Nothing says “comfort food” better than HAM and CHEESE SLIDERS easily prepared for any special occasion. A sweet blend of meaty and chunky ham with generous slices of cheeses sandwiched between perfectly fluffy buns. Best served as an appetizer or a simple snack using your leftover holiday ham!

 

As most of you already know, I am totally in love with special occasions. Whether it’s a holiday or just a spontaneous get-together, I know I have to prepare something delicious. I often prepare ham and cheese sliders and it hasn’t failed me yet.

Today, I’m going to show you how you can repurpose your holiday ham (see my Brown Sugar Glazed Ham OR Pineapple Honey Baked Ham HERE) and serve it during post-Christmas gatherings or simply for lunch. This one here is as easy as assembling and baking it to let the cheeses melt. Yum yum!

What are Sliders?

If you think that sliders are just mini hamburgers, you are visually correct. However, sliders are often prepared through baking rather than just simply frying. If you look at how it initially pops out of the oven, you’ll see that it’s one big burger clump. The best part about preparing this dish is cutting it into smaller sandwiches.

Sliders, or in my case ham and cheese sliders, are a popular game day appetizer. It’s usually served as hors d’oeuvres, an entrée, or as a snack for intense televised games. This is also the reason why a lot of people pair it with booze!

Ham and Cheese Sliders Recipe

The last thing you need on a game day or post-holiday morning is a messy and hectic kitchen. Luckily, these ham and cheese sliders recipe only needs a few simple ingredients. The sliders are simple but since It’s the season of giving, I’ll throw in a short homemade slider topping recipe.

Ingredients

• Sweet Buns (you can use this Hawaiian Sweet Rolls recipe to make it totally homemade)
• Ham or Deli (or some leftover holiday ham. Expect more flavor if you make this Pineapple Honey Baked Ham or this Brown Sugar Glazed Ham for the holidays)
• Swiss cheese
• Provolone

Slider Topping Ingredients

• Unsalted butter
• Honey
• Minced onions (Check our tips on How to Cut Onions properly)
• Dijon Mustard
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Salt to taste (optional)
• Hot sauce (optional)
• Everything bagel spice or poppy/sesame seeds

Easy Slider Recipe Variations

Sliders, in general, are one of America’s most popular dishes. It’s simple and easy to prepare which is why it’s easy to replicate and develop. Here are some versions I found super interesting.

Chicken Parm Sliders

This slider recipe is a total head-turner. It uses two kinds of cheese, mozzarella, and parmesan, which makes the taste easily recognizable. But the attention-grabbing element here is the crispiness of the fried chicken filling similar to this Baked Chicken Tenders HERE.

Bagel Breakfast Sliders

Using bagels instead of buns can also produce a great slider. However, you must take note that bagels are less fluffy than sweet rolls or buns. This recipe is a great day starter as it plays around with eggs, bacon, cream cheese, and milk.

Pull-apart Cheese Burger Sliders

If you’re talking about comfort food, go all-in with these pull-apart cheeseburger sliders. A blend of mozzarella and sharp cheddar makes a stretchy and stringy cheese effect. The beefy flavor also blends well with the sweet buns and the cheesy mix.

 Turkey Bacon Ranch Sliders

Got some leftover holiday turkey? Give it a new life by using it as a filling for a turkey bacon ranch slider. As the name suggests, It has layers of turkey, bacon, and a drizzle of homemade ranch dressing. It’s so irresistible!

Making Ahead and Reheating Instructions

Making these earlier within the same day? Cover the whole baking dish with foil and keep it in a warm oven (around 170 Fahrenheit.) This will keep your sliders warm without overcooking the whole dish until you’re ready to serve.

Can you freeze ham and cheese sliders? Oh, yes you can! Making these ahead is a common practice especially when expecting a crowd. Simply toss these bad boys in freezer-safe bags and place them in the freezer. These will give you about two weeks of shelf life for your comfort food.

Reheating your sliders is a bit trickier than simply freezing them. To reheat your sliders, place a sheet of aluminum foil on top of the baking dish. Place it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 12 minutes and make sure to completely thaw the sliders before doing so.

You can skip the aluminum foil and place it directly open in the oven. Although this can result in a faster reheating time, there is a slight chance that you might burn your buns. So if you’re going to use this method, make sure to place it in there for just 2-3 minutes.

What Goes with Ham and Cheese Sliders?

These sliders also make a great lunch and dinner. Of all my years in cooking this dish, I’ve experienced many great pairs for this comfort food whether as a full meal or an appetizer. Here are some of my picks for the best sides.

• Sweet Potato Casserole
• Pineapple casserole
• Pineapple Cucumber Salad
• Tortilla Chips and Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Baked Crispy Chicken Wings

More Crowd Pleasing Comfort food

• Chicken Alfredo Pizza
• Patty Melt
• Breakfast Burrito
• Chicken Sandwich
• Tuna Melt

How to Make Ham and Cheese Sliders

 

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Then spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside. For easier cleanup or removal, you can place parchment or foil paper at the bottom.  Place the slider buns on a chopping board or surface, slice the whole 12 buns in half, just like in the photos.   Place the bottom part of the sliders in the 9×13 baking pan. Then layer the ham, followed by the cheeses. Top it with the other half of the slider buns.

 

In a medium bowl, whisk together the melted butter, honey, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, minced onions, salt, and hot sauce (optional).

Brush or drizzle the top part of the sliders with the butter mixture. Sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning or poppy and sesame seeds. Cover with foil paper.  Place the pan in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes – or until the ham sliders are warmed through and cheese melted. Remove the foil paper. Then bake for an additional 5 minutes to lightly brown the top. (Optional) Remove from the oven and serve immediately!

 

Watch How To Make It

 

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