Ham and Swiss Sliders (2024)

It can be tricky to find a recipe that’s both a breeze to prepareand a crowd-pleaser. Look no more. Whether you need easy weeknight dinner recipes or party food ideas, ham and cheese sliders are sure to please at all the gatherings.

To make these savory sliders, simply stack cheese and deli ham inside Hawaiian sweet rolls, then top with a buttery, spicy sauce the night before you want to serve them. The next day, bake the sliders to sheer perfection!

Serve these sliders for family night, or scale the recipe up for a crowd. Any way you slice it, these sliders are one of those great make-ahead meals for busy weeks, potlucks and game days.

Ingredients for Ham and Cheese Sliders

• Hawaiian sweet rolls: A package of Hawaiian sweet rolls serves as the ideal base for these sliders. The rolls are soft with a touch of sweetness, which goes great with savory ham and cheese. If you don’t have Hawaiian sweet rolls, you can use another slider bun option.
• Ham: Ask your deli for thinly shaved ham, which piles nicely on the buns, or grab your favorite prepackaged sliced ham. This is also one of our favorite leftover ham recipes during the holidays.
• Swiss cheese: Swiss cheese has a great nutty flavor and melts really well.
• Butter: Butter adds a ton of flavor to the sauce, and it helps the sliders get a nice golden brown when they bake. You can use salted or unsalted butter. Here are our Test Kitchen’s picks for the best butter brands.
• Horseradish sauce: Horseradish sauce adds a punch of flavor and tang to the sliders. Note that this recipe calls for horseradish sauce, which is typically blended with mayonnaise and vinegar; it’s not straight horseradish. If you’re not a fan, skip the horseradish sauce, reduce it by half, or use mayonnaise or mustard instead.
• Chopped onion: Not a fan of onion? Feel free to skip this addition. You could also use dried minced onion or 1 tablespoon onion powder mixed into the butter mixture instead.

Directions

Step 1: Cut the rolls, and fill

Grease a 9-inch square baking pan. Remove the entire loaf of rolls from the bag, and cut them in half horizontally without separating the rolls. Spread the horseradish over the bottom of the rolls. Layer with ham and cheese, and place the top half of the rolls back on top.

Step 2: Make the butter topping

In a small skillet or saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion, and cook until tender, one to two minutes. Stir in the brown sugar, spicy brown mustard, poppy seeds, Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder.

Step 3: Pour and chill

Pour the butter topping over the prepared rolls. Cover the baking pan with aluminum foil, and refrigerate the rolls for several hours or overnight.

Step 4: Time to bake!

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Remove the rolls from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking, and preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the rolls, covered, for 25 minutes. Uncover the rolls, and bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes, until golden brown. Serve warm.

Ham and Cheese Slider Variations

• Switch the rolls: No Hawaiian sweet rolls? No problem! These can easily be made with any other slider bun. Choose a regular roll, or even try it with mini potato rolls.
• Add peppers or pickles: Spice things up with additional toppings. Consider adding pepperoncini, banana peppers or pickle slices. Remove the top layer of rolls before baking, and add your peppers or pickles. Place the top back on, cover the baking pan and bake!
• Increase the meat: These ham and Swiss sliders have a great base layer of meat, but what if you want more? Consider adding slices of bacon or even pepperoni.
• Make warm Reuben sliders: Want a different flavor profile? Replace the ham with pastrami or corned beef, add sauerkraut and use caraway seeds instead of poppy seeds.

How to Store Ham and Cheese Sliders

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How long do ham and cheese sliders last?

This is a great make-ahead recipe. Once prepped in a baking dish and covered, store these ham and cheese sliders in the fridge for up to two days before baking. Put the leftovers in an airtight container, or wrap them well, and store them in the fridge for up to two days. Reheat before serving.

Can you freeze ham and cheese sliders?

These ham and cheese sliders can be prepped ahead of time, wrapped well and stored in the freezer as a make-ahead meal. Take them out of the freezer to thaw for 30 to 60 minutes before baking.

Ham and Cheese Slider Tips

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What do you serve with ham and cheese sliders?

Since you can enjoy sliders for lunch, dinner, as an appetizer or game-day snack, there are so many things you can serve with them. Consider pairing with a salad, vegetables, soup or a batch of homemade potato chips.

How do you keep sliders from burning?

These mini sandwiches need some oven time in order to warm thoroughly. To keep the tops from burning, we keep them covered for most of the bake time, and only uncover them during the final few minutes.

Watch how to Make Ham and Swiss Sliders