Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders Recipe

These Hawaiian ham and cheese sliders are out of this world! Maybe you’ve had ham and Swiss buns before, but never like this.

When I lived in Virginia, my roommate made the best ham sliders I ever tasted. She called them “ham biscuits,” but they weren’t made with mini buns, not biscuits.

Instead, they’re made with dinner rolls or — my favorite — Hawaiian rolls. The sweetness of Hawaiian bread is so, so good! My husband is still talking about them two weeks later!

My roommate didn’t have a recipe — just a little of this, a little of that and whatever was on hand. I’ve given quantities in the recipe below, but feel free to adjust to your liking.

If you’re a meat eater, feel free to add more ham or vice versa. If you’re not a Swiss cheese fan, Monterrey Jack, Havarti, or white cheddar would be delicious here as well.

These Hawaiian ham and cheese sliders are a terrific party appetizer, football snack, or even a light dinner. We love eating appetizers for dinner! Some of our favorites include Taco Hand Pies and Puerto Rican Tostones (crispy fried plantains!). Best of all, these sandwiches can be made ahead (either baked or unbaked) and reheat well.

They have a tropical twist with a slice of pineapple and a barbecue sauce topping that is to die for! 

I’ve found that the quickest and easiest way to make these is to leave the buns connected and slice them in half all at once. You can certainly separate each bun, slice in half, and then fill with ham cheese and pineapple if you want.

This works well if you have an assembly line going. Otherwise, it’s easiest to layer all the ingredients, place the top back on and separate the individual buns after baking.

Another little trick I have is to layer the cheese strategically so that when you bite into the sandwich, you don’t come away with all the meat, or the pineapple doesn’t slip out. So in between my layers I add a slice of cheese and it acts as a binder for the other ingredients. Nifty!

This recipe will be a hit at your next holiday celebration, and are a twist on what you might traditionally serve for Easter or Christmas in particular. But they really work any time, and we've been known to eat them for breakfast or brunch as well!

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Tip: If you aren't making these right away but already have the ingredients, make sure you know how long Hawaiian bread lasts.

Ham and Cheese Slider Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients to make these Hawaiian bread sliders:

• 12-count package Hawaiian Rolls
• 8 ounces Swiss Cheese, sliced
• 8 ounces Thinly Sliced Ham
• 1 20-ounce can Pineapple Rings, drained
• 1/4 cup Butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon Barbecue Sauce
• 1 tablespoon Mustard, any kind
• 2 tablespoons Finely Chopped Onion
• 1 teaspoon Poppy Seeds

I recommend using a white onion for this recipe. The finer you can chop it, the better, since it's going on top. You could even use a mandoline to slice the onion super thin, and then cut it into smaller pieces — this isn't essential, but it will give you the best results!

In general, a more neutral mustard will be more of a crowd-pleasing choice. You can obviously buy the Swiss cheese pre-sliced, and generally the ham as well. I recommend unsalted butter here. The BBQ sauce is flexible as well, but you might opt for Sweet Baby Ray's Hawaiian Style BBQ Sauce!

You might be tempted to skip the poppy seeds if you don't have them on hand. That's okay! But I'd just add that they really add to the visual draw of these breakfast bites or party-pleasing appetizers, and otherwise your rolls may look a little plain. Plus, of course, the poppy seeds add flavor that helps balance out the sweetness of the pineapple and bread!