These hot ham and cheese sliders will be the hit of any party! Sweet and soft Hawaiian rolls are stuffed with sliced ham and gooey cheese and baked with a buttery mustard-onion glaze on top.
We make these ham sliders just about every time we need an easy and hearty appetizer! They remind us of one of our favorites, the French croque monsieur. However, instead of being served with a sweet jelly, they’re topped with an insanely flavorful and savory sauce. If you’re feeding a crowd, we highly recommend making a double batch as they always disappear fast!
Reasons to Love These Ham and Cheese Sliders
- Easy to Make: These ham sliders are super simple to assemble in just about 10 minutes!
- Family Favorite: The classic flavors and grab-and-go size are always a hit with kids and adults alike.
- Sweet and Savory: The combination of sweet rolls with savory ham, melted Swiss cheese, and tangy mustard-onion sauce pack a ton of flavor!
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Prepare them in advance and bake when needed, making hosting a breeze.
Key Ingredients
Below you will find helpful notes for key ingredients used to make this recipe for ham and cheese sliders. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and exact amounts!
- Hawaiian Rolls: These are hands-down our FAVORITE rolls to use for these sliders, but any soft dinner roll will work well.
- Ham: Deli ham works great. If you happen to have any leftover ham, even better.
- Cheese: You can use Swiss or provolone. Both are so good in these easy sliders!
- Shallot: Half of a small red onion will also work, but a shallot is less intense. Finely diced is the way to go, no one wants a big bite of onion on their slider!
- Dijon Mustard: We don’t recommend swapping this with regular yellow mustard. Dijon has a certain spice to it that really balances the sweet bread perfectly.
- Poppy Seeds: This topping is entirely optional!
How to Make Ham and Cheese Sliders
This game day favorite couldn’t be easier to toss together. Below is a quick recipe overview, but please scroll down to the recipe card for full instructions.
- Prepare the Rolls: Use a serrated knife, or a bread knife, to saw through the middle of the rolls. Try to make the top and bottom halves even with each other.
- Layer: Layer the ham and cheese on the bottom half of the bread. We like to do cheese, then ham, then even more cheese (for the best cheesy goodness). Add the top half of the bread.
- Make the Buttery Sauce: Melt your butter in a pan, then toss in the shallots and cook. Mix in the mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire, and salt. Pour this sauce evenly all over the rolls and sprinkle on your poppy seeds.
- Bake: Cover the baking dish with foil and pop it in the oven for 10 minutes. Then, remove the foil and keep cooking just until the cheese is nice and melty!
Cook’s Tips & Variations
- Add Some Heat: Incorporate sliced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to the glaze for a spicy kick. Add sliced jalapeños, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, or a drizzle of hot honey for a little heat.
- Use Different Meats: Swap ham for turkey, chicken, roast beef, or even pulled pork for a new flavor experience. You can also change up the cheese for more flavor combos!
- Herb Infusion: Add fresh minced herbs, like rosemary or thyme, to the butter glaze for an aromatic twist.
- Garlic Lovers: Add minced garlic to the butter mixture when you add the shallot.
How To Prepare Them Ahead
- Sliders: Assemble the sliders, but do not add the butter sauce yet. Cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Sauce: Make the butter sauce and cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- When Ready To Serve: Set sliders on the counter for 30 minutes. Melt the butter sauce in the microwave and stir to combine. Pour over the sliders, top with poppy seeds, and bake as directed.
Yield: 12 sliders
Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders
Baked to melty perfection, these Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders have a buttery mustard-onion glaze that makes every bite irresistible!
Ingredients
- 12 Hawaiian rolls, original or butter style
- 24 slices ham
- 8 slices Swiss cheese, or provolone
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 shallot, minced
- 1 ½ tablespoons dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- poppy seeds, optional topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
- Remove the rolls from the packaging, but do not separate them. Using a serrated knife, hold the rolls steady with one hand and gently saw through the middle horizontally, creating a top and bottom half. Once sliced, place the bottom half directly into the prepared dish.
- Layer the ham and cheese evenly over the bottom rolls. We like to do a thin layer of cheese, then the ham, followed by a second layer of cheese on top. Place the top half of the rolls on top. Set aside.
- Melt the butter over medium heat in a small sauce pan. Add the shallot and cook for 2 minutes. Then stir in the mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and salt. Pour sauce over the top of the rolls. Sprinkle tops with poppy seeds, if using.
- Cover with foil and bake for 10 minutes. Uncover and cook for 5 additional minutes, or until cheese is good and melted and the tops are golden brown. Serve immediately!
Notes
Store: Once baked, these sliders are best enjoyed hot and fresh! However, the leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Wrap them in foil and bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes to maintain their soft texture. For a quick reheat, pop them in the microwave for 30-45 seconds.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 slider, Calories: 326kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 70mg, Sodium: 897mg, Potassium: 189mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 271IU, Vitamin C: 0.3mg, Calcium: 110mg, Iron: 1mg
