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Ham and Cheese Sliders are the pan of buttery, melty little sandwiches that vanish first at every gathering, and I have made these so many times that Maddie now calls dibs on the gooey center pieces before the cast iron even hits the table. We baked a batch last weekend for a backyard game day right next to a tray of juicy smash burgers, and guess which one disappeared first.
Soft Hawaiian rolls, layers of deli ham and Swiss, and a poppy seed butter that toasts the tops to golden perfection make this the easiest crowd-pleaser you will pull out of the oven all year.
Ham and Cheese Sliders Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 25 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 30 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 12 sliders
- ⚡ Calories: 183kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Savory, buttery, and melty with a hint of sweet Hawaiian roll
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, about as simple as our loaded tater tot nachos
Quick Answer
Slice a slab of Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally and set the bottoms in a cast iron skillet. Layer on deli ham, Swiss cheese, and more ham, then add the roll tops. Whisk melted butter with poppy seeds, Dijon, Worcestershire, and dried onion, pour it evenly over the tops, and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes until golden and melty. Slice into individual sliders and serve warm.
Jump to:
- Ham and Cheese Sliders Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Ham and Cheese Sliders
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Ham and Cheese Sliders FAQs
- Other Recommended Easy Appetizer Recipes
- Baked Ham and Cheese Sliders (Cast Iron)
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- The cast iron skillet bakes them evenly. Cast iron holds steady heat, so the bottoms crisp while the tops turn deep golden brown instead of soggy.
- Keeping the rolls connected is the trick. Slicing the whole slab in half at once, instead of cutting individual buns, keeps every slider tall, neat, and easy to pull apart.
- The poppy seed butter does the heavy lifting. Dijon, Worcestershire, and dried onion whisked into melted butter season every single roll without any extra effort.
- Ham on both sides of the cheese means no dry bite. Layering ham under and over the Swiss locks the cheese in so it melts into both halves of the roll.
- They reheat and freeze like a dream. Make them ahead, wrap tight, and warm them through whenever the craving or the company shows up.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- They feed a crowd from one easy pan and come together in about 30 minutes start to finish.
- That buttery poppy seed topping makes them taste like way more effort than they actually are.
- They are endlessly flexible, so they fit right into a spread next to our hot spinach artichoke dip for any party.
Key Ingredients
You only need a handful of grocery store staples to pull these together, and each one earns its spot in the pan.
- Hawaiian rolls: The soft, slightly sweet rolls are the backbone here. We love the jalapeno King’s Hawaiian for a little kick, but any slider rolls work beautifully.
- Deli ham: Thinly sliced deli ham layers easily and stays juicy under the cheese. Black forest or honey ham both shine.
- Swiss cheese: Swiss melts into that classic stringy, nutty pull. Not a Swiss fan? Provolone or cheddar slide right in.
- Melted butter: The butter carries every bit of flavor into the rolls and gives the tops that bakery golden finish.
- Poppy seeds, Dijon, Worcestershire, and dried onion: This is the magic topping that turns plain sliders into the pan everyone fights over.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
These sliders are a blank canvas, so swap and add as you please.
- Cheese swap: Provolone, cheddar, or pepper jack all melt beautifully if Swiss is not your thing.
- Make it a Hawaiian: Add a thin layer of pineapple or a smear of brown mustard for a sweet and tangy twist.
- Turkey or roast beef: Trade the ham for deli turkey or thin roast beef to change up the whole tray.
- Spice it up: Use jalapeno Hawaiian rolls or tuck pickled jalapenos under the cheese for heat.
- Round out the spread: Serve them next to a pot of our white chicken chili for an easy game day menu.
How to Make Ham and Cheese Sliders
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Slice the whole slab of rolls in half horizontally so you have one connected top and one connected bottom.
- Lay the roll bottoms into a 10 inch cast iron skillet in an even layer.
- Top with half of the ham, then all of the Swiss cheese, then the rest of the ham.
- Set the connected roll tops back over the ham and cheese.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and dried onion.
- Pour the butter mixture evenly over the tops of the sliders.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the tops are golden brown and the cheese is melty. Slice into sliders, serve, and enjoy.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Slice the slab, not the buns. Cutting all the rolls in half at once keeps the sliders neat and saves you a ton of time.
- Brush the butter all the way to the edges so every roll gets that golden, seasoned top.
- Cover loosely with foil if the tops brown before the cheese is fully melted, then uncover for the last few minutes.
- Let them rest 5 minutes before slicing so the cheese sets up just enough to hold together.
- Make ahead: Assemble the whole pan, cover, and refrigerate up to a day before baking.
- To freeze: Wrap baked and cooled sliders tightly, freeze, and reheat covered at 325 degrees until warmed through.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
These ham and cheese sliders are made for sharing, so I almost never serve them alone. Pile the platter high and set it in the middle of the table where everyone can grab one (or three).
For a full game day spread, set them next to our loaded tater tot nachos, a bowl of hot spinach artichoke dip, and a platter of grilled key lime chicken wings. That combination has never once left leftovers.
They also make a fast weeknight dinner when paired with a simple soup or salad. We love them alongside our white chicken chili on chilly nights, or with a tray of homemade meatballs when the whole family is hungry.
Ham and Cheese Sliders FAQs
Yes, and they are perfect for it. Assemble the entire pan, pour the butter topping over the rolls, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to one day. Bake them straight from the fridge, adding a few extra minutes to the bake time so the centers heat through.
Swiss is the classic choice for its nutty flavor and stringy melt, but these sliders are forgiving. Provolone, cheddar, Havarti, and pepper jack all melt well, so use whatever your crowd loves best or a mix of two.
Absolutely. Let the baked sliders cool completely, then wrap them tightly in foil and freeze for up to two months. Reheat covered at 325 degrees until the cheese is melty and the rolls are warmed through.
Soft, slightly sweet Hawaiian rolls are our favorite because they toast up golden and tender. We love the jalapeno version for a little heat, but any 12 count slab of slider rolls will work.
Bake them in a hot cast iron skillet so the bottoms crisp, and avoid overloading the butter topping. Pour the seasoned butter evenly over the tops rather than soaking the whole pan, and serve them warm.
They shine on a party spread with dips, wings, and nachos, and they make a cozy meal next to soup or chili. A crisp green salad or a pile of chips and pickles rounds out the plate nicely.
Looking for the next easy crowd-pleaser? Try our cheeseburger tater tot casserole next.
Serve this alongside our creamy olive dip for an easy game day spread.
Serve these alongside our buffalo chicken wontons for an easy crowd pleasing spread.
More easy sandwiches await, like our golden pizza sandwich loaded with pepperoni.
Add our cheesy bacon wrapped brats to your tailgate spread.
Our warm, cheesy crack chicken dip is another easy party appetizer everyone loves.
For another make-ahead crowd-pleaser, try our chicken salad recipe with apple, grapes, and pecans.
Baked Ham and Cheese Sliders (Cast Iron)
Ingredients
- 1 package 12 pieces of King’s Hawaiian Jalapeño Rolls
- 1/2 pound deli ham sliced thin
- 1/2 pound deli swiss cheese sliced thin
- 6 Tablespoons melted butter unsalted
- 3/4 teaspoon poppy seeds
- 3/4 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 3/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoon chopped dried onion
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cut rolls in half so you have a top and a bottom.1 package
- Layer the bottom of the rolls into a 10 inch cast iron skillet in an even layer.
- Top with half of the ham, top with all of the cheese, and layer the rest of the ham on top.1/2 pound deli ham, 1/2 pound deli swiss cheese
- Top the sandwiches with the top of the rolls.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients.6 Tablespoons melted butter, 3/4 teaspoon poppy seeds, 3/4 teaspoon dijon mustard, 3/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 1/2 teaspoon chopped dried onion
- Evenly pour the mixture over the sandwiches.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown on top and the cheese is melty. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- You can use any type of slider buns you can find, we prefer the Jalapeño King’s Hawaiian Brand.
- If you are not a fan of Swiss cheese you can swap it out for any of your favorite cheeses.
- These can be frozen before or after baking, see my tips above.
- If you don’t have a cast iron pan, you can make these in a baking dish as well.
- These can be stored up to 2 days ahead of time before baking.
- Double this recipe easily for larger crowds.
Nutrition
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I saw these on Instagram!! These seriously look amazing!! I need to make them the next time my kids come home for a visit! Or maybe I just need to make them for myself 🙂
I just want to stand over the skillet faceplanting into these – no sharing! My husband will have to bribe me if he wants one 🙂 I can totally see how these are perfect for a party too – so good!