Perfect Football Food Appetizers: Ham & Cheese Sliders

Looking for perfect football food appetizers for game day fun? These ham and cheese sliders hit every mark: prep ahead, feed a crowd, and vanish fast. The secret’s in the buttery topping that transforms basic sandwiches into addictive party food. I tested these eight times to nail the exact baking time – 25 minutes total gives you melted cheese without burning the tops.

At-a-Glance

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 24 sliders
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best For: Game day parties, potlucks, quick dinners

Why This Works

• Hawaiian rolls stay soft inside but get perfectly toasted on top
• Brown sugar and butter create a caramelized finish
• Poppy seeds and dried onion add crunch and savory depth
• Make-ahead friendly: assemble up to 8 hours before baking

Ingredients & Smart Swaps

Base Recipe:

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
• 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
• 1 pound Hawaiian rolls
• 1 pound deli ham
• 1 pound Swiss cheese

Smart Substitutions:

• Rolls: Regular dinner rolls work, but avoid sourdough (too chewy)
• Cheese: Provolone or Havarti melt beautifully
• Ham: Turkey or roast beef (adjust salt in topping)
• Dried onion: 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
• Brown sugar: Honey (use 1 1/2 tablespoons)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Mix melted butter, brown sugar, Dijon, Worcestershire, poppy seeds, and dried onion until smooth.
3. Slice rolls horizontally (keep connected). Place bottom half in dish.
4. Layer: half the ham, all cheese, remaining ham. Add roll tops.
5. Pour butter mixture evenly over rolls. Watch edges – they need coverage.
6. Cover with foil. Bake 15 minutes.
7. Remove foil. Bake 10 more minutes until tops are golden brown and cheese bubbles.
8. Let rest 2 minutes. Cut and serve hot.

Pro Tips & Common Mistakes

• Don’t skip the foil first – it prevents burning
• Keep rolls connected while cutting – much faster
• Pat ham and cheese dry – prevents soggy bottoms
• Press down gently before baking – helps layers stick
• Let butter mixture cool slightly – prevents roll soaking

Storage, Freezing & Reheating

Store leftovers covered in fridge up to 3 days. Reheat at 325°F for 10 minutes, covered.

Freeze unbaked sliders without butter mixture up to 1 month. Thaw overnight, add topping, then bake as directed. Like our ultimate potato soup, these reheat beautifully.

Variations

• Pizza Style: Pepperoni, mozzarella, Italian seasoning
• Club: Turkey, bacon, cheddar (like mini party finger foods)
• French Dip: Roast beef, provolone, au jus for dipping
• Breakfast: Ham, egg, cheese (prep like our quick seafood stew – make ahead, finish fresh)

FAQ

Can I make these ahead?

Yes. Assemble up to 8 hours ahead. Keep butter mixture separate until baking.

Why are my bottoms soggy?

Pat meat and cheese dry first. Don’t add butter mixture until just before baking.

Can I use regular sandwich bread?

No. It’s too soft and falls apart. Stick with Hawaiian rolls or firm dinner rolls.

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Perfect Football Food Appetizers: Ham & Cheese Sliders

These ham and cheese sliders are the perfect game day appetizers, easy to make ahead, crowd-pleasing, and finished with a buttery topping that turns simple sandwiches into delicious party food.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings 24 sliders

Equipment

• 9×13 Baking Dish
• Oven

Ingredients

  

Main

• 1/2 cup butter melted
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
• 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
• 1 pound Hawaiian rolls
• 1 pound deli ham
• 1 pound Swiss cheese

Instructions

 

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
• Mix melted butter, brown sugar, Dijon, Worcestershire, poppy seeds, and dried onion until smooth.
• Slice rolls horizontally (keep connected). Place bottom half in dish.
• Layer: half the ham, all cheese, remaining ham. Add roll tops.
• Pour butter mixture evenly over rolls. Watch edges – they need coverage.
• Cover with foil. Bake 15 minutes.
• Remove foil. Bake 10 more minutes until tops are golden brown and cheese bubbles.
• Let rest 2 minutes. Cut and serve hot.

Keyword cheese, game day, Ham, Party, Sliders