Hot Ham and Cheese Sliders

How to make the best Ham and Cheese Sliders, the ultimate hot ham and cheese sandwich perfect for any party! You’ll love these mini hot ham and cheese sliders, for game day, the Super Bowl, and an easy dinner even your kids will love!

I’m updating one of my favorite recipes I first shared nearly 10 years ago. They’re a go-to for a cold evening in. We can’t get enough of these easy Ham and Cheese Sliders.

We enjoyed them once again over the weekend when we were snowed in. They’re an incredibly delicious way to warm up and kid friendly, too! This melt in your mouth Hot Ham and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food!

Through the years I’ve perfected these ham and cheese sandwiches to ensure the gooiest, most buttery sandwich you’ve ever had! And hey, they come in the perfect portion controlled size to eliminate any guilt.

I’m sharing all of my tips and tricks in addition to the ultimate Ham and Cheese Sliders recipe with you today!

The secret is in the sauce – and what lies beneath.

A blend of butter, Worcestershire sauce, minced onion, and poppy seeds make the most amazing sauce that bakes into the Ham and Cheese Sliders. The base of the buns are coated in olive oil mayonnaise, which seeps into the buns and adds to the gooeyness of the cheese. Don’t worry, even the pickiest eaters and mayo haters (um, me!) won’t be wiser.

If you really want to, you can make ham and cheese sliders without poppy seed, but I recommend you try it. They’re seriously so good!

Of course you can’t make a ham and cheese sandwich without ham! I like to use tavern ham, but you can use any un-flavored ham or savory ham like black forest as well. In my opinion, the thinner, the better.

For the best results, get swiss cheese from the deli counter. It’s freshly sliced which means it melts even better than packaged swiss.

Finally, cocktail buns! The best slider bun is cocktail sized egg buns found in your grocer’s bakery. Again, fresh is always best and produces the most melt-in-your-mouth ham and cheese sliders! Dinner rolls or Hawaiian rolls will also do in a pinch.

This Hot Ham and Cheese sandwich is so easy to make even little kids can help! While they’re quick and easy, I never say no to helping hands. You can whip them up in 10 minutes or less (hands on time). Then these little Ham and Cheese Sliders bake about 14 minutes.

What’s In Ham and Cheese Sliders

• Cocktail Buns – Small dollar rolls, cocktail buns or egg buns work well. You can also use Hawaiian rolls.
• Mayonnaise – I like to use olive oil mayonnaise for the best flavor. You can use whatever mayonnaise you have on hand (or make Homemade Mayonnaise), however miracle whip is not a suitable substitute.
• Ham – Ham sliced thin is the centerpiece of these amazing sliders. I ask our deli to slice to a 1. Pro tip: this is an excellent way to use leftover honey glazed ham after the holidays!
• Swiss Cheese – Swiss is so gooey and delicious when melted to perfection.
• Butter – Salted or unsalted, melted.
• Worcestershire Sauce – Adds a hint of flavor and seeps into the buns to create an incredible sauce, full of flavor.
• Minced Onion – Dried minced onion works impeccably well, but you can also use fresh white or yellow onion.
• Poppy Seeds – The add a little texture, flavor and color. You can eliminate if you prefer.

Variations

• Turkey Sliders – Simply replace ham with turkey!
• Roast Beef Sliders – Substitute using roast beef and provolone or cheddar cheese. Add horseradish in lieu of mayonnaise.
• Make it Saucy – Add 1 tablespoon honey and 2 tablespoons dijon mustard.
• Sweeten Them Up – Add a tablespoon of brown sugar to the sauce and use Hawaiian rolls.
• Make them Garlicky – Add two tablespoons of minced garlic or 2 teaspoons garlic powder to the sauce.

The result? Individual gooey, buttery sandwiches that melt in your mouth with a little crunch from the butter soaking into the cocktail bun in the bottom of your baking dish.

Tips for Making the Best Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches

• Remember fresh is always best. Use fresh buns from the bakery, if possible.
• Have ham and swiss sliced thin (I like to have ham sliced to a 1 and cheese to a 2) from the deli counter.
• Slice buns while still connected to make it quick and easy.
• Cover with foil – this will keep the moisture in and melt the cheese!

Serving Suggestions

• Truffle Fries
• Green Beans with Bacon
• Garlic Smashed Potatoes
• Baked Macaroni and Cheese
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Creamy Potato Salad
•  Truffle Mac and Cheese

Originally published March 2012

More Sandwiches You’ll Love

• Picnic Sandwiches
• Marinated Steak Sliders
• Gerber Sandwich
• Juicy Sliders
• Grilled Cheese on the Grill
• Best Bread for Grilled Cheese
• Grilled Ham and Cheese
• Oven Grilled Cheese
• Mayo Grilled Cheese