Baked Brown Sugar Ham and Cheese Sliders
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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. Make them for holidays, potlucks, or 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 just eat on everything. They’re buttery and cozy for a nice little appetizer situation. 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.
My favorite party sandwich
These sliders are a classic for potlucks and parties, 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!
- This is the easiest recipe ever. Just layer, bake, and serve!
- You can use holiday leftovers or ham from the deli.
- Make them for game day, holiday parties, bridal showers, & potlucks.
- Serve them as an appetizer or lunch for a crowd.
Ingredients & variations
- Hawaiian rolls – a classic! I use the Aloha rolls from Trader Joe’s but any will do. You can also use savory butter rolls.
- Mayonnaise – pick a good quality mayo like Best Foods.
- Ham – you’ll need leftover holiday ham or freshly-shaved deli ham. I like black forest.
- Cheese – havarti, Swiss, or sharp white cheddar. Make sure it’s freshly-sliced!
- Unsalted butter – use a good quality butter for the best flavor.
- Brown sugar – light or dark brown sugar will both work.
- Dijon – any Dijon you like – smooth, whole grain, etc.
- Worcestershire – you can also use soy sauce!
- Spices – garlic powder, onion powder, and poppy seeds for crunch.
- Chives – fresh chives add a nice onion-y flavor. Feel free to use dried in a pinch.
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.
Side dishes
These sliders are amazing for an appetizer or lunch! They’re one of my go-tos for potlucks and game day. If I’m making them as an appetizer, they’re great with pepper jelly cream cheese dip, spicy ranch snack mix, or little smokies in a blanket.
For lunch, try them with potato chips, frizzled onions, or bacon cheesy loaded waffle fries. Don’t forget pickles or cornichons – they’re a must!
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.
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Baked Brown Sugar Ham and Cheese Sliders
Ingredients
- 1 package Hawaiian rolls (12 rolls)
- 2 Tablespoons mayonnaise (28 grams)
- 1 pound black forest ham or leftover ham (454 grams)
- 1/2 pound havarti, Swiss, or white cheddar cheese, sliced (227 grams)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (57 grams)
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, packed (14 grams)
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard (14 grams)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1 Tablespoon freshly-minced chives, for sprinkling (6 grams)
Equipment
- Bread knife
- 9×13 pan
- Tin foil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease a 9×13 pan with cooking spray or neutral oil. Set aside.
- Using a sharp bread knife, slice the rolls in half horizontally, keeping the bottoms and tops of the rolls intact. Place the bottom half of the rolls in the prepared pan and spread them with mayonnaise.
- Evenly layer half of the ham over the bottom rolls followed by half of the cheese. Add another layer of ham and cheese so you have two total layers. Place the top rolls over the ham and cheese.
- Next, whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and poppy seeds until smooth. Using a pastry brush, brush the mixture on top of the rolls, getting into all the nooks and crannies. Pour any remaining sauce over the top of the sliders.
- Cover the pan tightly with tin foil. Bake the sliders for 20 minutes. Then, uncover and bake the sliders for another 5-10 minutes, until the ham and cheese is heated through and the tops of the rolls are golden-brown.
- Garnish the sliders with fresh chives. Slice and enjoy!
