Ham and cheese sliders are an easy appetizer that always satisfy. Who can resist the combination of salty ham gooey cheese, and soft rolls? But like any leftover reheating ham and cheese sliders while preserving taste and texture can be tricky. Follow these expert tips for slide-by-side perfection every time.
A Primer on Ham and Cheese Sliders
A ham and cheese slider starts with a tender dinner roll or brioche bun. Adding a smear of butter or sauce helps keep the bread moist. Thinly sliced deli ham provides salty savor while cheese (American, cheddar Swiss or provolone) gives an indulgent ooze factor.
The small size makes sliders perfect for passing around at parties or piling high on a platter They’re easy to make in advance But once cooked or assembled, the reheating process requires some finesse.
Why Reheating Can Ruin Ham and Cheese Sliders
Improper storage and reheating can wreak havoc on ham and cheese sliders. Here’s what to watch out for:
- Dried out bread or buns
- Rubbery, overmelted cheese
- Tough, stringy ham
- Loss of flavor
The microwave often leaves the bread soggy in spots and cheese rubbery. The oven can dry sliders out quickly. Reheating fully assembled sandwiches makes it harder to revive each component.
Follow these best practices for reheating success every time.
Storing Ham and Cheese Sliders for Later
To retain quality, properly store assembled sliders in the refrigerator in an airtight container up to 2 days. For longer storage, open-face sliders keep better.
Freeze the buns and ham separately up to 2 months. Thaw refrigerated leftovers before reheating. Defrost frozen items overnight in the fridge.
Leave cheese off frozen sliders; add slices during reheating so they melt cleanly without turning rubbery.
How to Reheat Ham and Cheese Sliders
Tailor your approach depending on the number of sliders and whether you want to reheat fully or just components.
Reheating Fully Assembled Sliders
Microwave method: Heat 1-2 assembled sliders at 50% power in 30 second bursts until warmed through, about 1-2 minutes total. Rotate halfway and cover with a damp paper towel to steam.
Oven method: Preheat oven to 350°F. Place assembled sliders on a baking sheet, cover with foil, and heat 6-8 minutes until warmed through. For added crispiness, unwrap and broil 1-2 minutes at the end.
Reheating Slider Components
Buns: Bake plain buns uncovered at 300°F 2-3 minutes just to warm. Or brush with butter or oil before warming in the oven or microwave to refresh.
Cheese: Add cheese slices on top of warmed buns so it melts evenly.
Ham: Microwave deli ham separately in 10-20 seconds bursts just until warmed. Avoid overcooking.
Fully Cooked Ham: Heat cooked ham leftover from a bone-in ham in the oven or microwave. Slice and add to rolls.
Maintaining Moisture and Flavor
Prevent dried-out sliders and retain flavor with these pro tips:
- Use sauce or butter on buns before reheating.
- Cover with a damp paper towel when microwaving.
- Bake covered in the oven, then uncover at the end for crispiness.
- Brush fully cooked ham slices with glaze, honey mustard or melted butter before reheating.
- Add extra cheese slices or a cheese blend instead of overcooking original cheese.
Reheating ham and cheese sliders may seem simple. But master these methods and suggestions, and you’ll be serving crave-worthy sliders every time.
Making Hawaiian Sliders Ahead of Time
Next, carefully cut up your big “sandwich” and put it in a 9×13 dish that can go into the freezer. This will make these easy sliders ready to be frozen.
Putting them in a 9×13 baking dish lined with aluminum foil is the best way to make them right now instead of putting them in the freezer. I mean, who wouldn’t? Or use a steam table tray here, too.
Melt the butter in a small bowl, then slowly stir in the ground mustard, poppy seeds (if you are using them), and minced onions. This is the butter sauce that you will put on top of your sliders.
Spread the butter mixture over the tops of the rolls with a pastry brush or a silicone basting brush.
To get the most out of those sandwiches, don’t leave any of that delicious butter in the bowl. Use it all.
You can make these simple sliders the day before and put them in the fridge. The next day, you can bake them if you don’t have time or space to freeze them.
Ingredients for Make Ahead Sliders
There are a couple of options for this easy recipe, but let’s start with the basics.
For these make-ahead sandwiches, you’ll need:
- Hawaii sweet rolls: I’ve used both King’s Hawaiian brand sweet rolls and a few different grocery store brands, and both have worked well. I don’t recommend trying to substitute dinner rolls here though.
- deli ham – thin sliced is better. I’ve used both honey ham and black forest ham, and they both work great. If you need to use up leftover ham, you can even use slices of it.
- sliced Swiss cheese
- The honey mustard salad dressing can be made with either plain honey mustard or Dijon mustard if you like a sour taste. We just like how the salad dressing adds a little extra sweetness.
For the delicious buttery sauce on top of the rolls, you’ll need:
- melted butter
- dry minced onions
- course-ground or stone-ground mustard
- poppy seeds (optional)
Ham And Cheese Sliders In The Oven Recipe | Super Bowl Appetizers Recipes
FAQ
How to prevent sliders from getting soggy?
Can you put sliders in the air fryer?
Why are my sliders soggy?
How to make hot ham and cheese sliders?
Follow these steps to make hot ham and cheese sliders: 1. Prepare. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and grease your baking dish with cooking spray or butter. You can also slice open the buns and melt the butter. 2. Assemble the sliders. Place the bottom bun in the greased casserole dish.
How do you cook ham & cheese sliders on Hawaiian rolls?
Ham and cheese sliders on Hawaiian rolls are a must for any party! The deli ham coupled with melty Swiss cheese is impossible to resist! Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter. Slice the buns in half. Place the bottom halves in the baking dish.
How do you reheat Ham and cheese sliders?
To reheat the sliders, cover them with aluminum foil and bake in a 350°F oven just until warmed through, about 5-10 minutes. You can also reheat individual servings in the microwave for about 30-60 seconds. Make the ham and cheese sliders without poppy seeds.
How do you make Ham sliders in a crock pot?
Stir together brown sugar butter mixture. Spread a layer of the butter mixture on the top half of the rolls and on the bottom half of the rolls. Add ham and cheese, then replace the tops of the rolls. Arrange the sliders in a greased baking dish; cover with foil. Bake in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes, until the cheese and butter melt.