Baked Brown Sugar Ham and Cheese Sliders

This is by far my favorite appetizer for using up leftover ham! These brown sugar ham and cheese sliders are made on Hawaiian rolls and topped with a buttery Dijon, brown sugar glaze. And they take just minutes to stack together. Make them for holidays, potlucks, or even game day!

If there’s one thing I love in this world, it’s a ham-and-carb situation. From the ham and cheese croissants I learned how to make when I was a student in pastry school to the jambon beurres I ate along the Saône River in Lyon, I want it in my vicinity stat.

And now that the holidays are upon us, I think we can all agree that we’ll be up to our ears in honey baked ham soon enough, yes? So in an effort to have a plan in place, I thought, why not give leftovers the good old-fashioned Hawaiian roll treatment?

These sandwiches have ham, cheese, and a sweet-savory topping that I could eat on just about anything. But I gave them a little Sunday Table treatment. Most recipes I’ve tried have too much butter and brown sugar for my taste which makes the sliders a bit too soggy and sweet.

So, this recipe has less butter, less brown sugar, more spices, and a hint of chives for a sweet, savory, umami topping! They’re buttery and cozy for a nice little appetizer situation. But of course, if you have guests hanging out after the holidays, you can totally make them for lunch too!

Still have leftover ham? Make these ham and cheese puff pastry bites! Or, pile it on crackers with homemade cheddar cheese spread.

We’re using Hawaiian rolls

Obviously you’re going to need classic Hawaiian rolls (or Aloha rolls if you shop at Trader Joe’s lol). You can also use savory butter rolls! Then, you’ll need some kind of ham – either leftover holiday ham or freshly-shaved deli ham. I like black forest.

Other than that, this recipe has mayo, unsalted butter, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire, garlic powder, onion powder, poppy seeds, and fresh chives. Also cheese – havarti, Swiss, sharp white cheddar, whatever just make sure it’s freshly-sliced please!

Layer & bake

Stack the ham and cheese in two layers. Once the cheese melts, it’ll help keep the filling together!

Make-ahead instructions

You can totally prep these sliders the night before! Just layer the rolls with the ham and cheese and cover the pan. Then, make the topping and store it in an airtight container. Refrigerate both overnight. When you’re ready to eat, microwave the topping, pour it over the sliders, and bake as directed.

Storing & reheating

If you have leftovers, cover the pan with foil or place the sliders in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. To reheat the sliders, you can microwave individual sliders for 1-2 minutes or bake bigger batches in the oven. Just cover the sliders and bake at 350°F (177°C) for 10-15 minutes, until they’re heated through.

Double the recipe

This recipe will make 12 sliders which is usually enough for 4-6 people. But if you want to double the recipe for a crowd, you can make two batches in one pan! Just layer the rolls side-by-side in the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Then, pour the brown sugar topping over the tops of the rolls, cover, and bake. You might need to add another 5 minutes or so to the cook time so they warm all the way through.

If you make this recipe, I would love it if you left a star rating and review! I read every single comment and love hearing what you think about my recipes. Thank you for supporting Sunday Table!

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