Ham and Cheese Sliders – Lana’s Cooking
My hot Ham and Cheese Sliders recipe goes just about anywhere you need it. They’re a tailgate staple, a fun family dinner, and just the sort of thing you take to a friend who’s having a rough week.
The recipe is simple. Soft, slightly sweet Hawaiian rolls, a layer of savory deli ham, two kinds of melty cheese, and a honey-Dijon butter brushed over the top before they go in the oven. The butter is what pulls all the flavors together and gives the tops a golden finish with just enough tanginess to balance the rolls’ sweetness.
I serve them straight from the dish for a party, or make a weeknight dinner of them with a fresh green salad and a basket of tater tots. However you bring them to the table, people are always happy to see them.
If you need more recipes for guaranteed crowd-pleasing party food, you’ll also want to try my classic sausage balls and my hot artichoke dip for your next game day menu.
Recipe Snapshot: Ham and Cheese Sliders
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 23 minutes
Total Time: 33 minutes
Servings: 12 (1 slider/serving)
Cuisine: American
Cooking Method: Stovetop/Oven
Primary Ingredients: Colby-Jack and provolone cheese, deli ham, slider rolls, Dijon mustard
Skill Level: Easy
What Makes This Recipe Special
These sliders hit just the right balance between sweet and savory. The soft rolls have a light sweetness, the deli ham is, of course, the savory component, and the two kinds of melty cheese tie it together with the honey-Dijon butter on top.
The prep work is quick, and they bake in one dish. They’re a great choice whether you’re cooking dinner for a hungry family or creating snacks for a house full of football fans. The recipe scales up easily, too, so a second pan is no trouble for a bigger group.
Best of all, they’re hugely adaptable. Swap the cheeses for whatever your family likes, or trade the ham for turkey or roast beef.
Ingredient Notes
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- Hawaiian rolls — The soft, sweet rolls are the foundation of these sliders. I use King’s Hawaiian rolls, which are widely available and sturdy enough to hold the filling. Other brands work perfectly well.
- Deli ham — For simplicity, I use thinly sliced smoked deli ham for these. In my opinion, the smoky flavor is perfect in contrast with the sweeter rolls and honey in the recipe. You can also use your leftover holiday ham!
- Colby Jack cheese — One of the two cheeses in these sliders. Sargento’s Colby-Jack melts nicely and has a mild, mellow flavor that doesn’t overtake the other flavors in the recipe.
- Provolone cheese — The second cheese, layered on top of the ham. It’s mild and melty, and pairs nicely with the Colby Jack. Feel free to use whatever cheeses you and your family like best.
- Butter, Dijon mustard, and honey — They’re combined to make the honey-mustard glaze that is brushed on the cut sides of the rolls and on the tops of the rolls before baking. I always use Maille Dijon mustard for its smooth, more mild flavor.
- Poppy Seeds — The poppy seeds are optional and more for visual effect than flavor. Use them or not as you like.
The complete ingredient list with detailed measurements is included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Recipe Variations
- Change the protein. Replace the ham with turkey or roast beef.
- Change the cheese. Colby Jack and provolone are what I use, but Swiss and cheddar are just as good. Pick a cheese that melts well and suits your taste.
- Add crispy bacon. A layer of crisp bacon on top of the ham adds texture and flavor.
- Add sautéed onions. Cooked onions added to the ham layer make an additional slightly sweet component.
How to Make Ham and Cheese Sliders
STEP 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
STEP 2. Butter a 9×13 baking dish or pan and set it aside.
STEP 3. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, Dijon mustard, and honey until smooth and well combined.
STEP 4. Using a long, serrated knife, cut the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally to separate the tops from the bottoms. Keep the top and bottom sections connected as a single piece. Don’t separate the individual rolls.
STEP 5. Place the bottom section of rolls in the prepared baking dish.
STEP 5 (cont’d.) Brush the cut side with some of the honey-Dijon butter mixture
STEP 6. Arrange the Colby Jack slices evenly over the rolls.
STEP 7. Add the ham in an even layer. Be sure to cover the rolls all the way to the edges so every bite has its share of cheese and ham.
STEP 8. Top the ham with the provolone cheese slices.
STEP 9. Use more of the butter-mustard-honey mixture to brush the cut side of the top section of rolls. Set it in place over the filling.
STEP 10. Brush the tops of the rolls with the remaining butter mixture.
STEP 11. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 10 to 15 minutes.
STEP 12. Remove the dish from the oven and uncover the sliders. Return the dish to the oven and bake for another 5 to 8 minutes, or until the tops are nicely browned. Sprinkle the tops of the sliders with poppy seeds if desired.
STEP 13. Let the sliders cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before slicing into 12 individual sliders. The cooling time allows the cheese to set enough to create clean cuts.
- Use thinly sliced ham. Thin slices layer neatly and are easier to eat. Thickly cut ham can make chewy sliders that are difficult to cut cleanly.
- Pat wet ham dry. If your ham is especially moist, blot it with a paper towel before layering. Excess moisture can make the bottoms of the rolls soggy.
- Don’t overfill. It’s tempting to pile on the ham and cheese, but overstuffed sliders are hard to keep together and awkward to eat. An even, moderate layer creates the best texture.
- Use all of the butter mixture. Brush it on until it’s gone. It might look like a lot, but the rolls easily soak it up as they bake.
- Plan on two to three sliders per person. As a main dish, you’ll need two to three per person. If they’re part of a larger variety of party food, one per person is adequate.
- Serve warm. Sliders are at their best when fresh from the oven, with the cheese still melty. If you need to hold them for a bit, keep them covered with foil until ready to serve.
Make Ahead
These sliders are easy to assemble in advance, making them a good choice when planning a party.
To make them ahead, assemble the sliders right up through brushing the butter over the tops, then cover the dish tightly and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Store the remaining honey-mustard-butter mixture in the fridge as well. When you’re ready to bake, take the dish and butter out of the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes while the oven heats. Brush on the butter mixture and bake.
How to Serve
For game day or a party table, these sliders go well with a varied selection of snacks and appetizers. Offer them along with chips and dip, a platter of crudites, or spicy cheese crackers, and a pitcher of sweet tea or infused water.
For a family supper, I would serve them with a fresh green salad and vinaigrette to contrast with the richness, and fries or tater tots to finish the meal. A cup of bean soup on the side turns them into a cozy cold-weather meal.
However you pair them, be sure to serve them warm. Bring the dish to the table while the cheese is still at its soft, melty, and gooey best.
How to Store
Store any leftover sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, I find that the air fryer is the best option. Warm them at 325°F for 3 to 4 minutes. You can also use the microwave if that’s easier, though it will soften the rolls rather significantly.
These sliders freeze well, too. And you can even freeze them before you bake them! To do that, assemble the recipe, wrap the dish tightly in plastic wrap followed by a layer of foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake them straight from frozen (remove the plastic first!), adding several minutes to the covered baking time to make sure they heat through.
To freeze baked leftovers, wrap them well and freeze for up to 3 months, then thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Questions and Answers: Ham and Cheese Sliders
- Can I use a different size or type of pan?
Yes. A 9×13 glass or ceramic baking dish or metal baking pan fits a standard package of 12 rolls nicely, but any dish close to that size will work. If you’re doubling the recipe, a rimmed sheet pan holds more rolls and makes it easier to serve a crowd. - Why are they called sliders?
The absolute origin of the term “slider” is not known, but there are two theories. One is that it appears to have originated with the small, square burgers White Castle started serving in the 1920s. The second, advanced by some food historians, is that U.S. Navy sailors in the 1940s called them sliders because the greasy, small burgers “slid” down easily in a bite or two. Whatever the origin, today “slider” refers to a small sandwich served on a small roll.
More Appetizer and Snack Recipes You’ll Like
See my entire appetizer category for more fantastic recipes!
Have a question or thought to share?
If you have a question about the recipe or if you’ve made it and want to share how it turned out, I would truly enjoy hearing from you. Just scroll down to leave a comment or add your star rating.
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Recipe
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
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Lightly butter a 9×13 baking dish. Set aside.
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In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, Dijon mustard, and honey until well combined.
½ cup butter, ¼ cup Dijon mustard, 3 tablespoons honey
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Using a long serrated knife, cut the Hawaiian rolls horizontally separating the top from the bottom.
12 Hawaiian rolls
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Place the bottom portion of the rolls in the prepared baking dish. Brush lightly with some of the honey-mustard mixture.
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Arrange the Colby Jack cheese slices in a single layer over the bottom half of the rolls.
6 slices Colby Jack cheese
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Add the sliced deli ham evenly over the cheese.
1 pound deli ham
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Top with the provolone slices.
6 slices provolone cheese
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Use more of the honey-mustard-butter mixture to butter the cut side of the top portion of the slider rolls and place them on top.
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Brush the tops of the slider rolls with the remaining butter mixture.
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Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes.
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Remove the dish from the oven, remove the foil, and return the uncovered sliders to the oven for an additional 5 to 8 minutes or until golden brown on top. Sprinkle with poppy seeds if using.
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Cool in the pan for 8 to 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
- Keep the rolls connected and slice the whole sheet in half at once with a serrated knife.
- Use thinly sliced deli ham. Thick slices make the sliders chewy and harder to bite through.
- If your ham is especially moist, blot it with a paper towel before layering to help prevent a soggy bottom.
- Swap the cheeses for any good melting cheese you like, and trade the ham for turkey or roast beef if you prefer.
- To make ahead, assemble and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Let the dish sit at room temperature 15 to 20 minutes while the oven heats, then bake as directed.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 325°F for 3 to 4 minutes to keep the rolls from turning soft.
Serving 1sliderCalories 357kcalCarbohydrates 20gProtein 17gFat 23gSaturated Fat 13gPolyunsaturated Fat 1gMonounsaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0.3gCholesterol 73mgSodium 804mgPotassium 153mgFiber 0.3gSugar 8gVitamin A 463IUVitamin C 0.05mgCalcium 178mgIron 1mg
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
