Savory butter Hawaiian rolls are layered with black forest ham and Havarti cheese then topped with a buttery seasoned glaze and baked to a golden brown. These sliders are a fan-favorite recipe.
★ Why You'll Love this Recipe ★
This combination is unique and so delicious. The butter topping crisps the tops and adds flavor. Poppy seeds add a subtle crunch and nutty flavor.
You can make these ahead and bake right before you're ready to eat so they are great for taking on vacations, to a friend's houses or for serving houseguests.
This simple and quick recipe is ideal for feeding a family or small crowd as it makes a dozen sliders.
These ham and cheese sliders will also absolutely satisfy your weekend munchies.
Enjoy these sliders as a hearty breakfast-lunch combination so you can consolidate meals and get more done with your day off, while staying fueled.
With their buttery Hawaiian buns, onion-poppy seed sauce, melty Havarti cheese and peppery ham, these sliders hit all the right notes. Yet are so simple to prepare. Make ahead, then bake before serving.
★ Ingredients You'll Need ★
You need just 3 main ingredients to make these baked sliders, plus a 5-ingredient homemade seasoned buttery sauce that tops these roll so that they bake to a delicious crisp.
Here's everything you'll need:
1. Savory Hawaiian rolls. I prefer these over the sweet rolls because ham is already sweet, you don't really need more sweetness.
2. Black forest ham. I like the extra flavor that comes along with the dark, smoked edges of Black Forest ham. You will also get more flavor if you choose a premium ham from the deli.
3. Havarti cheese. This soft white cheese is similar to Swiss but has less of a tart, sour flavor to it which I find more appealing vs. Swiss cheese. If you love Swiss cheese though, you can use that instead.
THE SAUCE to top the buns is made with: melted salted butter, poppy seeds, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard. A tasty combination that adds a lot of flavor, a nice crisp and color to the Hawaiian rolls.
★ How to Make this Recipe ★
Cut, layer, brush and bake your way to a tray of deliciousness that's big enough to share. These easy ham and cheese sliders make a great brunch or appetizer for special occasions too!
Here's how to make this yummy ham and cheese slider recipe, step by step. It's simple!
- First, cut the entire block of Hawaiian rolls in half.
- Layer ham slices, folded in half, on top of bottom half of rolls.
- Add Havarti cheese squares.
- Melt butter and add onion powder, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce to form sauce.
- Add tops of rolls then brush with butter sauce.
- Cover with foil and bake!
For full recipe instructions, see below!
Watch the video beneath the recipe (below) to see these steps in action!
★ Tips and FAQs ★
Follow these tips to make the BEST ham and cheese sliders of your life. Not even exaggerating. 🙂
Perfectly. On the first try.
Don't separate your rolls. Cut them in half as a big block. It's much easier and will save you time!
Fold ham slices in quarters to add texture to your bite.
Feel free to also add extra ham if you want a meatier slider. Or extra cheese for that matter.
Cover with foil. Then carefully uncover for just the last 3-5 minutes to lightly brown and crisp the tops of the rolls. Less time for less crispy and less brown, more time for more crispy and more brown. Shoot for a golden brown color.
When you go to the store you'll notice two flavors of Hawaiian rolls — savory butter and original sweet. I've tried using both to make these ham and cheese sliders. Both are actually good!
However, I personally like the savory butter flavor a little better. The original sweet rolls along with the sweetness of the ham can be just a little too much sweetness for me.
It's up to you though. Try them both and see what you like best. I always say, there are no right or wrong choices in cooking when it comes to flavor. It's about what you like. So take time to experiment and see what you and your family like best. And have some fun with taste testing!
Yes. You can prep these sliders ahead of time then bake them right before you're ready to eat.
Just cover with foil and keep refrigerated until you're ready to bake them.
Yes. You can make these ahead and cover with foil but don't bake. Put them in the freezer for up to 4 months. When you're ready to bake, ideally let them thaw and then bake. If baking from frozen, you may need to add 5 or more minutes of bake time.
You can store these in the fridge for up to 3 days after baking. Cover tightly and reheat for 30 seconds in the microwave or using the toaster oven for crisper buns. Open bun into two halves and toast for 3-5 minutes at 300˚.
I prefer to use glass vs. metal casserole dishes when baking. Glass is easier to clean and food doesn't stick as easily. You can use steel wool on it without worrying about scrapping it. I use this pan use it a lot for breakfast casseroles, easy sheet cakes and of course these sliders!
I make these sliders in a 9" x 13" glass baking dish. The baking dish I use is one of my favorite Pioneer Woman pieces because it's the perfect size and has really pretty glass bead work on the outside. I have multiple pieces of her collection. All of her stuff is so cute! And a package of Hawaiian rolls fits exactly so its perfect for making this recipe.
Shop 9x13 baking dishes
Shop Pioneer Woman's cookware
★ More Recipes You'll Love ★
Love easy recipes?
Browse all my easy, delicious food!
Browse all my recipes and Pin the ones you love for later!
Ham and Cheese Recipes
Love this combo? I can't blame you. They just go together!
Here are all my other recipes incorporating ham and cheese:
• Ham and Cheese Quiche
• Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup
• Cajun Ham and Cheese Biscuits
• Easy Ham and Cheese Croissant Melts - My breakfast most mornings!
★ What People Are Saying ★
These sliders are always a hit! Here's what people have said about this recipe:
“These are my absolute fav!”
“I could literally eat a dozen”
“Delicious!”
“This couldn’t be easier or more delicious!!”
“Best use of leftover ham!”
These ham and cheese Hawaiian roll sliders were featured on South Your Mouth!
Ham and Cheese Hawaiian Roll Sliders
Ingredients
- 1 package Savory Butter Hawaiian Rolls 12 count
- 12 slices black forest ham
- 6 slices Havarti cheese
Mustard-Butter Glaze
- 4 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce optional
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder optional
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
Easy-Order Groceries
- Add All Ingredients to Your Walmart Cart Adds everything with one click! You can edit items before you check out.
Mighty Mrs. is a #WalmartPartner.
Instructions
- Prepare rolls and baking dish. Slice the entire block of rolls in half without separating the rolls. Remove top half of Hawaiian rolls and set aside. Place bottom half of rolls in a 9x12 baking pan, lightly greased with butter.
- Add ham and cheese. Layer each roll with a slice of ham and a half slice of cheese.
- Prepare and add buttery topping. In a microwavable bowl, cover and heat butter for about 30 second or until melted. Stir in Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder and poppy seeds.Add the top layer of rolls and brush with butter-poppy seed mixture.
- Bake. Loosely cover with foil and bake at 350˚ for about 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and tops of buns are golden brown.
Video
Notes
Recommended equipment listed may contain affiliate links.
Debbie says
Thanks for the recipe! These are great, but carb count isnโt correct. The rolls themselves have way more than 1gram.
Angela G. says
Hi Debbie, You are right. The nutrition facts were pulling just 1 roll, not the full pack of 12. I've updated to correct that! Thanks for the feedback.
Aurora says
These are delicious. I have made them several times now and they are always a hit. I follow the recipe exactly
Todd says
Can you switch the cheese and add palmetto cheese spread
Angela G. says
Hi Todd, I haven't tried this as far as flavor so that is up to you! Palmetto cheese spread may melt more quickly since it's not a hard as others cheeses like Havarti but if you're OK with the cheese being a bit more sauce-like, I would give it a try and see what you think!
Lindsay Roberts says
Hi! Iโm wondering if this would work in a disposable baking pan to take to someone who just had a baby. That way they donโt have to worry about dishes. Would you suggest any extra prepping with the pan beforehand?
Angela G. says
Yes, you can absolutely use a foil pan. I have done this many times. I would lightly grease with butter or spray the inside of the pan with non-stick to help prevent buns and melted cheese from sticking.
Lindsay Roberts says
Ok perfect, thank you!! Canโt wait to try it! ๐
KMO says
I made this recipe for a quick lunch. I only made a few changes: I had already bought sweet Hawaiian rolls so I used those; I used thinly sliced Swiss cheese; and I brushed a prepared garlic/onion butter on top. They were quite tasty and we enjoyed them.
Elizabeth says
Have you ever added scrambled eggs to to make it more of a breakfast sandwich?
Angela G. says
I haven't but you definitely could. I bet it would be tasty! When I make ham and cheese breakfast sandwiches, I usually make them on croissants. So yummy. Here's my recipe for Ham and Cheese Croissant Melts.
Stephanie says
This is a Christmas Eve tradition for my husband's family. My mother-in-law has been making them for years. We prepare them the night before and bake them for our family lunch.
Amy says
If Iโm trying to prepare these the night before, would you recommend adding the butter mixture on top the night before or save it to add just before popping into the oven? Thank you!!
Angela G. says
Hi Amy, you can add the butter before hand. It may sink into the rolls just a bit but they will crisp when baked. If you add it before you put in the oven, you may have a bit better results.
Sara says
I put the mixture on the day before and then pop 'em in the oven for lunch/dinner the next day. They always turn out perfect!
Marie says
Delicious! Easy, fast minimal effort for a big result. These were a big hit at a recent holiday party. Thanks!
Sherry says
The very best ham in the world is from Honey Baked Ham Co.
Deb says
Can you make these the day before and refrigerate?
Angela G. says
Yes, you can prepare them in advance including the sauce topping and just cover with foil. Refrigerate and bake when you're ready.
Carolyn says
@Angela G., Do I need to bring them to room temp before baking, or maybe bake for how much longer?
Angela G. says
Yes, or you can add 2-3 minutes to the bake time as needed. You'll know they're done when the cheese is fully melted.
cindi says
You can buy Pillsbury Hawaiian croissants but they are so small, I wanted to try this on a large Hawaiian croissant roll. Any ideas
Angela G. says
I use Kings Hawaiian Rolls. They are pre-cooked, usually located in the bakery section of the grocery store. Do you have those available to you?
Sarah says
Yum, I canโt wait to make this!! But it doesnโt say how long to bake them for?? Also, the ingredients list calls for onion powder but the directions say garlic powder. Just want to clarify which one is correct? Thanks!
Angela G. says
Should be onion powder! Bake time is listed in the instructions along with a few tips. Be sure to check that out. Thanks for asking!
Jeanine says
When I clicked on your Ham and Cheese Pretzel Hawaiian Roll Sliders the recipe for poppyseeds and blackforest ham came up. Is it the same temperature and time in the oven? This is 6 slices of cheese the other recipe cuts off and shows 4 1/2 slices. Can you post the full recipe of the Pretzel Hawaiian Bread?
Angela G. says
Hi Jeanine, hereโs the link to the pretzel roll recipe: https://www.mightymrs.com/ham-cheese-pretzel-hawaiian-sliders/
Faith says
How do you reheat leftovers??
Angela G. says
Wrap leftover slider(s) in foil and bake in a toaster oven at 350ยฐ for 5-7 minutes or until heated through.
Tarah says
Did you switch up the recipe?โฆnoticed the poppy seeds werenโt on the ingredient list, so Iโm paranoid Iโm looking at the wrong recipe since I know I used poppy seeds the last time I made this. Sorry Iโm pregnant and a need my slider fix๐
Angela G. says
Tarah, you are correct! My website glitched and it was pulling in a similar slider recipe I have that uses Hawaiian pretzel rolls (no poppy seeds). So, thank you for saying something. I was able to fix it and restored the original recipe that does indeed include poppy seeds. Enjoy those sliders and feed that growing baby! Congrats! ๐
Tara says
I made these with Lewis Keto Hawaiian Rolls!
Angela G. says
What a great idea for keto. How were they?
Colleen says
Made this for the first time and our family LOVED them! I've already added this recipe to my Favorite Recipes book as it will most definitely be a regular for us.
I didn't have poppy seeds so substituted Everything bagel seasonings. Still think I'll try it with the poppy seeds to see which way we like better.
Rachel says
Do you use foil, Pam, or nothing for underneath of the sliders?
Angela G. says
Hi Rachel, no need to line or grease the pan. Thanks for asking. Enjoy!
K says
If I make them a few hours before then refrigerate them how long in the 350 oven?
Angela G. says
If youโre putting them straight into the oven from the fridge you probably just need to add 2-3 minutes to the cook time.
Sherry Lynn Buikema says
What cheese can you use as a substitute never seen or heard of that cheese
Angela G. says
Hi Sherry, You can find Havarti cheese, already sliced in most grocery stores. It's not a super popular cheese so there's usually just one brand that carries it. If you can't find it though, then you can use Swiss cheese instead. Or white American. Thanks for asking. Enjoy!
Candice says
Third time making these. So easy and the entire family loves them. Thank you for sharing!
Angela G. says
Hi Candice, so glad you guys are enjoying them!
Michaela Saxbury says
What can you use instead of onion powder?
Angela G. says
You could use garlic powder or any other onion you might have if you just donโt have the powder version. For example, you could used dried minced onion or finally diced fresh onion and grind either one down to a paste or fine power of using a mortar and pestle. You can also just leave out the onion all together if youโre not a fan of onion.
KarenB says
Is there a sub for Dijon mustard? While I love it, when I made sliders last time, my husband hated them because of the Dijon
Angela G. says
You can just leave the Dijon mustard out altogether! Or, if you want a more mild mustard flavor, you could try a few dashes of mustard powder.
Nancy McCurdy says
Can you make ahead and freeeze!
Angela G. says
Hi Nancy, yes you can prep these and freeze these sliders. Some tips: don't melt the butter all the way when you make the sauce for the tops of the rolls. It will freeze better if you use room temperature butter. When you're ready to heat and eat these, you can let them thaw then bake as directed. OR bake directly from frozen, just make sure to cover with foil and add approximately 5-10 minutes to the bake time as needed to get the cheese melted and buns golden brown in color.
Angelle says
I followed this recipe exactly (except for the poppy seeds). I also doubled it. Turned out perfect!
Ila says
Is there a substitute for Worcestershire sauce?
Angela G. says
If you're not a fan of Worcestershire sauce, you can just leave it out or try using soy sauce instead.
Heather says
@Ila, I use Herbes de Provence vinegar from my local olive oil and Vinegar store. It gives it a great flavor.
Ashlee says
Is it supposed to be 1/2 pound of ham or a whole pound? The 1/1 is confusing me. Makes me think it might be a typo.
Angela G. says
Ashlee, I can't believe no one's ever noticed that before. Thank you! It should be 1/2 lb. Fixed. Appreciate you pointing that out.
Destiny says
It was easy to follow, loved how mine turned out. I didnโt put add a couple ingredients to it but added a couple more of my own! They weโre yummy!!
Angela G. says
Yours turned out awesome, Destiny! Great job! Glad you enjoyed this slider recipe and thanks for sharing a pic. ๐