties because everyone LOVES them! Totally IRRESISTIBLE!
Beer and Bourbon BBQ Chicken Sliders — Chicken is cooked with beer and bourbon before being soaked in bbq sauce! So juicy, flavorful, easy, and ready in 25 minutes!
Caramelized Onion and Portobello Mushroom Sliders with Fry Sauce – Meatless comfort food at its finest! Hearty, satisfying, and so good!
Ranch Chicken and Swiss Sliders — Tender chicken is coasted in tangy ranch dressing and topped with Swiss cheese. It’s all nestled in soft, sweet Hawaiian rolls with a buttery Dijon, onion, and poppy seed topping.
Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders – Grilled pineapple slices brushed with a soy and ginger marinade add a Hawaiian-inspired twist to these irresistible sandwiches!
BBQ Chicken Sliders — These FAST and EASY sliders are made with shredded chicken, smothered in tangy barbecue sauce, sandwiched between soft Hawaiian rolls with cheese, and baked until warm!
Roast Beef Sliders — Tender roast beef is mixed with sauteed green peppers and onions, piled into soft Hawaiian rolls, topped with Provolone cheese, and brushed with butter and garlic before baking!
Hawaiian Roll Turkey and Cheese Sliders — Juicy turkey, Swiss cheese, and cranberry sauce all nestled in soft Hawaiian rolls that are brushed with butter and topped with poppy seeds for the BEST turkey sliders!
Originally published August 2016, updated April 2019, and republished January 15, 2021.
These are the best appetizer that I’ve ever made! Easy to make, can be doubled or tripled! And, can be made in advance covered and left until it’s time to add the buttery topping. I let them sit for 15-20 minutes before baking. I love the poppy seeds but have also swapped them out for everything bagel topping! I’ve caught guests guests swiping up any leftover topping with chips and plain bread!-it’s that good
Thanks for the 5 star review and I am glad this is the best appetizer you’ve ever made! That’s some high praise and I am glad it’s been a such a winner for you. Great tip about the everything bagel seasoning too!
These are sooo good! I do add less poppy seeds, just as a personal preference. But recipe is perfect otherwise.
Made these for my ladies prayer group. They loved them. Saved a couple for my husband and he loved them also. He cleaned the “drippings” from the baking dish.
😆
Made these for my ladies prayer group. They loved them. Saved a couple for my husband and he loved them also. He cleaned the “drippings” from the baking dish.
😆
Thanks for the 5 star review and I am so glad that your prayer group loved them and I bet your husband really loved those pan drippings and all that buttery goodness 😊
Have made these by this recipe (exactly) many, many times. I will tell you – you CAN freeze them! Completely made! For family beach vacations I make several dozen and put them in the freezer in foil 9×13 pans. I wrap the pans in foil, then in plastic wrap. When we want some, we take out one pan and put it in the fridge…then, we heat whatever we want in the microwave (unwrapped on a plate) at 30% power. That way the bread doesn’t get doughy but they get nice and warm.
Quick and delish beach food!
Have made these by this recipe (exactly) many, many times. I will tell you – you CAN freeze them! Completely made! For family beach vacations I make several dozen and put them in the freezer in foil 9×13 pans. I wrap the pans in foil, then in plastic wrap. When we want some, we take out one pan and put it in the fridge…then, we heat whatever we want in the microwave (unwrapped on a plate) at 30% power. That way the bread doesn’t get doughy but they get nice and warm.
Quick and delish beach food!
Thanks for the 5 star review and that’s great info that you have made tons in advance of family vacations, frozen them, and just microwaved when ready to eat them. Great to know you have really tested this well and that it works!
Simply Delicious
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We like to make double batches using hotdog buns. Wrap 2 in Saran wrap, freeze, and reheat for 2 minutes in the microwave. Easy to make large batches for birthday parties.
We like to make double batches using hotdog buns. Wrap 2 in Saran wrap, freeze, and reheat for 2 minutes in the microwave. Easy to make large batches for birthday parties.
That’s a great tip for anyone looking to make ahead for large batches for events, bday parties, and so forth.
I have made these a ridiculous amount of times! I’ve made them for a variety of people of all ages, and everybody always loves them and comes back for more. I highly recommend this recipe.
I have made these a ridiculous amount of times! I’ve made them for a variety of people of all ages, and everybody always loves them and comes back for more. I highly recommend this recipe.
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad these are always a hit with everyone!
It’s in the oven now! I’m sure it’ll be delicious! Your website drove me a little crazy though! I was rushing to throw this together and every time I looked back at my phone, the page had jumped up or down due to the ads… I kept having to rinse/dry my fingers and slide the page back to what I needed. It was constant and really annoying. I don’t mind ads because I know that’s important for revenue… but don’t usually have the issue of the page jumping around from them! :/
I’m sorry about that and I am addressing it with my tech team to minimize the shift. Thank you for understanding the site cannot exist without ads. As a tip though, if you’re cooking from your phone in the recipe card area, look for this and toggle it.
“Hands Free Mode:
Prevent screen from sleeping”
I made these with honey turkey and Swiss, just for a change from ham.
Everyone at the graduation party went crazy for them!
I made these with honey turkey and Swiss, just for a change from ham.
Everyone at the graduation party went crazy for them!
Thanks for the 5 star review and I am glad that the honey turkey and Swiss worked great and they were a hit at the graduation party!
I actually have a recipe for those too! https://www.averiecooks.com/turkey-and-cheese-sliders/
Would these be fine at room temperature? No oven at the place I am bringing them so I have to bake in advance
Yes they should be fine. Cover them well with foil and serve them as soon as possible after baking them but they are still fine at room temp rather than piping hot.
We make these for lunch every 1-2 weeks. I’m actually making them again today. My whole family devours them. Thanks for the quick and easy recipe!