Award-Winning Ham and Swiss Sliders Recipe (The Original!)

My Ham and Swiss Sliders are made with sweet Hawaiian rolls, layers of juicy ham and melty Swiss cheese, and smothered in the most delicious buttery poppy seed sauce you’ve ever tasted. Trust me, this ain’t just any ham sliders recipe—I won an award from Mr. Food for a great reason!

Ham and Swiss Sliders

Yes! It’s true. My ORIGINAL Ham and Swiss Sliders recipe won an award from Mr. Food. There may be copies of my recipe all over the Internet now, but it all started in my kitchen!

It’s seriously THAT good!

The secret? The butter sauce!

Made with melted butter, sautéed onions, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and poppy seeds, it seeps into every bite, making these savory sliders downright irresistible.

Y’all—you will LOVE these mini sandwiches. You might even want to double the recipe because you won’t be able to stop yourself from eating them all!

Why You’ll Love My Ham and Swiss Sliders Recipe

• Quick and Easy Recipe: Just a few simple ingredients and about 30 minutes, and you’ve got yourself a pan of hot ham sliders that’ll make everybody happy.
• That Butter Sauce is Pure Magic: The secret to these savory sliders? The buttery poppy seed sauce! Made with melted butter, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and sautéed onions, it seeps into the sweet Hawaiian rolls, giving them an irresistible flavor.
• Sweet, Savory & Cheesy Goodness: Between the juicy ham slices, the melted Swiss cheese, and the buttery, slightly crunchy tops of the rolls, every bite is packed with flavor. The soft dinner rolls soak up all that buttery sauce, making these mini sandwiches melt-in-your-mouth delicious!
• Perfect for Any Occasion: These ham sliders are great for weeknight dinners, but they also make a crowd-pleaser at parties, potlucks, and holiday gatherings. Need a way to use up leftover holiday ham? This is it! Just layer on those ham slices, bake ‘til golden brown, and you’ve got a meal everyone will devour.

Ham and Swiss Sliders Ingredients

• Hawaiian Sweet Rolls: Soft Hawaiian rolls are the perfect base for ham sliders. They’re light, fluffy, and just a tad bit sweet, which makes them a great way to balance out the salty ham and tangy butter sauce.
• Onion: Fresh, minced onion gives these cheese sliders an extra layer of flavor. When cooked down in melted butter, it adds a rich, slightly sweet taste to the buttery sauce.
• Stick of Butter: You can’t have buttery rolls without melted butter! The butter soaks into the top of the rolls, giving them a golden, slightly crispy finish when baked.
• Dijon Mustard: This adds just the right amount of tang to the butter mixture. It pairs perfectly with the savory ham and Swiss cheese, giving these Hawaiian ham sliders a classic, deli-style flavor.
• Worcestershire Sauce: It adds a little depth, a little saltiness, and a whole lotta flavor to the sliders.
• Poppy Seeds: Sprinkled into the butter sauce, poppy seeds add a little crunch and a touch of nutty flavor. They also make these mini sandwiches look extra fancy without any extra work!
• Sliced Ham: You can use deli ham, black forest ham, or even leftover ham—whatever you have on hand! Honey ham also works great for a touch of sweetness.
• Swiss Cheese: Swiss cheese melts beautifully and has a mild, slightly nutty taste that goes perfectly with these savory sliders. If you want to switch things up, provolone or cheddar would work too!

How to Make Ham and Swiss Sliders

Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350 degrees F so it’s good and hot when you’re ready to bake. Grab a baking pan and give it a quick spray with nonstick cooking spray to keep everything from sticking.

Prep the Rolls: Take the Hawaiian rolls and slice them all in half at once using a large serrated knife. Place the bottom half of the rolls in the greased baking dish. This makes it easier to layer everything up without your individual rolls sliding all over the place.

Make the Butter Sauce: Melt a stick of butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Toss in the minced onion and cook for about 5 minutes. Once the onions start softening, stir in the Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and poppy seeds. Let that cook for another 10 minutes until the onions are nice and tender.

Layer on the Good Stuff: Spread ¾ of the butter mixture over the bottom layer of rolls. Y’all—my mouth is watering! 

Add Ham and Cheese: Now, pile on the slices of ham. Next, add a layer of cheese using slices of Swiss cheese.

Add the Top Half of the Rolls: Carefully place the top half of the rolls over the ham and cheese. Then, spread the rest of that buttery sauce right on top. This will help the slider buns turn golden brown while baking.

Cover and Bake: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes.

Slice and Serve: Take the sliders out of the oven and use a large serrated knife to cut along the seams, making mini sandwiches.

What to Serve with Ham and Swiss Sliders

These sliders are delicious all on their own, but sometimes I like to make a side to go with them. Here are some of my faves:

• Creamy Southern Coleslaw
• Crispy Potato Wedges
• Zuchinni Tots
• Southern Potato Salad
• Crack Green Beans
• Green Bean Salad
• Broccoli Salad

How to Store Leftovers

To store leftover ham and Swiss sliders, place them in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in aluminum foil. Keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days.

When you’re ready to enjoy them again, pop them in the air fryer or oven at 350 degrees F for a few minutes until they’re warm and the tops of the rolls are crispy again.

Avoid the microwave if you want to keep the buttery sauce from making the slider buns too soft.

Print Pin

Ham and Swiss Sliders

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 1 package of 12 Hawaiian sweet rolls
• 1 large onion minced
• 1 stick of butter
• 3 heaping tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 3 teaspoons poppy seeds
• ½ pound sliced ham
• 8-10 slices Swiss cheese

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
• Melt the butter in a skillet on medium heat. Add the onions, and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and poppy seeds and cook until the onions are soft (about 10 more minutes).
• Slice the rolls in half all at once and place the bottom half in a 9×13 casserole dish. Spread on ¾ of the onion mixture; add the ham, cheese, and top half of the buns.
• Spread the remaining onion mixture on top of the buns. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes. Remove from the oven, and slice down the seams to make individual sliders.