Ham and Cheese Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls

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Ham and Cheese Sliders — Baked juicy ham and Swiss nestled in soft Hawaiian rolls and brushed with a buttery Dijon, onion, and poppy seed topping!! Fast, EASY, and a party FAVORITE!!

Six ham and cheese sliders topped with poppyseeds.

Best Ever Hawaiian Roll Sliders Recipe

If you’re in need of an easy comfort-food recipe for game day, holiday parties or events, or an after-school snack that everyone loves, 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.

A ham and cheese slider on a Hawaiian roll.

It stays soft and tender in the interior and while the base of the sliders have 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 Worcesteshire 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.

Ham and Cheese Sliders - Baked juicy ham and Swiss nestled in soft Hawaiian rolls and brushed with a buttery Dijon, onion, and poppy seed topping!! Fast, EASY, and a party FAVORITE!!

Ham and Cheese Sliders Ingredients

For these Hawaiian roll ham sliders, you’ll need the following: 

  • Hawaiian sweet rolls
  • Deli ham
  • Swiss cheese
  • Unsalted butter
  • Dijon mustard
  • Poppy seeds
  • Dried minced onion
  • 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.

Ham and Cheese Sliders — Baked juicy ham and Swiss nestled in soft Hawaiian rolls and brushed with a buttery Dijon, onion, and poppy seed topping!! Fast, EASY, and a party FAVORITE!!

How to Make 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: 

  1. 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. 
  2. Layer the ham and cheese onto the bottom ‘slab’ of rolls, then place the top ‘slab’ back on. 
  3. Whisk together the melted butter, mustard, poppy seeds, onion, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Brush over the top rolls. 
  4. 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. 
  5. Then, bake the sliders in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted and serve! 

Tips for the Best Hawaiian Roll Sliders 

When making baked ham and cheese sliders, you need to use Hawaiian rolls. Period, no discussion. They’re slightly sweet, which pairs perfectly with the salty ham and cheese! 

If you have leftover Christmas or Easter ham, this sliders recipe is a wonderful way to use it up. 

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. 

Ham and Cheese Sliders - Baked juicy ham and Swiss nestled in soft Hawaiian rolls and brushed with a buttery Dijon, onion, and poppy seed topping!! Fast, EASY, and a party FAVORITE!!

Recipe FAQs

Should I Use Poppyseeds? 

Yes! 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. 

Can sliders Be Prepared in Advance? 

Yes, up to a point. You can cut the rolls into “slabs,” then layer on the ham and Swiss cheese. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until you’re ready to add the butter mixture and bake. 

Can the Sliders Be Frozen? 

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. I imagine you’d want to reheat them from frozen in a hot oven. You may wish to brush a little more of the butter mixture on top if they start to look at all dry. 

Why are the ham and cheese sliders made with Hawaiian Rolls?

Although you could technically use regular slider rolls to make this easy recipe, I highly recommend using sweet Hawaiian rolls if at all possible. Hawaiian rolls are soft, buttery, and slightly sweet. They pair perfect with the melted Swiss cheese and salty deli ham! 

I also think the sweet Hawaiian rolls pair well with the sweet and salty honey mustard sauce that’s drizzled over top. The combination of textures and flavors is what makes these sliders so good! 

should Ham and swiss sliders be covered or uncovered when baking?

You’ll want to cover the baking dish with foil before baking. Bake for 20 minutes covered, then remove the foil and bake an additional 5 minutes.

Ham and Cheese Sliders - Baked juicy ham and Swiss nestled in soft Hawaiian rolls and brushed with a buttery Dijon, onion, and poppy seed topping!! Fast, EASY, and a party FAVORITE!!

What to Serve with Ham and Cheese Sliders

This easy sliders recipe can be enjoyed as an appetizer or as an entree.

If serving as an appetizer along with other nibbles, try pairing them with one or more of the following:

If serving the sliders as a main, try pairing it with one of the following sides: 

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4.54 from 828 votes

Ham and Cheese Sliders

By Averie Sunshine
Baked juicy ham and Swiss nestled in soft Hawaiian rolls and brushed with a buttery Dijon, onion, and poppy seed topping!! Fast, EASY, and a party FAVORITE!!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Resting Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 12
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Ingredients  

  • one 12-count package Hawaiian sweet 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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 156kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 39mg, Sodium: 514mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Originally published August 2016, updated April 2019, and republished January 15, 2021. 

About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. 5 stars
    i substituted ham w/ turkey and Swiss w/ sharp because that’s what we had and they still turned out great!!!

  2. 5 stars
    These were sooooo yummy! I think the Hawaiian style rolls really make this recipe. I used thin shaved ham-off-the-bone from the deli. Just two of us so I prepared as directed but only baked half in the toaster oven. Foil-wrapped and froze the other half. Can’t wait to bake them again! P.S. Had a couple leftover from baking and they were just as good the next day after a quick warming in the microwave!

  3. Hi, this easy recipe looks so amazing. Besides Dijon mustard, what else would you recommend? Thanks, Tess

    1. Really nothing else since I only make them as written and have not branched out trying them without mustard.

  4. 5 stars
    Made these as a Father’s Day treat for my husband — he said they were even better than he thought they’d be!!

      1. Hi! We are planning on making these this Sunday for my children’s baptism. As we have to rush home from church with food “ready to go”, do you think assembling the morning of (or even night before) and popping in the oven on “keep warm” (About 170 degrees) but covered would work or would it ruin them? We have guests who have to catch a flight soon after so unfortunately adding in the 20 minutes to cook is almost too tight. But I really want to make them and not just serve cold cuts!!!! :)

      2. Wow, that’s a pickle…if 20 minutes is too tight, you have really got a tight schedule.

        Honestly I would just make them as close to before church as you can, cover with foil to keep warm, and then just serve at room temp when you’re back from church. I think keeping them in a low oven that whole time, probably 2 hours give or take with traffic, church, etc would overcook them a lot.

        Worst case, if they’re not to your liking at room temp, you can microwave them for 15 secs if someone really needs it.

  5. have made this many many times very tasty and easy to prepare …btw are you single … i need a cooking partner in life….

  6. Make these with ham or turkey combined with Swiss, provolone, or white American cheese, because of different tastes in my family. ALL are delicious!!!

  7. I’ve made these before and they’re delicious, but I plan on prepping them a few hours early before baking them this time. Is it okay to mix up the sauce early and refrigerate it as well or does it need to be mixed up right before baking?

    1. If it’s just a few hours, I would just keep it on the counter personally. If you put it in the fridge the butter will solidify again and you’d have to start over anyway. Glad you love these!

  8. Thank you for your recipes. I made the Ham and Cheese sliders for a party. They were a big hit. The mustard-poppy dressing spot on. I was asked by several guests where I found the recipe. I altered the recipe, only increasing the Kings Hawaiin bread from the 12 pack to the 24. Keeping it together. But found the cheese did not melt in the middle very well perhaps due to the increased size? I used foil and baked 20 or so and my outside edges golden. I might try again with this but break the loaf.

    1. Sometimes yes if you’re using a big ‘slab’ of rolls, the interior cheese doesn’t melt as well due to such a large surface area. Probably better to make a couple batches of 12 rather than one 24. Glad they were a big hit!

  9. This is one of my family’s favorites, great for football season or showers. I’d like to double the recipe and freeze a batch; do you think they would freeze okay?

    1. Not sure…in theory there are lots of ‘frozen breakfast sandwiches’ on the market that are premade and you just reheat. But something about this recipe seems like it would be at its peak fresh; but as long as you know that going in, I’d give it a try. Or just freeze a couple sliders and see what happens.

  10. Hey! I need to make these for a party tomorrow, but will need to cook them in the oven in the morning. should i wait to add the sauce right before i cook them or go ahead and pour it on now?