In this Brown Sugar Hawaiian Roll Ham Sliders recipe, the sweet rolls are cut in half and stuffed with a thick layer of sliced ham and cheddar cheese before being brushed with a sweet and spicy brown sugar glaze and baked. In other words, it’s heaven on a plate!
Easy Baked Ham and Cheese Sliders
These deliciously sweet and spicy Hawaiian roll ham sliders are an irresistible crowd-pleaser, making them ideal for picnics, parties, and tailgating. Plus, they’re super easy to put together and will be ready in no time!
The glaze is what makes this dish! It’s a balanced mix of dry mustard, butter, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Then, the ham and cheese sliders are baked until the cheese is soft and melty. They make a full dish on its own, but they also go great on the side with cheese boards, stuffed jalapeños, roasted asparagus, fried pickles, or onion.
My Aunt’s Famous Hawaiian Ham Sliders
We recently joined my aunt, cousin, and family up at their lovely summer cottage on Joe’s Pond in Danville, Vermont, for a long weekend. The summer home has been in my extended family for as long as I can remember — maybe even before I was born — and it holds many sweet memories through the years. We held family reunions there, and our various families rented cottages around the lake.
During the day, we’d hike, fish, sail, water ski, chat and play tennis. In the evenings, we’d gather for meals at a different cottage each night, often taking canoes, motorboats, or kayaks across the pond to get there. A highlight of spending time with my extended family is always the excellent food. My mom, aunts, and cousins seem to instinctively know how to make wonderfully delicious meals with fresh ingredients that feed multitudes. It must be in the genes.
This past summer was no exception. Up at the cottage, we were treated to a number of scrumptious new recipes, including this recipe for Brown Sugar Hawaiian Roll Ham Sliders with Vermont Cheddar that I’m sharing with you today!
Key Ingredients
This Baked Hawaiian Roll Ham and Cheese Sliders recipe is twofold — the sandwiches and the glaze.
For the sandwiches, you’ll need: King’s Hawaiian Rolls (24 total), sliced Vermont Cheddar cheese (or your preferred cheddar variety), and thinly sliced deli ham.
For the glaze, you’ll need: 1 cup of melted butter, brown sugar (light or dark), poppy seeds, dry mustard powder, and Worcestershire sauce.
How To Make Baked Ham and Cheese Sliders
- Preheat your oven to 365 degrees F.
- Then, while the oven is preheating, split the Hawaiian rolls horizontally on two equal parts.
- Next, build your sandwiches. Start by placing the bottom half of the rolls into a prepared 10×15 inch pan. Then, layer the sliced ham on the bottom, and the cheese over the ham. Then, top the other part of the sliders with the remaining half of bread. Repeat for all 24 sandwiches.
- Then, prepare the sweet and savory glaze by mixing the brown sugar, dry mustard, Worcestershire sauce, butter, and poppy seeds together in a small bowl until combined.
- Brush the tops of the rolls with the glaze, and cover the sliders with aluminum foil. Bake for 25 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for another 5-10 minutes uncovered.
- Serve hot, and enjoy!
Tips
- It’s best to use a 10×15 pan, as directed. Two packages of King’s Hawaiian rolls fit perfectly in that size pan. I tried to get away with using two differently sized pans on my first attempt. It didn’t work well because there was extra space in each pan, and the sauce ran into the extra pan space, rather than absorbing into the sandwiches. (On my second attempt, I bought the 10 X 15″ Pyrex pan at Bed, Bath and Beyond (using a 20% off coupon, of course) — and it was fairly inexpensive.)
- I had good luck using both a serrated bread knife and a serrated electric knife to cut the rolls in half horizontally. You don’t want to smush them or deflate them.
- Slice through the baked sandwiches with kitchen shears or a sharp high-quality knife for clean portions.
Variations
- Not a fan of ham? You can use any deli meat you like! Turkey or chicken would be delicious.
- Add some bacon for more pork flavor!
- Swap out the cheese! Provolone, Swiss, or Gouda would be great.
- Top with sesame seeds or even thinly sliced almonds as well as poppy seeds for more subtle nutty flavor in each bite.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or thinly sliced green onions for more flavor and color.
More Recipes To Try
- Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole
- Savory Ham and Cheese Pancakes
- Easy Ham and Cheese Stuffed Crescents
- Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeño
- Classic BLT Sandwich
Brown Sugar Hawaiian Roll Ham Sliders (w/VT Cheddar)
Ingredients
Sandwiches:
- 2 packages King's Hawaiian Rolls 24 rolls
- 1 pound VT cheddar cheese sliced
- 2 pounds ham thinly sliced
Brown Sugar Sauce
- 1 cup butter melted
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1 tablespoon dry mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°.
- Split rolls in half.
- Fit bottom halves into a lightly greased 4 quart, 10" X 15" Pyrex dish.
- Layer ham, then cheese onto bottoms.
- Finish off with roll tops and set aside.
- Whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, poppy seeds, dry mustard and Worcestershire sauce.
- Pour/brush mixture evenly over tops of sandwiches.
- Cover very tightly with foil.
- (At this point can refrigerate overnight if needed.)
- Bake covered at 325° for 25 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes until golden brown.
- Serve immediately.
Christy Smith says
YUM!! Your flashback story brought back lovely memories of time spent with dear family members on The Pond. Your description of this delicious lunch, brunch or after school sandwich made me add the ingredients to my shopping list. Hot, Cheesy and Delicious!
Allie says
Dear Christy, I am at THE POND now. The only thing is missing is YOU, and these fantastic sliders. Other than that, all is excellent. XOXO
Susie Mandel says
These look really yummy, and I so agree that your family has a beautiful ability to feed lots of people…and with so much love. 🙂 I will definitely need to “invest” in another kitchen tool!
Allie says
Susie, thank you my friend. I hope we will be able to enjoy these delicious sliders together one day. <3
Adina says
I am so glad you had such a wonderful summer, the time spent at the cottage sounds like a dream. 🙂 And these ham sliders!!! I have never had anything like it, well, this kind of bread is not something I could buy in Germany, but I am already thinking what kind of bread I could use instead or if I should bake my own. I imagine this bread to be very soft, a bit like hamburger buns maybe?
Allie says
Hi Adina – thank you so much. I’m reading your comment while I’m back here in VT at the cottage with my mom, aunt and cousin. We’re having a sweet girls time together. The weather is cool, but we are still able to get out for walks on the rail trail near the pond, and we are enjoying our meals together. I do hope you enjoy these sliders. Yes, these are soft, somewhat squishy buns. And sweet. I make a Portuguese sweet bread that reminds me of what these Hawaiian slider rolls taste like. Around here, you can buy these Hawaiian buns in the grocery store just like you’d buy a hamburger or hotdog buns, which makes them very easy and convenient to make. I hope all is well there with you and your family and you are transitioning into fall beautifully. I am a few hours north of where I live in NH, so the leaves are starting to change a bit, but the color peak will not be until the first week or two of October. XO
Carol says
I have recently made a board on Pinterest”-delicious sandwiches “, This will be my latest and most welcome addition to that board. What a great idea and I will be trying to get good results making a smaller batch for fewer guests, too.
I would not be held responsible for eating several of these at a time,though. That sauce just looks so delicious. Even without the meat in these rolls I would enjoy them, this just looks that good.
I was trying to figure out what type of cheese will work best, I am hoping to find some from your area in our local supermarket, as there is quite a lovely and vast selection to choose from.
So glad to hear that you had a great summer, Allie. You really deserve all the happiness, and I hope that fall brings all sorts of great things your way, and this just never stops.
I am hoping this goes through, considering all the trouble I am having sending messages.xoxo
Allie says
Hi Carol – YES!!! I got your message here, YAY and thank you. I hope you love these sliders too. Thank you so much for your encouraging words, it’s always great to hear from you. I’m so thankful for a great summer, thank you. As you know we’ve had some pretty tough ones in recent years, so this was just wonderful to have a little breather and be able to enjoy it. We weren’t moving and we had some respite help with Hudson, so that has been a game changer. Have a great week my friend! XO
Shashi at SavorySpin says
Allie, I was wondering about you just yesterday and I am so glad to hear y’all are having a wonderful summer! Your summer getaway is my idea of perfect summer memories and I don’t blame Charlie for loving these rolls so much! Gosh these are sure to be a hit! My daughter has been toying around with opening a club at her college and if she sees these delightfully butter sweet and savory Hawaiian roll sliders, she might just think of having a food club where people bring and share different food – hmmm.. now Ive gotta figure out how I could crash their get togethers if she does go ahead with it.
Happy Wednesday, sweet friend! xoxo
Marcellina says
Fantastic recipe! I love the idea of the sweet/savoury butter all over the buns. This taste ham and cheese to the next level!
Kathy says
These look sooo delicious, and easy, Allie! I plan on making them– thanks for sharing!
Tracy says
Allie, these ham and cheese delicacies look SO good! They seem very versatile. Make them for your family meal, to bring to a party, football gathering or just to snack on. I will definitely be making these tasty morsels!! I want to compliment you on the beautiful photography in this post. You are just great at food photography!! Wow!!
Tracy says
I love hearing about your special memories of growing up. The Vt. cottage sounds just lovely. Thanks for sharing!!
Karla Holley | Moderate Home says
We have these at our family reunion every year and they are a hit!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
I’m sharing this recipe with our son. He always makes sliders with leftover honey baked ham the day after Thanksgiving. I know he will enjoy this version.
Megan K says
Made these today & they were a huge hit with our entire family. Serves a large bunch which is so convenient. The sandwiches had such a great flavor. This will definitely go in my recipe file. Thanks so much.
Allie says
Hey Megan, so glad! Today I actually brought these ham sliders to a friend who just had a hip replacement, along with some Maple Pumpkin Bisque (just published here on the blog.) It was a nice combination for fall. Many thanks for dropping by.
Sumit says
Soulful . Keep sharing more delicious recipes with us.
Janet says
Hi Megan, Could you please tell me what VT cheese is….and if I don’t have that, what would a good substitute be? I just ate these at a Baby Shower and they were so delicious!! Thanks so much!!
Allie says
Hi Janet – VT Cheddar cheese is just cheese made in VT. You can honestly use any sharp cheddar cheese in this recipe. But since I’m in New England and biased lol, I’m partial to cheddar cheese made locally. I especially enjoy the cheddar cheese made at Cabot Creamery in Cabot, VT. Artisan Reserve Cheddar Cheese is my favorite Cabot cheddar cheese, aged for three years, a real treat!!! 🙂 Sure hope you enjoy these sandwiches. Allie
Janice says
This looks so delicious~ cheese + ham for a great breakfast. I also like the way poppy seeds was add, I though it’s sesame seeds.
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Brenda says
I do these but I chop my ham and use grated cheese. Works really well.
Martha says
Hi from Nelson, NH,
Making these ‘again’ for dinner. We love them!
Dionalyn says
I used your recipe for lunch today. 3 out of four loved it, other one didn’t like the garlic I added to the butter. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Allie says
So glad you enjoyed it, 3 out of 4 ain’t bad! 🙂 I need to make these again, my crew loves them.
Cyndi says
Are you sure you don’t mean 1 stick of butter? The first time I followed the recipe the sandwiches were drowning in butter. This time I cut back to 1 stick (1/2) and it came out perfect.
taylor kilian says
If you cant slice the rolls apart to make sandwiches Kings hawaiian makes a sub roll that is pre cut….
Debbie says
Excellent recipe! I thought my husband was going to eat the whole pan!