5-Star Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders — 30-Min Family Dinner Everyone Loves

rimi rimi March 13, 2026 14 min read 0 Comments
5-Star Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders — 30-Min Family Dinner Everyone Loves
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Ham and Cheese Sliders are a scrumptious, make ahead friendly, quick and easy weeknight dinner or favorite party food, all baked together for ooey gooey, savory, sweet splendor!

TheseHam and Cheese Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls are one of my favorite crowd pleasers of all time!  Nobody can resist the combination of salty ham, gooey, melted cheese, tangy honey mustard and buttery glaze all wrapped up in tender, sweet Hawaiian rolls. They’re the ideal easy dinner for busy weeknights or a hassle-free crowd pleaser for game day, movie night, book club, picnics, potlucks, etc.Best of all, this recipe only takes minutes to prep, is make ahead friendly, freezer friendly and you can customize the sliders to suit your preferences.  Serve these Hot Ham and Cheese Sliders with a side Caesar salad and tomato basil soup, for the perfect meal or potato salad and Italian pasta salad for casual entertaining!

Why you’ll love these Hawaiian Roll Sliders

Utterly fantastic. These Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders are irresistibly melty, savory, sweet and tangy comfort food at its finest! The sliders aremade with buttery, soft Hawaiian Rolls slathered with honey mustard aioli, sandwiched with Black Forest Ham and Gruyere Swiss cheese, topped with a buttery poppy seed, onion topping, then baked until melty on the inside and toasted on the outside- DROOL! I was craving leftovers for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Flavorful! There are many Ham and Cheese Slider recipes out there, but what sets this recipe apart is the hypnotic explosion of flavors.  The honey mustard sauce is made with both Dijon and yellow mustard with kisses of hot sauce and paprika.  The butter sauce boasts dried onions, poppy seeds, minced parsley, garlic and Worcestershire sauce.  The cheese is Gruyere Swiss and the ham is Black Forest ham.  Now just try and stop at one!

Great for a crowd.Aside from being tasty, these sliders are inexpensive, quick and easy to make (the Hawaiian rolls are cut and assembled altogether), make ahead friendly and you can even double or triple the batch!They’re great for tailgating, potlucks, movie night, game night, kid parties or play dates, picnics, pool parties and everything in between!

Easy to make ahead. This eliminates any last-minute stress for entertaining or they’re great to pull out of the fridge on busy weeknights.

Ingredients for Ham and Swiss Sliders

The recipe ingredients can be divided into three sections: 1) the sandwich filling, 2) the honey mustard spread and 3) the poppy seed butter. Here’s what you’ll need to make these fabulous Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders (full recipe measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

For the sandwiches:

  • King’s Hawaiian Sweet Rolls: These are what makes these Hot Ham and Cheese sliders so special! Not only do the rolls slice into two even slabs for convenience, they are tender, buttery, with a kiss of sweetness that compliments the salty ham and tangy honey mustard spread. The exterior toasts up beautifully under the poppy seed butter while the interior stays soft and fluffy. King’s Hawaiian is a popular brand of Hawaiian sweet rolls, but you may use your favorite. You may substitute regular slider buns for this recipe, but it will NOT be the same! Regular slider buns pale in comparison. 
  • Deli ham: Use any ham you like, just make sure it’s flavorful!  I recommend thinly sliced ham from the deli counter, specifically Black Forest ham. Other ham varieties, such as Virginia ham, are milder and drier than Black Forest ham.
  • Swiss Cheese: You need a strong cheese to stand out against the honey mustard, ham and poppy seed butter, like Gruyere Swiss. It’s the consummate melting cheese that’s slightly sweet, slightly salty, creamy, and nutty. Again, purchase it at the deli counter and have them thinly slice it for you. You can use regular Swiss, but it’s not nearly as good (SEE TIPS SECTION FOR DETAILS).

Fun fact!

Black Forest ham is named after the Black Forest area of Germany in which it originated. It is a type of dry-cured smoked ham that typically takes up to three months to produce from start to finish!  The raw ham is first seasoned with pepper, garlic, juniper berries, coriander and other spices, cured for four weeks then cold-smoked over pine or fir.

At this point, it can be sold as-is, or smoked to about 130 degrees in a smoker.  This second smoke adds additional flavor to the ham depending on what type of wood is used.  Maple, hickory-smoked and applewood-smoked are all popular varieties.

For the honey mustard spread

  • Mayonnaise: Use classic mayonnaise to make the spread; skip the Miracle Whip because it’s too sweet.
  • Honey: Classic clover honey will do the trick! It adds balancing sweetness to the tangy spread.
  • Mustard: Use you favorite Dijon mustard or Dijon stone ground mustard.
  • Apple cider vinegar: This cuts through the richness of the honey mustard with an extra zing.    
  • Hot sauce: The sliders won’t taste spicy, but the hot sauce adds a kick of flavor.  I use Franks Buffalo Wings Sauce, but you can use your favorite
  • Paprika: I recommend regular paprika for this recipe, not smoked. 

For the poppy seed butter:

  • Butter: You may use salted or unsalted butter. If using salted, omit the salt called for in the poppy seed butter.
  • Poppy seeds:  These are nutty, slightly fruity seeds with a light pleasant crunch.  They are also rich in magnesium, calcium and fiber.  You can usually find poppy seeds at the grocery store located next to the spices or on Amazon here.
  • Dried minced onions:  These are the dehydrated onion flakes found with the spices.  Use them straight from the bottle without hydrating first.  They add the signature onion flavor to compliment the sweet and tangy mustard.
  • Parsley: Please use flat leaf parsley rather than curly parsley. Flat leaf parsley is bold and aromatic, whereas curly parsley can be muted and is used more for a garnish. 
  • Worcestershire sauce: This adds an undiscernible “something-something” to the butter – it’s a game changer! Worcestershire boasts intense umami flavor from the anchovies (or vegan versions use soy sauce) mingled with tamarind and vinegar for sourness, molasses and sugar for sweetness, and dimension from the cloves, celery seed, and chili pepper extract.
  • Seasonings: The butter is rounded out with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

HOW TO MAKE ham and cheese sliders

Making this Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders recipe is SO incredibly easy but tastes like a million bucks! Here’s how the recipe is prepared (see full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

  • Step 1: Prep the Hawaiian rolls. Using a large serrated knife, slice the rolls in half, separating the bottoms from the tops. Do NOT separate the individual rolls; you want to work with the rolls while they’re all still stuck together. Place the bottoms in a parchment paper or foil-lined 9×13-inch baking dish (for easy cleanup).
  • Step 2: Bake the bottoms of the rolls. Bake just the bottoms at 400ºF until golden. This will prevent them from becoming soggy once the toppings are added. Remove from the oven and reduce the temperature to 350ºF. 
  • Step 3: Make the sauces. Do this while the bottoms of the rolls bake. In one bowl, whisk together the honey mustard sauce ingredients.  In a separate bowl, whisk together the poppy seed butter sauce ingredients.
  • Step 4: Assemble the sliders. When the toasted rolls come out of the oven, spread HALF of the honey mustard aioli over the bottom slab. Then, layer on the ham, followed . Spread the remaining honey mustard sauce over the cut side of the top of the rolls. Place the tops of the rolls onto the sandwiches. (Again, you should be able to place all of the stuck-together tops onto the sliders all at once).
  • Step 5: Top with butter. Evenly pour the poppy seed butter sauce over the rolls. Cover with foil and let the assembled rolls stand at room temperature for about 5-10 minutes. 
  • Step 6: Bake! Bake, covered, in the preheated oven, until the cheese has melted. Uncover and bake for an additional 3-5 minutes, or until as golden as desired.

To meal prep Hot Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders, I recommend toasting the top rolls as well as the bottoms. Fully layer the sliders but don’t add the poppy seed butter. Tightly cover with foil, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to enjoy, let the sliders sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, microwave the refrigerated poppy seed butter. Pour the butter over top and bake per recipe instructions, adding an additional 5-10 minutes to the bake time as needed for hot and melty cheese.

Ham and Cheese Sliders Recipe Tips

  • Don’t use regular slider buns. While you can use regular buns, they will make your recipe much more difficult and not as tender or flavorful! Hawaiian sweet rolls are essentially super sweet, soft and tender dinner rolls that soak up the poppy seed butter like a dream. They are also easy to use halve to create two slabs as opposed to individual rolls.
  • Don’t separate the Hawaiian rolls. When cutting the rolls in half, slice through the entire interconnected equator of the rolls to create two slabs – the top and bottom, don’t separate individual rolls.
  • If you can only find 16-count rolls: Simply slice off one row to create 12 rolls.
  • Don’t skip the mayo.  Only using mustard will result in dry bread or overpowering mustard. The mayo adds a rich spreadability while toning down the honey mustard.
  • Use good quality ham and Swiss. You will find the best at the deli counter – and bonus, they thinly slice it for you making assembly these Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders a breeze! Please be advised not all Swiss cheese is created equal.  “Swiss cheese” in America is actually a broad term that includes hundreds of Swiss cheeses, many of which are sorry imitations of Emmental Swiss cheese actually from Switzerland.  Americanized Swiss cheese is made from pasteurized milk and is significantly less flavorful than real Swiss cheese.
  • Don’t skip toasting the buns. Toasting the bottom of the rolls ensures that the bottoms don’t become soggy when topped with the honey mustard, ham, cheese, and butter.  I recommend also toasting the top buns if you are making ahead.
  • Use all of the butter. You may notice some of the poppy seed butter pooling at the bottom of the pan. That’s okay! The toasted rolls will soak up that extra sauce, making the sliders that much more flavorful. It also helps to toast the bottom of the sliders.  
  • Use whatever pan fits the rolls. The pan doesn’t have to be 9×13. I used a slightly smaller pan that comfortably fit the rolls.
  • Slice the rolls in the pan or on the counter. The beautify of lining the pan with parchment paper or foil isn’t just for easy cleanup. It also allows you to remove the rolls from the pan all at once and transfer them to a cutting board.

Variations of Hawaiian Roll Sliders

These Hot Ham and Cheese Sliders are extremely versatile! Swap the ham for turkey, add toppings, use different cheese, etc. Here are a few ideas:

  • Swap protein. Replace the ham with your favorite deli meat, such as turkey, roast beef, or chicken. Or, use a couple deli meats when making the sliders.
  • Make Club Sliders: Add thinly sliced turkey and bacon to the sliders.
  • Use a different flavored protein. Get creative and try a different ham or turkey flavor such as Cajun, Blackened, Cracked Pepper, etc.
  • Use leftover holiday ham. While thinly sliced deli ham works best for this recipe, you can easily use leftover ham from Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter to make the sliders. 
  • Swap cheese. In my opinion, Gruyere Swiss is the very best cheese paired with the salty ham and rich sauces. However, you can use any kind of sliced melting cheese you like such as Gouda, provolone, Havarti, Muenster, mozzarella or even sharp cheddar.
  • Swap mustard.  Try spicy brown mustard, stone ground mustard or yellow mustard.
  • Make it spicy. Add extra hot sauce to the honey mustard sauce or add a layer of jalapenos on top of the cheese (we love Trader Joes’ Hot and Sweet Pickled Jalapenos
  • Go barbecue.  Swap the honey mustard sauce for barbecue sauce.
  • Make it gluten-free. Use your favorite gluten free Hawaiian sweet rolls or regular rolls if needed. Use gluten free Worcestershire sauce.
  • Italian Sliders: Use provolone cheese, Chicago-style hot peppers or Italian sweet peppers, giardiniera and of course, pepperoncini.  You can also add sun-dried tomatoes and artichokes as well as other Italian meats such as Genoa Salami and/or Capicola. Reference my Italian Sandwiches for all the info!
  • Cuban Sliders: Swap the Dijon for yellow mustard, add pickles and Roasted Mojo Cuban Pork.

What to serve with hot Ham Sliders

Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders can be enjoyed as an appetizer alongside other finger foods, or you can pair them with a salad and fruit to enjoy as an entrée. Here are some side dish serving suggestions for serving as a main dish:

How to store Ham and Cheese Sliders

5-Star Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders — 30-Min Family Dinner Everyone Loves

how long is this recipe good for?

Store leftover Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Ham and Cheese Sliders can be reheated in the microwave for about 15 seconds, then at 5 second intervals as needed, or in the oven. Cover sliders with foil and heat at 300 degrees F for about 7-10 minutes or until warmed through.

Freezing Ham and Swiss Sliders

Yes! These Hawaiian Ham & Cheese Sliders work wonderfully to prep ahead and freeze.  In fact, they’re great to double the recipe and enjoy some now and some for later while you have all of the ingredients out!

To freeze, toast both the top and bottom sets of buns. Assemble the sliders but don’t add the poppy seed butter (freeze butter separately). Wrap the casserole dish tightly with plastic wrap a couple times followed by foil. Freeze for 3-6 months, then let thaw in the fridge overnight.  Bake as directed, adding an additional 5-10 minutes to the bake time.

Ham and Swiss Sliders Recipe FAQs

WHAT KIND OF BREAD SHOULD I USE?

I highly recommend using sweet Hawaiian rolls if at all possible, although you can get rolls.  Hawaiian rolls are slightly smaller than most other rolls, delivering the perfect proportions.  They come in a package baked together, which makes the rolls easy to slice into two slabs – the top and bottom.  This makes assembly a breeze because you don’t have to layer individual rolls!

Additionally, Hawaiian rolls are soft, buttery, and slightly sweet AKA independently scrumptious!  The bottoms get slightly crispy from baking in residual butter, while the insides remain tender, but not soggy.  The sweetness of the rolls beautifully compliments the tangy honey mustard sauce and the salty ham.  The combination of textures and flavors is what makes these sliders so good!

DO I HAVE TO USE POPPY SEEDS?

If you don’t like poppy seeds, you can certainly leave them out, however, I highly recommend them.  They add a lovely subtle crunch and sweetness.

CAN I USE A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHEESE?

Yes, however, Swiss Gruyere is the best pairing with ham, in my opinion.  A different cheese will change the flavor profile of the entire recipe.  If you use a different cheese, use a good melting cheese like Colby Jack, Havarti, or Provolone.

How long do you cook ham and cheese sliders?

These Hot Ham and Cheese Sliders bake for about 20 minutes in the oven covered with foil.  Depending on the thickness of your cheese slices, you may need to bake a little longer, until all the cheese is completely melted to ooey gooey splendor. After the cheese has melted, you can remove the foil and allow the sliders to bake a few more minutes to achieve those beautifully toasted golden-brown tops.

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Ham and Swiss Sliders

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  • Total Time: 50 minutes
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Description

These Ham and Cheese Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls are one of my favorite crowd pleasers of all time!  Nobody can resist the combination of salty ham, gooey, melted cheese, tangy honey mustard and buttery glaze all wrapped up in buttery, tender rolls.  They’re the ideal easy dinner for busy weeknights or a hassle-free crowd pleaser for game day, movie night, book club, picnics, potlucks, etc. Best of all, this recipe only takes minutes to prep, is make ahead friendly, freezer friendly and you can customize the sliders to suit your preferences. Serve them up with a side Caesar salad and tomato basil soup, for the perfect meal or potato salad and Italian pasta salad for casual entertaining!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 12-count package Hawaiian sweet rolls
  • 1 pound thinly sliced Black Forest deli ham
  • 12 ounces thinly sliced Gruyere Swiss cheese
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce, (or more to taste)
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 cup (8 TBS) melted unsalted butter ((omit salt below if using salted butter))
  • 2 tablespoons minced parsley
  • 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons poppy seeds
  • 1/4 tsp EACH salt, pepper, garlic powder

Instructions

  1. Prepare pan: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a 9×13-inch baking dish (or whatever comfortably fits your rolls) with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
  2. Slice rolls: Using a large serrated knife, slice the rolls in half through the equator, separating the bottoms from the tops – DON'T separate the individual rolls. Place the bottom “slab” in the prepared baking dish.
  3. Toast rolls: Bake the bottoms at 400 degrees F for 5 minutes or until toasted lightly golden. Remove from the oven and reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F.
  4. Make spread and butter: Meanwhile, whisk together the Honey Mustard Spread ingredients in a medium bowl. In a separate medium bowl (or I like to use a liquid measuring cup), whisk together the Poppy Seed Butter ingredients.
  5. Assemble: Spread half of the Honey Mustard Spread over the bottom slab of the toasted rolls. Evenly layer the ham, followed by the cheese. Spread the remaining Honey Mustard Spread over the cut side of the top of the rolls. Place the top slab onto the sandwiches.
  6. Add butter: Slowly and evenly pour the Poppy Seed Butter over the rolls, using a brush or spatula to spread the mixture as needed. Some will pool at the bottom of the pan which is okay.
  7. Rest: Cover the rolls with aluminum foil and rest for about 5 to 10 minutes.
  8. Bake: Bake, covered, at 350 degrees F for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is completely melted. Uncover and bake for an additional 3-5 minutes, or until as golden as desired (watch closely so they don’t burn).
  9. Eat! Slice into individual sliders and serve immediately.
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer party food
  • Cuisine: American

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rimi

Crochet Designer & Blogger

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