Ham and Cheese Sliders

By Lidey Heuck

Updated May 29, 2024

Ham and Cheese Sliders
Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
35 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Rating
5(1,642)
Comments
Read comments

Consider this cheesy, savory and slightly sweet snack the ultimate party food: Made with pull-apart Hawaiian rolls, these baked ham and cheese sliders, brushed with a buttery glaze, are much easier to assemble than individual sandwiches and are sure to please a crowd. Feel free to play around with the meat and cheese, substituting turkey or roast beef for the ham, and Cheddar, Provolone or your favorite melting cheese for the Swiss. These sliders can also be doubled for large groups; just use a sheet pan instead of a 9-by-13-inch pan for baking. 

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Ingredients

Yield:Makes 12 sandwiches 
  • 1(12-ounce) package Hawaiian sweet rolls
  • 2tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 
  • ½pound thinly sliced cooked deli ham
  • ½pound thinly sliced Swiss cheese
  • 4tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2teaspoons minced dried onion
  • 2teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1teaspoon honey 
  • 1teaspoon poppy seeds
  • ¼teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (12 servings)

228 calories; 13 grams fat; 6 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 4 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 17 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 1 gram sugars; 11 grams protein; 390 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat the oven to 350 degrees and line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides.

  2. Step 2

    Slice the whole sheet of rolls in half horizontally, without breaking apart the individual rolls.

  3. Step 3

    Place the bottom half in the prepared pan, cut-side up, and spread 2 tablespoons of the mustard on top. Add half of the ham, layering it evenly over the bread, followed by all of the cheese. Add the remaining ham and finally, the top half of the rolls.

  4. Step 4

    In a small bowl, whisk together the butter, the remaining 1 teaspoon mustard, dried onion, Worcestershire, honey, poppy seeds and salt.

  5. Step 5

    Brush the mixture all over the tops and sides of the bread.

  6. Step 6

    Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake, uncovered, until the tops of the rolls are toasted, about 5 minutes.

  7. Step 7

    Using the overhang, carefully lift the parchment paper and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into individual sandwiches with a large, serrated knife and serve hot.

FAQS

  1. Hawaiian sweet rolls are tender, pillowy, yeasted rolls with a gentle sweetness and a modest size that are usually sold in pull-apart clusters of a dozen or more. The tradition of sweet yeasted breads came to the Hawaiian islands with Portuguese immigrants in the 19th century, and the recipe evolved to sometimes include sweeteners like honey and pineapple juice. Look for brands like King’s Hawaiian sweet rolls at the supermarket, or opt for another mild yeasted variety, like Parker House rolls (the Sister Schubert’s brand is widely available in stores) or dinner rolls,  but steer clear of crusty, stronger-flavored sourdough.

Ratings

5 out of 5
1,642 user ratings
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Comments

Martha

The paper tray that Hawaiian Rolls come in is oven safe. No need to use parchment paper. Just remove the rolls to slice and place back in the paper tray for assembly and baking as instructed.

mo poll

I find cutting the hot rolls difficult....they seem to slide around with the hot cheese and slick tops. You also have to cut through the ham. I cut the rolls in half. Place the bottom in the pan. Using a serrated knife, cut tops and bottoms into individual rolls. I place the ham and cheese to fit each roll. Then, smoosh them all together and get on with the recipe. It is ready to go when you pull out of the oven. no cutting hot sandwiches. So much easier.

sarah

My mom has been making rolls like this for over two decades. Several suggestions: 1. Substitute thin sliced, Boar’s Head corned beef for the ham. 2. Substitute 1/2 a sweet onion (grated) for the dried stuff. 3. Omit the honey. 4. Use less meat and cheese than you’d think. Let the Hawaiian rolls and the butter mixture take center stage.

CJR

These were a hit with my husband’s tennis team. The only change I made is cheddar instead of Swiss. Swiss just seems so flavorless to me. I will definitely make them again. I saw a comment that they needed more cooking time but I didn’t find that to be the case.

Margaret

I cut the sandwiches before I added the sauce and they were easy to pull apart after they came out of the oven. These were a huge hit.

Keith Lester

Insufficient heating time, had to cook another 10-15 minutes. Sam’s are thick.

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