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!!
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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.
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 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.
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:
- 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, 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.
Recipe FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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:
- Cheddar Pigs in a Blanket
- Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Pizza Dip
- Dill Pickle Chex Mix
- Honey Garlic Meatballs
If serving the sliders as a main, try pairing it with one of the following sides:
- Twelve Superfoods Salad
- Vanilla Pudding Fruit Salad
- Ambrosia Salad
- Amish Pasta Salad
- German Potato Salad
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Ham and Cheese Sliders
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
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.
We have made these sliders several times and they are awesome.
We have used colby cheese before & we tried them with hot pepper jack cheese….this is a slider that has many variations.
Thanks for the five star review and glad that you’ve been able to play around with various variations!
We love these!
My next adventure will be Reuben variety.
Not sure of sauce maybe garlic and butter.
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad that you love these! Hope the reuben version turns out great too!
I use this recipe as an inspiration for deliciousness! You can use any meats (including loose ground beef for a burger style) and any cheeses! I use less butter, but add whatever seasonings match the sandwich. Sliced chicken and mozzarella? Garlic and Italian seasonings in the butter! I like to use sesame seeds on my burger version! Of course ham and Swiss are the classic, but the possibilities are endless! Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad this recipe gave you lots of inspiration!
Thank you probably will just keep them wrapped tight with aluminum foil and eat at room temp
I want to make these for a potluck at work but am worried they will get cold. Can they be re heated in microwave?
Yes although as you know the microwave can alter the texture of things. I personally would just eat at room temp rather than microwave-reheated but do what you think is best.
I’ve made these several times. I would bake them as usual, but then serve them cold! They’re excellent “leftover!”
I made these ahead of time for a workshop. No way to reheat, but we did have access to a refrigerator so I served them cold. Attendees asked for the recipe!
Have also added six scrambled eggs (made with salt and pepper) and added as a layer on top of the cheese, and served for breakfast. Delicious.
Glad that people seemed to really like this and that you were asked for the recipe and that it has turned out deliciously for you!
This is my favorite potluck dish to make.. both my coworkers and my husbands coworkers always request for it! I always prepare it the night before to let the mixture soak and it’s delicious hot or cold!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad it’s your new fave potluck recipe and that everyone requests it!
I usually assemble these the day before but I don’t put the sauce on until I preheat the oven the next day to bake them. They are good on ?Christmas morning, Super Bowl Sunday (pair them with soup) and tonight I am making them for my Bible study main dish.
Thanks for the 5 star review and I am glad that this are a favorite of yours and that you can assemble them a day in advance.
Wondering if you can use a milder cheese.
Use what you like but normally Swiss is pretty mild.
Sooo easy and sooo good!!!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad they turned out great!
My daughter made these for a party. My husband and I loved them, and the next weekend I made them. So easy to make, and absolutely perfect.
Thanks for the 5 star review and I am glad you enjoyed them back to back weekends!
I have made these numerous times my daughter loves them. They r good the next day warmed up also
Glad your daughter loves them and you’ve made them many times!
I just googled and found you and found this recipe. It was really good and easy. Ty!!
Thanks for the 5 star review and you’re welcome!
These are a favorite of ours and our picky eaters will eat them. We also like to take these to family get togethers and there are never any left. Sometimes we add a tad bit of honey to our mix. Thank you for always having delicious recipes!
Glad these are always a hit!
Your Ham and Cheese Sliders are the best in the world. We are cooking them today in Culinary Class at Kotzebue High School in Kotzebue, Alaska. SOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOD!
Thanks for the five star review and I’m glad you’re cooking them in culinary class in h.s. today!
Ummm, not to be contradictory…but, I have made these the night before & baked them the next day, because it does take me longer than 5 min to put together. They Are Yummy !!! 😁
Thanks for the five star review and I’m glad they turn out yummy for you!
Can you prepare these the night before and bake in the morning? If so, Would you pour the sauce on the night before or right before baking?
It is literally 5 mins of prep – just assembling a sandwich with meat and cheese. I would do it all the day of, before you plan to serve them.
I have made this recipe a couple of times. It is always a hit with the family. I have altered the sauce for my son, who doesn’t like a lot of things. I make a regular batch and one with just melted butter on the top. Recently, my husband needed something to take for a scouting competition. I made this in the morning and put it in the fridge so her could just cook it when he got home. Took first prize! ❤️
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad this is (literal) winner for you!
Made them for a work potluck and a baby shower. Definitely a huge hit. Added Parmesan cheese and garlic powder on top and it was AMAZING! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad they were a huge hit at the potluck/shower!