Hawaiian roll ham and cheese sliders are made with deli ham and swiss cheese, then topped with an onion & Dijon butter sauce and baked. They're incredibly easy to make and are always a hit!
When I was a kid, we'd make two sandwiches all the time: hot ham and cheese and tuna cheesies. Both were wrapped in tinfoil then baked in the oven until they were hot and the cheese was melted and gooey. These were the 80's version of Hawaiian roll ham and cheese sliders.
We lived in a pretty small town and I still remember when we got our first fast-food joint. It was a Hardee's and even then they served their hot ham and cheese sandwiches. My parents still love to tease me that they'd be going to the Pine Tree for a nice dinner and invite me along. I'd always respond with "just get me a hot ham and cheese, Dukes of Hazzard is on tonight". 😂
So despite these Hawaiian roll ham and cheese slider recipe not being quite the same thing, it still brings fond memories to mind! I make these all the time for parties, when my girls ask for them (which is often), or when I just want something simple that will feed (and please) my crowd.
Why You'll Love These Hawaiian Roll Ham and cheese Sliders
- They're both savory and a little sweet: The combination of the slightly sweet rolls, ham, swiss cheese, and the onion-Dijon butter sauce create a perfect balance of sweet and savory.
- Easy to make: In just a few steps, you can have these sliders ready and waiting to be devoured.
- Ideal for entertaining: This recipe is made to feed a crowd! Best of all, you can prepare them in advance, refrigerate, and pop them in the oven when it's almost time for your guests to arrive.
- Great leftovers: The sliders make convenient lunches or snacks if you have any left. Enjoy them cold or reheat them.
I make these hot ham and cheese sliders all the time, regardless of whether there's an actual party happening. They're so simple to make, even for lunch! And you can't beat them for dinner with a quick side salad.
These aren't just plain old hot ham and cheese sandwiches, either. Yes, they have ham and cheese on a roll, but you bake them together, then pour over a delicious buttery onion & Dijon flavored sauce that puts these bad boys over the top.
Ingredients
To make Hawaiian rolls ham and cheese sliders, you'll need the following:
- Hawaiian sweet rolls: Pick up a 12-count package from the grocery store (they're easy to find and inexpensive). King's Hawaiian rolls or your favorite brand will work.
- Deli ham: Use high-quality deli ham that you enjoy eating. Something smoky works best because smoked deli ham tends to have a nice balance of sweetness and depth that doesn't mask all the delicious pork flavor ham offers. The thinner the slices, the better!
- Cheese: This version uses Swiss cheese, a natural pairing with ham. It melts well and you can find it in blocks or slices at your local grocery store.
- Garlic Butter: A combination of butter, garlic, dried onion, and Dijon mustard (with poppy seeds and a dash of Worcestershire) is poured over the sandwiches before they go into the oven. It adds so much flavor and instantly puts these leagues above regular ham and cheese sandwiches.
Do Hawaiian rolls need baking? Can I skip that step?
Hawaiian rolls are already baked, so you don't need to bake them first before assembling the sliders. So you could technically skip baking them, but it's a pretty important part of what makes these so damn good.
You want the hot cheese to stretch and pull with each bite. You want the buttery mixture to bake right into the rolls. You need these to be hot ham and cheese, not just ham and cheese.
So definitely bake them. It's worth the extra step.
What cheese is best with ham?
Swiss cheese is the go-to for ham, and that's what I usually use. Cheddar and ham go wonderful together, but it doesn't melt as well so I avoid using it in this recipe. Smoked Gouda is delicious and is perfect for a more "grown-up" party sandwich.
And brie with a little smear of jam is a more upscale version that's an absolute delight.
How do you keep the sandwiches warm at a party?
One way to do this (and keep them accessible to hungry party-goers) is to use a crockpot. Wrap each sandwich individually in foil and place them in a crockpot on its lowest setting.
You can also leave the rolls in the oven for about an hour, loosely covered with foil. Make sure to change the temperature to your ovens lowest setting.
Variations
Customize the sauce: Add a dash of hot sauce or cayenne pepper to the sauce if you prefer these a bit spicy. or add sliced jalapeños to the sandwiches before baking. Mustard lovers can add an extra teaspoon of Dijon. Caramelized onions between the ham and cheese is incredible!
Try different types of cheese: I've tested these with Brie cheese and it's incredible (add a smear of raspberry jam, too, if you like). You also can't go wrong with cheddar, muenster, or pepper-jack.
Storage and Freezer Tips
Store Hawaiian roll ham and cheese sliders in an airtight container and refrigerate up to 4 days. Alternatively, you can keep the sandwiches in the pan you baked them in and tightly cover the pan with foil.
I don't recommend freezing. This recipe requires minimal cooking, so freezing isn't necessary, plus the cold temperature will alter the texture.
How to Reheat
Hawaiian roll ham and cheese sliders can be reheated in the microwave in 15-second intervals or until the cheese melts. If you have more time, reheat them in the oven. If using the oven, set it to 300 degrees Fahrenheit, then reheat for 7-10 minutes or until warm. You can pop them on a baking sheet to reheat or reheat them in the pan they were cooked in.
Looking for more recipes like Hawaiian rolls ham and cheese sliders? Check out this one made from one large bread loaf! You can also make slider versions of this Nashville Hot Chicken Recipe, or try these Buffalo Chicken Sliders with a Blue Cheese Celery Slaw.
Hawaiian Rolls Ham and Cheese Sliders
Nothing beats these easy sandwiches for an easy lunch, dinner or crowd-pleasing appetizer for the big game!
Ingredients
- 12 Hawaiian-style rolls, cut in half crosswise (do not separate the rolls)
- ¾ lb deli ham thinly sliced
- ½ lb swiss cheese sliced
- 6 tablespoon butter, melted
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ½ teaspoon dried minced onion
- 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoon poppy seeds
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° degrees F.
- Coat a baking dish or sheet pan (large enough to fit the rolls in one layer) with cooking spray. Place the bottom half of the rolls in the dish.
- Layer the ham on top of the rolls, then layer the cheese over the ham.
- Place the tops of the rolls over the cheese.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the butter, garlic, onions, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, and Worcestershire sauce until it's smooth.
- Pour the butter mixture evenly over the tops of the rolls.
- Cover the sandwiches with foil and bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Uncover the rolls and bake for an additional 3-5 minutes until the tops of the rolls are lightly browned.
- Slice between the rolls to separate into sandwiches, then serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 267Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 669mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 14g
This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix. It was calculated per slider, and a serving size is 2 sliders per person.
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