Baked Ham and Cheese Sliders

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
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Whether you’re looking for a crazy-good appetizer, a tasty lunch, or a perfect potluck dish, these addictive, baked Ham and Cheese Sliders are sure to hit the spot. It’s no wonder they’re one of my most popular recipes!

Ham and Cheese Sliders Are a Crowd-Pleasing Favorite!

Baked ham and cheese sliders are a special (but super easy) dish that never fails to satisfy my taste buds! The sweet and savory combination of smoky ham, melted Swiss, and soft, sweet Hawaiian rolls is just irresistible. Any time I make a batch, they’re gone in the blink of an eye!

They are also incredibly simple to make, so if you need a great appetizer or dinner in a hurry, this recipe is for you. So grab a plateful, gather your loved ones, and enjoy these savory, satisfying sliders.

Why You’ll Love These Easy Ham and Cheese Sliders with Mustard

  • Irresistible Flavor: Melted Swiss cheese is perfectly mouthwatering when paired with salty ham and a sweet and savory mustard-onion sauce. It’s a messy, gorgeous combo that’s totally indulgent when served on soft Hawaiian rolls.
  • Easy to Make: If you can make a sandwich, you can make these! The quick and easy prep for this dish makes it perfect for any occasion, from a busy weeknight to a barbecue or potluck. You can also prep them ahead of time and pop them into the oven when guests arrive.
  • Flexible: Ham and cheese sliders are versatile and can be customized to work with your pantry and you preferences – you can use any deli meat, cheese, or sauces that you like! Mix it up, and make these your own.
  • Totally Portable: Sliders are basically mini sandwiches, so even when they’re messy (and yes, these are delightfully sauce and messy) they are still easy to grab and eat. In short, baked sliders are a convenient, easy dish to serve to guests or to take out for a picnic, get-together, etc.
Overhead shot of a baking dish of baked ham sliders.

What You’ll Need

The first time I made these, I used leftover Easter ham, and let me tell you, that was the right decision! If you have ham left over from another meal, this is a great way to use it up. But you can use any type of sandwich-appropriate ham – there are no wrong answers here.

  • Hawaiian Rolls: These small rolls are perfect slider buns, and bring their own touch of sweetness to the recipe.
  • Ham: At least one slice of Baked Ham or deli ham for each roll. If you are using very thin ham, you might want to use more.
  • Cheese: While you can use whatever cheese you like, Swiss is a really good choice. With the sweetness of the rolls and the tangy flavor of the mustard, Swiss brings in a nutty, savory note that works perfectly. Provolone is a great substitution.
  • Butter: I recommend unsalted butter, so the topping doesn’t over-salt the dish. If using salted butter, halve the added salt in the recipe.
  • Shallot: Be sure to include the minced shallot – it really gives the sauce a ton of savory flavor that can’t be missed.
  • Mustard: Again, you can choose your own preferred mustard here, but Dijon has a wine-like fragrance and full flavor that really brings out the best in ham and Swiss, so I highly recommend it.
  • Brown Sugar: Or honey, if you like.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: Be sure to measure your Worcestershire sauce carefully. It adds a great flavor, but if you accidentally add too much, it can easily overpower the other ingredients.
  • Salt
  • Poppy Seeds: Optional.
A plate with several small ham and swiss sandwiches. One has had a bite taken from it.

How to Make Ham and Swiss Sliders

These sliders are now one of the most requested recipe from friends and family. I take them to potlucks and parties all the time and there is never a single bite leftover…even when I triple the recipe! Here’s how to make them:

  • Get Ready to Bake. Preheat the oven to 350°F, and grease a 9×13 baking dish.
  • Cut the Pack of Rolls in Half Horizontally. Cut the entire pack of rolls in half, horizontally. You will have a sheet of the top halves, and a sheet of the bottom halves.
  • Assemble the Sliders. Place the bottom sheet of the rolls into the prepared baking dish. Add a layer of ham, and then a layer of cheese. (Or you can do cheese, ham, and then more cheese – which is my preference.) Top with the remaining top half of the rolls.
  • Make the Sauce. Melt the butter over medium heat, add the shallot, and cook for 1 minute. Take this off of the heat and stir in the mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and salt.
  • Finish the Dish. Pour the butter sauce evenly over all of the sliders, and sprinkle poppy seeds over the top (if you’re using those). Cover and bake for 12 minutes, or until the cheese is good and melty. Uncover, and cook for 3 additional minutes to finish the topping.
  • Enjoy!
Ham and cheese sliers sliced apart.

Recipe Notes

To make the absolute best ham and cheese sliders, be sure to check out these helpful tips. You are going to love this scrumptious recipe!

  • Slice Before or After: Once you have assembled the sandwiches, you can cut them into individual sliders before or after baking. I personally find it easiest to do it before, that way once they are baked they are ready to be served.
  • Use a Good Melting Cheese: You can use whatever cheese you like, but for the best results, choose one that melts easily, such as cheddar, Swiss, or provolone. You want that creamy, gooey texture.
  • Mayonnaise: Full disclosure: I do not love mayo on most sandwiches, including these. The melted cheese and mustardy topping is plenty for me! But if you want to add mayo to the inside of the buns, that will definitely work, too. However, if you’re on the fence, leave it out. Your sliders don’t need any extra sauce!
  • Additional Toppings: If you want to up the ante, you can add extra toppings to your sliders for even more flavor and texture. Pickled red onions would be fantastic.
  • Rest Time: After baking, allow the sliders to rest for a few minutes. You want to serve them warm, but let them cool a little bit to help the flavors blend. Plus, they will be easier to handle.
Lifting a cheesy ham sandwich on a spatula.

What Sides Go with Ham and Cheese Sliders?

When serving ham and cheese sliders, there are so many options for side dishes! We love contrasting flavors and textures, to create a well-rounded meal. Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Side Salad: You can never go wrong with a fresh green salad. This Greek Salad is made with a simple but flavor-packed blend of romaine lettuce, olives, bell pepper, cucumber, tomatoes, and feta. Refreshing and crisp, perfect for balancing the richness of the sliders.
  • Coleslaw: Classic homemade coleslaw is another cool and crunchy option. My Spicy Mango Slaw adds an island-y fruitiness to the mix, and some spicy sriracha, too!
  • Sweet Potato Fries: Bake up a side of Crispy Sweet Potato Fries for a festive dish that’s healthy, too. Everyone will come back for seconds of these well-seasoned, perfectly crisp oven fries.
  • More Party Appetizers: Or if you are serving these for a party, you can’t go wrong with more party favorites: Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs, Best Texas Caviar, Cheesy Bisquick Sausage Balls, Easy Walking Tacos or Pulled Pork Sliders!
Cheesy ham sandwiches on hawaiian rolls.

Can I Make These Ahead Of Time?

Yes, you can! I prepare them ahead (even drizzling on the sauce), and then cover the baking dish in foil to transfer them to wherever we are going. Once we get there, I finish the dish by baking them at my final location, whether that’s a relative’s house for the holidays or over a grill a tailgate. That’s right, you can even “bake” them on a grill. It doesn’t get any better than that!

If you add the topping, the unbaked sliders can be stored in the fridge or a cooler for a couple of hours. If you leave the topping off, you can refrigerate them for up to 48 hours before adding the topping and baking as directed. Always store in the refrigerator – please don’t store at room temperature, for food safety.

A plate with several small ham and swiss sandwiches. One has had a bite taken from it.

Storing and Reheating

To safely store and reheat any leftovers, just cool them down and then wrap them. You can wrap each one individually, or just place them all in an airtight container or zip-top bag. Refrigerate for 3 – 4 days. You can reheat ham and cheese sliders in a 350°F oven.

Baked mini ham and cheese sandwiches.
4.4 from 93 votes
Print Pin Recipe
Yield: 12 Sliders

Baked Mustard, Ham and Cheese Sliders

These soft, melty Ham and Cheese Sliders are slathered in buttery mustard sauce and served warm out of the oven. So easy to make, and so and full of flavor!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 12 Hawaiian original rolls
  • 12 slices ham
  • 8 slices swiss cheese
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 1 small shallot, minced
  • 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • poppy seeds, optional

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
  • Cut the entire pack of rolls in half, horizontally. You will have one sheet of the top halves of the rolls, and one sheet of the bottom halves of the rolls.
  • Place the bottom of the rolls into the prepared baking dish.
  • Distribute the ham and cheese evenly over the rolls. I like to do two thin layers of cheese with the ham in the center. Put the tops on the rolls. Set aside.
  • In a small sauce pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add shallot and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and add mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and salt. Stir to combine.
  • Pour sauce evenly over all of the sandwiches. Sprinkle tops with poppy seeds.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 12 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Uncover and cook for 3 additional minutes. Serve hot.

Video

Notes

Leftover Storage: To safely store and reheat any leftovers, just cool them down and then wrap them. You can wrap each one individually, or just place them all in an airtight container or zip-top bag. Refrigerate for 3 – 4 days. You can reheat ham and cheese sliders in a 350°F oven. 
Prep Ahead: If you add the topping, the unbaked sliders can be stored in the fridge or a cooler for a couple of hours. If you leave the topping off, you can refrigerate them for up to 48 hours before adding the topping and baking as directed. Always store in the refrigerator – please don’t store at room temperature, for food safety.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 257kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 62mg, Sodium: 1008mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g

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55 Responses
    1. A woman holding a camera standing in front of some shelves.
      Jessica

      I haven’t personally tried it, but I would be worried they would get pretty soggy doing that. If you try it, I’d love to know how it turns out!

    1. A woman holding a camera standing in front of some shelves.
      Jessica

      Hi Tom! If you can not see the video, it’s mostly likely because you are using an ad blocker. The recipe video is in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Hope this helps!

  1. Susan

    My husband asked me to marry him again after I made these tonight. It was a trial run for Super Bowl since we are having a big party and these were so dang good I am now making a triple batch for the party. I am going to prep them ahead and pop them in the oven when guests arrive! THANKS for a great recipe!

  2. Jason

    What a great recipe. What a shame you began it by putting down other folks’ tastes and mayonnaise.

    That’s not what chefs do. They promote good things, not slam others.

  3. sue hubbard

    made these, hubbs loved them, and i thought they were very good too. easy ,and lots flavor! have cut it down for just 2 of us, but for a party or crowd, whole pan would be great!! you can have just one roll, or several (like hubbs did ) loves his ham, and i love swiss cheese, so there ya go ! good way to use all leftover rolls and ham from holidays too :)

  4. Crystal @ Pennies and Playdough

    These are so delicious! My cousin made these for a family birthday party and I had to get the recipe, so she pointed me your way! 

    I created a spreadsheet a few years ago to help me with meal planning, and have been updating it with every new recipe we try and like. It now contains around 90 meals, each categorized by main ingredient (Beef, Chicken, pasta, etc) and meal type (Mexican, Italian, American, etc), with a link to the recipe – yours included! It has saved me so much time with meal planning and making out my grocery list!

    After talking with some friends, I thought this spreadsheet might be something worth sharing, so I have made it available from my blog to download for free! Now that my readers have your recipe, I’m sure they will be enjoying it as much as we do!

    1. A woman holding a camera standing in front of some shelves.
      Jessica

      Hi Amada, I do not think these would cook properly in a skillet. You really need an oven or a mini convection oven.

  5. June Miller

    I love mustard, and these look great. What is a slider, and also what are Hawaiian rolls like? I am guessing I could use any sort of roll?

    1. A woman holding a camera standing in front of some shelves.
      Jessica

      A slider is a small sandwich/burger. Hawaiian rolls are a brand of rolls that are slightly sweet and very soft bread. You could substitute any super soft, slightly sweet dinner roll!

  6. cathy

    Can I make these sliders a day ahead with the sauce poured over top and bake up the next day? Or would it be better to put the sandwiches together ahead of time and then pour sauce over right before I bake them? I need to make at least 48 ahead of time….

    1. A woman holding a camera standing in front of some shelves.
      Jessica

      I would put the sliders together, but with to pour the sauce on them right before baking. That way they don’t get soggy. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do! :-)

  7. Cyndi

    These are a new favorite in my house. We are having them tonight for a sleepover. So easy to make ahead and everyone loves them!!!

  8. Donna m.

    What a fantastic recipe. I have never had anything like it…….the sauce is so good, and it made my dinner. This is a keeper.

  9. Jan

    I have made these often. Great to serve for a luncheon or card party serve along with a salad, relish tray and chips. I make with all the ingredients brush on inside of buns. Less messy but still delicious. Use full size Keiser rolls and wrapped in foil to bake. They can be made ahead. Heated and served hot. Every one loves them. Especially the men.

  10. Kathy

    Making for a funeral but want to do night before.can that be done an if so do I wait to pour sauce until right before I bake it??

  11. Becky M

    Shari Engels, Wondering since you have made them both ways, sauce on bun and poured over entire sandwich. Which one do you prefer best? I have the ingredients and will make them tonight. My husband thinks sauce on the bun would be better. His reason is, it would not be as messy. I want to try pouring over the buns. I would appreciate comments :)

  12. Shari Engels

    Been making these for years (one with sauce on bun and one with sauce poured over entire sandwich) and ALWAYS get rave reviews.

  13. Karen K

    Made these tonite. Followed recipe exactly except used Gruyere on some of the rolls, & Gouda on some. SOOOO good. Weird pouring sauce over the rolls. Thought they’d be soggy, but it made the sandwiches VERY flavorful :))). Served with a good coleslaw. Whole family lived these!

  14. Justine

    i don’t save these for game day only no way!!!!!!!
    I make them for dinner often, they reheat great for lunch at work IF there are any leftovers!!!!!
    In the winter (like tonight) they are great paired with home made broccoli and cheese soup.

  15. Cheryl

    They are less messy if you combine all the ingredients with the softened butter ( don’t heat) and spread on the rolls and heat. These are also killer on croissants

  16. Jan

    (toni — September 20, 2014 @ 12:49 pm

    What substitute could be used for the Hawiian buns …. not available in Canada.)

    If you have any kind of a dinner sweet roll, that should work.
    Hawiian buns are just a sweeter bread then regular.

  17. Carol

    Had these at work this week, yes messy but OHH SOOO GOOD!!! As I am on the phone all day and use pen a paper, I chose to use a knife to cut into bite sized pcs and a fork so that I could still answer the phone. Will make these for family party along with pasta and potato salads.

  18. Jan Walton

    I have made these many times! In my recipe book they are called “Those Sandwiches:” I use Ham/Swiss, Roast Beef/Pepper Jack and Turkey/Cheddar. They are always a hit!!

  19. Angela Bianco

    These look and sound very delicious, but are they very messy while you’re attempting to eat them? If I serve them to my guests (on the deck w./drinks before our cookout) would the ladies get their hands all greasy and nasty? Should I serve them with a knife & a fork?

    1. A woman holding a camera standing in front of some shelves.
      Jessica

      They are messy, but not knife & fork messy. I would just serve them with lots of napkins and it should be fine. Once people take a bite, they seriously won’t care how messy they get! ;-)

  20. Tracy

    I hate mayo plain too! My whole family makes fun of it because I’ll eat it when it’s mixed into other recipes, but if I see the whole jar out, I gag! It’s the worst.

    Moving on to more delicious things… I made these on Saturday for a game night and they were a hit! The only problem was that they were a tad bit messy, but I’ll take flavor over mess any day! People gladly took breaks from our game of cards to take bites of these scrumptious sandwiches!

    Looking forward to trying more of your recipes!

  21. Marilyn Tippett

    This recipe is so much easier if you just slice the whole package of rolls in half and spread mustard on the top half and layer the ham and cheese on the bottom half. Put it together and put the whole thing in a baking dish. With a sharp knife, cut through each roll. Then pour the sauce over all and bake.

  22. Jayen

    I just made these tonight with the leftover ham from Easter. OH MY! So good! My kids and husband gobbled them all up!

  23. Marjory Betchkal

    Oh my goodness, I want this for lunch now. Thank you. I love you, I am making this Sunday night. Is that too soon after a meal of ham for lunch?

  24. Kim (Feed Me, Seymour)

    I don’t know why I don’t make these little sliders more often. They are always so delicious! And yours look absolutely decadent. I love the sauce!

  25. Sheila

    I am so pinning these and making them with Easter leftovers!! I know people comment all the time and say stuff like drooling…droolicious, blah blah blah…but well I just got to say it again.

    DROOLING.

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Jessica
For the past 15 years, Jorge & Jessica have loved getting to share their families' favorite recipes with all of you. They live in Florida with their 3 kids.