If you need an absolute showstopper that requires minimal effort, you have found it. Whether you call them Hawaiian roll sliders, “funeral sandwiches,” or just the best party food ever, these baked ham and cheese sliders are a lifesaver for busy families, everyday meal-preppers, and weekend hosts alike.
These sweet, savory, and exceptionally gooey sandwiches deliver massive flavor with hardly any prep. You’ll get a beautiful sweet-and-salty contrast from the soft rolls and savory deli meats, all tied together by a tangy, buttery topping. The best part? You have a quick 20–30 minute bake window, and we’ve completely engineered this recipe to guarantee no soggy bottoms just perfectly toasted tops, melty cheese, and warm, savory ham.
Whether you’re looking for game day ham and cheese sliders, a quick weeknight dinner, or a heavy appetizer for your next gathering, this easy ham and cheese sliders recipe will be your new go-to.
Table of Contents
Quick Overview (1-Minute Read)
Short on time? Here is everything you need to know about this ham and cheese slider recipe at a glance:
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Bake time: 20–25 minutes
- Servings: 12 sliders (easily doubled for a crowd)
- Equipment needed: A standard 9×13 baking dish.
- The “Slab Slice” Method: Do not pull the rolls apart! Keep them connected and slice the entire 12-pack in half horizontally like one giant bun. This saves time and keeps the fillings from falling out.
- Bake Strategy: Bake covered with foil first (to melt the cheese and heat the ham), then uncovered at the end (to crisp the tops and avoid sogginess).
Why You’ll Love These Sliders
There is a reason hot ham and cheese sandwiches are a viral, trend-inspired classic that never goes out of style.
- The Sweet/Salty Contrast: The natural sweetness of the Hawaiian rolls perfectly balances the salty ham and the savory, tangy mustard-butter topping.
- Extremely Crowd-Friendly: Perfect for picky eaters, kids, and adults. You can make 12 (or 24) just as fast as you can make one standard sandwich.
- Fast and Forgiving: With minimal prep and a quick trip to the oven, these party ham and cheese sliders fit perfectly into a chaotic weeknight or a busy game day schedule.
Expert Tip: If you’re looking for even more inspiration for your next gathering, this baked ham and cheese party sandwiches recipe from Allrecipes is a highly-rated community favorite that mirrors our reliable, crowd-pleasing approach.
Ingredients + Best Substitutions
Let’s remove the decision fatigue. Here is what you need, plus easy swaps if you are missing an ingredient.
- The Rolls: Sweet Hawaiian rolls are the gold standard for Hawaiian ham and cheese sliders.
- Substitute: Soft dinner rolls, potato rolls, or slider buns work perfectly if you prefer a less sweet base.
- The Ham: Thinly sliced deli ham (like Black Forest or Honey Bourbon) folds beautifully.
- Substitute: Leftover holiday ham is incredible here. Just slice it thin!
- The Cheese: Swiss cheese is the traditional choice for ham and swiss sliders, offering a mild, nutty flavor that melts flawlessly.
- Substitute: Sharp cheddar, provolone, or mozzarella all work wonderfully.
- The Butter Topping: Unsalted butter, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, dried minced onion, and poppy seeds.
- Substitute: If you don’t have poppy seeds or dried onions, swap in a tablespoon of Everything Bagel seasoning for an amazing everything bagel seasoning sliders shortcut.
The Butter Topping (Why it Works)
The “secret sauce” of this baked ham and cheese sliders recipe is the poppy seed butter topping. It elevates a basic sandwich into a gourmet, crave-worthy meal.
- The Core Blend: Melted butter acts as the carrier, while Dijon mustard adds tang, Worcestershire adds deep umami flavor, and the dried onion and poppy seeds provide an irresistible aromatic crunch.
- The Sweet Note (Optional): If you are making brown sugar ham sliders, whisking 1–2 tablespoons of brown sugar into the warm butter mixture enhances the sweetness of the rolls and caramelizes beautifully in the oven.
- Application: Brush the topping generously over the rolls. Pro tip: Let the sliders sit for 5–10 minutes before baking. Allowing the butter mixture to soak slightly into the bread infuses the flavor deeper into the crust without making the interior mushy.
How to Make Ham and Cheese Sliders (Step-by-Step)
Ready to see how fast these come together?
1. Slice the Rolls as a Slab
Do not separate the rolls! Keeping them connected as a “slab” makes assembly incredibly fast and keeps the structural integrity of your sandwiches intact. Using a long, serrated bread knife, carefully slice the entire sheet of rolls in half horizontally. Place the bottom slab into a greased 9×13 baking dish.
2. Layer Ham + Cheese for Maximum Melt
To prevent the bottom bun from getting soggy from the ham’s moisture, start with a layer of cheese on the bottom bun. Next, layer your ham evenly across the slab. Fold the deli meat slightly as you lay it down rather than laying it perfectly flat—these little folds create pockets for the cheese to melt into! Finish with another layer of cheese on top, then place the top slab of buns over the filling.
3. Add Topping + Bake Timing
Whisk together your melted butter, Dijon, Worcestershire, minced onion, and poppy seeds. Pour or generously brush the dijon butter sauce over the top of the rolls, letting some drip down the sides.
Cover the 9×13 pan tightly with aluminum foil. Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes. The foil traps the steam, ensuring the cheese sliders recipe gets gooey and hot all the way through. Finally, remove the foil and bake for another 3–5 minutes until the tops are deeply golden brown and slightly crispy.
Troubleshooting (No-Fail Fixes)
Nothing is worse than a ruined batch of party food. Here is how to guarantee perfect results.
- How to fix soggy bottoms: This is the #1 complaint with competitor recipes. Fix it with three simple rules:
- Layer a barrier of cheese directly on the bottom bun before adding the ham to block moisture.
- Do not pour all the butter sauce directly into the seams; focus on brushing the tops.
- Always finish the bake uncovered to allow excess steam to evaporate.
- Cheese not melting evenly: This happens when the pan is left uncovered the whole time, or the layers are too thick. Always bake covered with foil for the first 15-20 minutes, and ensure you are using overlapping, even layers of thin deli slices rather than thick blocks of meat and cheese.
- Tops browning too fast: If your oven runs hot, the sugar in the rolls and butter can burn. Keep the foil on until the very end, removing it only for the final 3-5 minutes of baking.
Make-Ahead, Storage, Reheating
These are brilliant for meal-preppers!
- Make-Ahead: You can completely assemble the make ahead ham and cheese sliders (slice, layer meat and cheese, put the top buns on) up to 24 hours in advance. Wrap tightly and refrigerate. Crucial tip: Do NOT add the butter sauce until right before you bake, or you will guarantee a soggy bottom!
- Storage: Store leftover oven baked ham and cheese sliders in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4–5 days.
- Reheating: To revive that crispy top, reheat them in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes until warm. A quick 30-second microwave blast is a great fallback for an instant lunch, though the buns will be much softer.
Freezing (Clear, Definitive Guidance)
Can you freeze ham and cheese sliders? Yes, but you have to do it right for the best texture.
- The Best Approach: Freeze the sliders assembled but unbaked. Do not add the butter topping. Wrap the slab tightly in plastic wrap, then heavy-duty aluminum foil. They will keep for up to 2 months.
- To Reheat from Frozen: Thaw the make ahead freezer sliders overnight in the fridge. Once thawed, place them in a 9×13 dish, whip up a fresh batch of the butter topping, pour it over the top, and bake as directed. (Freezing already-baked sliders tends to make the bread tough upon reheating).
Variations to Try
Once you master the base recipe, try these fun spins:
- Spicy Sliders: Swap Swiss for Pepper Jack cheese, and add a layer of pickled jalapeños between the ham and cheese.
- Kid-Friendly: Use a mild American or mild cheddar cheese, and skip the dried onions and mustard in the butter topping (just use butter and a tiny pinch of garlic powder).
- Everything Bagel Sliders: Swap the poppy seeds and minced onion for 1–2 tablespoons of Everything Bagel Seasoning.
- Sweet-and-Savory: Add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar and a dash of maple syrup to the butter topping for the ultimate sweet/salty breakfast vibe.
What to Serve With Ham and Cheese Sliders
Whether you are making a full dinner or hosting a party, here is how to round out the meal:
Crispy & Veggie Sides
To cut through the richness of the buttery sliders, you want some crisp textures.
- Our top pick is garlic parmesan potato wedges—a crispy oven-baked potato wedges recipe that bakes beautifully alongside the sliders.
- For a cold, creamy potluck side that offers the perfect fresh contrast, try this classic pea salad.
- Standard fresh sides like steamed broccoli, a fruit salad, or a crunchy veggie tray with ranch also work perfectly.
Game Day & Party Appetizers
Building a party spread?
- Add this viral, buttery onion boil—a foil-baked onion side that perfectly matches the savory vibes.
- For the ultimate slider/appetizer combo, serve them next to cheesy stuffed onion rings.
- Want an extra snacky companion? These crispy vegetable pancakes with an easy dipping sauce are a fun, unexpected addition to the table.
How Many Per Person?
For a main dish, plan on 3–4 sliders per adult and 2 per child. For a party where other heavy appetizers are present, plan on 1–2 sliders per person.
Looking for More Easy Crowd Meals?
If you love simple, hearty dinners that feed a family, check out this easy comfort-food cowboy casserole. For a cheesy oven-baked chicken dinner, you have to try Mississippi mud chicken, or go classic with an easy cheesy chicken broccoli rice casserole.
FAQs
Should I bake sliders covered or uncovered?
Both! You should bake them covered with foil for the first 15-20 minutes to heat the meat and melt the cheese without burning the tops. Then, remove the foil for the last 3-5 minutes to toast the bread.
How do you keep Hawaiian roll sliders from getting soggy on the bottom?
Place a layer of cheese directly on the bottom bun before adding the ham to create a moisture barrier. Also, avoid dumping the butter sauce down the sides of the pan; brush it on top instead. Always finish baking uncovered.
Can I freeze funeral sandwiches?
Yes. It is best to freeze them assembled but unbaked (without the butter topping). Thaw them in the fridge overnight, add the fresh butter topping, and bake.
What cheese can I use instead of Swiss?
Provolone, sharp cheddar, mozzarella, and Gouda are all fantastic substitutes in any ham and cheese sliders FAQ roundup.
What is a good substitute for poppy seeds?
Everything Bagel seasoning, sesame seeds, or just leaving them out entirely will still yield a delicious slider.
Ham and Cheese Sliders (Hawaiian Roll “Funeral Sandwiches”)
Equipment
- 9×13 baking dish
- Serrated bread knife
- Small bowl
- Pastry Brush
- Aluminum foil
Ingredients
Slider Ingredients
- 12 rolls Hawaiian sweet rolls Keep as a single slab
- 1 lb Thinly sliced deli ham Black Forest or Honey Bourbon
- 12 slices Swiss cheese Layered for maximum melt
Butter Topping
- 1/2 cup Unsalted butter Melted
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp Dried minced onion
- 1 tbsp Poppy seeds Can substitute with Everything Bagel seasoning
Instructions
- Using a serrated knife, slice the entire 12-pack of Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally to create a top and bottom slab. Place the bottom slab into a greased 9×13 baking dish.
- Place a layer of cheese on the bottom buns. Layer the ham evenly on top, followed by the remaining cheese. Place the top bun slab over the filling.
- Whisk together melted butter, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, dried onion, and poppy seeds. Brush the mixture generously over the tops of the rolls. Let them rest for 5-10 minutes to soak in the flavor.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 3-5 minutes until the tops are golden brown and crispy.