These quick and easy Ham and Cheese Sliders are made with pre-sliced sweet rolls, ham, cheese in a flavorful sweet buttery sauce with Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, onion, garlic powder and poppy seeds.
This slider recipe is easy to assemble and the best part about these delicious rolls is that you can make them ahead of time. On the day of your gathering, pop it in the oven or air fry in batches, whichever is easier for you.
Looking to make something easy for game day, block party, potlucks or any gatherings, try these delicious Ham and Cheese sliders. Serve it as an appetizer, a snack or as a light meal that everyone will love.
Be sure to double, triple the recipe as one can easily go back for seconds, thirds or more.
Here are other delicious appetizers or snacks to add to your spread: Lil Smokies Pigs in a Blanket, French Bread Pizza or Sweet and Spicy Chicken Wings.
Ingredients substitute
Hawaiian sweet rolls – These rolls are soft, easy to pull apart and crisp up. You can substitute it with homemade rolls or dinner rolls.
Ham – I used uncured black forest ham. Use any type of ham or leftover ham from the holidays. Note: If leftover ham is sweet, adjust sugar measurement in recipe.
Other meat – This is a versatile recipe. You can use turkey, roasted chicken or any meat from the deli.
Cheese – I used Swiss cheese. Other cheese varieties like cheddar, peper jack, mozzarella, colby jack, provolone or American are delicious with sliders.
Mayonnaise – If you don’t care for mayo, you can eliminate this ingredient. The butter sauce is so flavorful that you won’t even notice there’s mayo. You can sub it with sour cream or horseradish sauce (of course, if you like the taste of horseradish).
Dijon mustard – Not everyone likes mustard. You can eliminate this ingredient or use stone ground mustard, brown mustard or yellow mustard.
Meatless – You can make it without meat instead replace it with vegetables. Thin slices of zucchini, cauliflower rice, cherry tomatoes are also good. Get creative. Tip: I don’t suggest freezing rolls with vegetables.
Fresh onion – I added yellow onion. You can use sweet or red onion or 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder.
How to make ham cheese sliders
In a small sauce pan, melt unsalted butter then saute onion for about a minute over medium heat. Add garlic powder, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and poppy seeds. Simmer for another minute then remove from stove.
Lay rolls on a flat surface and slice with a serrated knife. Transfer and arrange the bottom half of rolls in a greased oven safe tray or baking pan.
Spread mayonnaise and brush with butter sauce.
Add 2-3 layers ham, 2-3 layers cheese and then brush again with butter sauce.
Before adding the other half of rolls, brush the inside with butter sauce then the top of rolls and pour remaining sauce on the sides.
Cover with foil and refrigerate for half a day or overnight.
Bake or air fry.
Cooking Tips
It is easier to assemble the sliders if you don’t break the rolls individually.
I used thin sliced ham that I rolled and cut in half then placed in the sliders. Also, I cut the cheese in half, fold and added to the rolls. It is easier to pull the sliders apart after baking. Note: If this is too much work for you, you can lay as much ham and cheese as you like, then after baking, use a knife and separate the rolls.
It is better to brush the inside, sides and top of the rolls with butter sauce then pour the remaining sauce on top or on the sides. This ensures that the sauce is spread evenly.
You can prepare the sliders ahead of time and store for a couple of days in the fridge.
Cooking instructions
If you are making dozens of sliders, it best to cook in a regular oven otherwise for smaller amounts, use a toaster oven or air fryer.
- Oven – Pre-heat oven at 350 degrees F and bake for 25 minutes. Bake 20 minutes covered and 5 minutes uncovered. After baking, let it sit for a couple of minutes and run a spatula or a knife in between rolls and serve.
- Air Fryer – I have a Gourmia 7 QT/6.7 and I can fit about 6 sliders. Temperature is set to 300 degrees F for 5-6 minutes. I did not set PRE-HEAT and did not TURN the sliders.
Storing leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days. You can make extra servings and freeze it.
Tip: If you are using a zip lock bag, I suggest to place sliders in a single layer with the card board that came with the rolls. It is easier to store it with the card board.
Reheating
Oven – If stored in the refrigerator, place sliders in a baking pan and cover with aluminum foil. Pre-heat oven at 325 degrees F and reheat for 10 minutes or until warm. If frozen, thaw fully in the refrigerator before reheating.
Air Fryer – If stored in the refrigerator, do not pre-heat, set air fryer temperature at 300 degrees F for 2 minutes. If frozen, pre-heat at 300 degrees F for 2-3 minutes.
Tip: If frozen, it is better to reheat with top of roll off. You get a crispier roll and ham is well heated.
Frequently asked questions
Can I cook sliders after making it
Yes, if press for time, you can bake or air fry after making sliders, although it is tastier if rolls had enough time to soak the butter onion sauce.
Can I make ham and cheese sliders ahead of time
Yes, store it in refrigerator covered with foil for a couple of days then bake or air fry.
Can I freeze uncooked sliders
Yes, place it in an airtight container and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw completely in the refrigerator then bake.
Recipe
Easy Ham and Cheese Sliders
Ingredients
- 15 King’s Hawaiian sweet rolls
- ¾ pound ham roll and cut in half
- 8 slices Swiss cheese or more cut in half
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
Butter sauce
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 2 ½ tablespoons yellow onion minced
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 ½ tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven at 350 degrees F.
- In a small sauce pan, melt unsalted butter then saute onion for about a minute over medium heat. Add garlic powder, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and poppy seeds. Simmer for another minute then remove from the stove.
- Lay rolls on a flat surface and slice with a serrated knife. Transfer and arrange the bottom half of rolls in a greased oven safe tray or baking pan then spread the mayonnaise and brush the rolls with butter sauce.
- Add the rolled ham and cheese then brush the top with butter sauce. Note: Spread around the extra ham and cheese.
- Before adding the other half of rolls, brush the inside with butter sauce then the top of rolls and pour remaining sauce on the sides.
- Cover with foil and refrigerate for half a day or overnight.
- Bake for 20 minutes covered and 5 minutes uncovered for a total of 25 minutes.
- Let it sit for a couple of minutes then separate rolls with spatula or knife. Serve warm.
Notes
- You can prepare the sliders in the baking pan ahead of time, cover with foil and store in refrigerator up to 2 days.
- Reheat leftovers or serve it cold.
- STORING LEFTOVERS: Store leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days. You can make extra servings and freeze it. If you are using a zip lock bag, I suggest to place sliders in a single layer with the card board that came with the rolls. It is easier to store it with the card board.
- COOKING IN AIR FRYER: Aside from baking sliders, you can also use an air fryer. I have a Gourmia 7 QT/6.7 and can fit about 6 sliders. Temperature is set to 300 degrees F for 5-6 minutes. I did not set PRE-HEAT and did not TURN the sliders.
- REHEATING SLIDERS: Oven – If stored in the refrigerator, place sliders in baking pan and cover with foil. Pre-heat oven at 325 degrees F and reheat for 10 minutes or until warm. If frozen, thaw fully in the refrigerator before reheating.
Air Fryer – If stored in the refrigerator, do not pre-heat, set air fryer temperature at 300 degrees F for 2 minutes. If frozen, pre-heat at 300 degrees F for 2-3 minutes.
Tip: If frozen, it is better to reheat with top of roll off. You get a crispier roll and ham is well heated.
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