Best Baked Funeral Sandwiches (Ham and Cheese Sliders)

Ready in about 30 minutes, these baked funeral sandwiches, also called ham and cheese sliders; we call them Hammy Sammies! Make these ham sliders with deli ham or leftover ham, Swiss cheese, King’s Hawaiian Rolls and to-die-for brown sugar, Dijon, and Worcestershire butter sauce! 

This is one of our family’s favorite recipes! Use deli sliced ham or leftover honey-baked ham. These sliders are the perfect party food; they are great for a Super Bowl Party, holiday appetizer, Easter brunch, Christmas afternoon, Father’s Day, or simply for dinner!

Reader Review

These have become a Christmas tradition. Thanks, Kathleen! ~ Tracy

Made these for a party and they were the first to go! Absolutely delicious! ~ Debra

I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, you can Jump to Recipe to head straight there!

Simple Ingredients for Ham and Cheese Sliders

• King’s Hawaiian Rolls | Sweet Hawaiian rolls are the best for these ham and cheese sandwiches, but use brioche slider buns or your favorite slider rolls; even Keto slider buns work!
• Ham | Use leftover ham, shaved ham, Hawaiian ham or deli ham; 
• Cheese | I love ham and Swiss cheese, but I use your favorite cheese!
• Sauce | For this delicious, savory sauce, we use butter, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard. 
• Poppy Seeds | These are a personal preference, I prefer not to, but use them if you love them!

By the way, if you love a delicious, gooey sandwich, you must try these Cheesesteak Sandwiches or my popular Philly Cheesesteak Sliders, so good!

What is a Funeral Sandwich?

Did you know that these hot ham and cheese sandwiches are commonly called Funeral Sandwiches?

The term “Funeral Sandwiches” is derived from their historical role as a comforting and simple-to-make food, frequently served at Southern gatherings held in memory of loved ones, potlucks, or pretty much any event that demands a speedy and delectable crowd-pleasing dish, have you tried Funeral Potatoes?

Funeral Sandwiches are a breeze, using everyday Hawaiian rolls as your base. Layering the sweet rolls with nutty Swiss cheese, add a generous portion of salty ham, and then brush it all with a sweet and zest Dijon butter mixture. It’s a flavor explosion!

How to Make Funeral Sandwiches

So how do you make these ham and cheese sliders with brown sugar? The original recipe for these funeral sandwiches has them “marinate” in the sauce for 4 hours, it can even hang out in the refrigerator overnight. But I have successfully made and baked them right away. 

Don’t be afraid that they’ll get too soggy “marinating” when they bake it creates a golden, gooey, crispy buttery crust on the bottom. Trust the reviews!

Step 1 | Preheat the Oven, Slice the Rolls

Preheat the oven to 350° F (175° C) and grease a casserole dish. Using a serrated bread knife, slice the entire pack of rolls in half. If you are worried about soggy bottom buns, slice the bottom halves of rolls thicker than the top half of the soft Hawaiian rolls. 

Step 2 | Assemble the Ham and Swiss Sliders recipe

Next, start the process for what separates the “Hawaiian Hammy Sammy” from being a plain ol’ ham and cheese sandwich.

Mix together the melted butter, and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl or saucepan. This little measuring cup is one of my favorite kitchen tools!

Whisk in the mustard; use regular, honey mustard, yellow mustard, spicy brown mustard or Dijon, your preference. 

Then, plunk the packed brown sugar into the saucepan. Bring to a simmer for a few seconds until it thickens slightly, 40-60 seconds or so, stirring while it simmers.

Spray a 13×9 baking dish with non-stick spray or line it with parchment paper and lay the bottom half of the rolls in the bottom pan. 

Layer the slices of ham on top of the bottom halves of rolls. Then layer the cheese on top of ham; you can use any type, but ham and Swiss cheese sliders are the bomb.

Place the buns on top, then brush or drizzle the sauce evenly over the Hawaiian roll sliders, brushing onto the sides and top buns. 

Cover tightly with aluminum foil that has been sprayed with non-stick spray.

Bake immediately or place in refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, bring to room temperature for 30 minutes before placing in the oven. 

Bake covered hammy sammies for 6 minutes, then uncover them for the balance of baking. Bake until you see melted cheese, hot ham, and golden brown tops. 

Let the sliders cool just slightly and serve. These are fabulous warm or room temp.

Using a long sharp knife, cut through the slider buns and serve!

The original recipe was posted in 2017, and updated for a better reader experience.

Variations and Substitutions

The sky is the limit on this classic recipe for ham sandwiches!

• Use your favorite ham, whether it’s leftover Easter ham or Christmas, honey-baked ham, or spicy ham, use your favorite. 
• Replace the cheese with your favorite flavor; try cheddar cheese, provolone, sharp cheddar, Muenster, Havarti…you get the idea. Slice it thinner so it melts easier. 
• Readers have asked if they can not put the mustard in, it doesn’t have a heavy mustard flavor, but if you prefer not to, leave it out.
• Add ½ teaspoon of garlic powder and onion powder if desired. 

Keto (Low-Carb) Ham and Cheese Sliders

I am told that Aldi’s carries great Keto slider buns, replace the Hawaiian Sweet rolls with those or your favorite brand. Load up the ham and cheese, melt butter for the sauce, and swap the brown sugar for a brown sugar replacement (I like this one). 

Gluten-Free Ham and Cheese Slider Recipe

So many options these days! Replace the sweet rolls with your favorite gluten-free slider bun, double check your mustard and Worcestershire sauce to make sure they are gluten-free (Lee & Perrins is GF) and bake away. 

Storage Tips

Store leftover funeral sandwiches in the fridge, covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container for up to three days. Freeze completely cooled funeral sliders by wrapping well in an airtight container, freeze up to 3 months. 

How to Reheat Funeral Sandwiches 

To reheat leftover sliders, preheat the oven to 350° F (175° C) and place leftover sliders in a baking dish covered with foil and bake for 5-10 minutes until they are warmed through, removing the foil for the last 3-5 minutes.

Can I keep sliders warm in a crock pot? 

Yes! Using your crock pot is a great way to keep them warm, grab-and-go style! Allow the sliders to cool for about 10 minutes, then wrap each slider individually in aluminum foil, place in a crockpot, lay some paper towels or a clean tea towel between the lid and the crock (this catches any condensation) and place the lid on, turn the slow cooker on warm.

Ham Sliders with Poppy Seeds

While most traditional recipes include poppy seeds in the buttery sauce or sprinkled on top, in this recipe, the poppy seeds are optional. If you love poppy seeds, add up to a tablespoon. Either stir into the sauce and brush on, or sprinkle on top of the Hawaiian rolls after brushing on the sauce. Bake as usual. Adds a unique crunch!

So what are you waiting for? Make the best ham and cheese sliders recipe today!

Best 15 Slider Sides

1. Coleslaw: Creamy coleslaw provides a nice contrast to the savory sliders. It’s a classic side that’s easy to prepare.
2. Potato Salad: A homemade potato salad with a tangy dressing or a creamy version can be a delightful side dish.
3. Chips: Classic potato chips or various flavored chips can add a satisfying crunch to your meal.
4. Fruit Salad: A refreshing fruit salad with a mix of seasonal fruits adds a healthy and colorful element to your plate.
5. Green Salad: Make these simple Romaine wedge salads to accompany your sliders.
6. Pickle Spears: Pickles, whether dill or bread and butter, can provide a tangy and crunchy side that complements the sliders.
7. Soup: Serve your sliders with a cup of soup like tomato soup, broccoli cheddar soup, or chicken noodle soup for a comforting combination.
8. Vegetable Platter: A platter of fresh, crisp veggies like carrot sticks, celery, and bell pepper strips with a dip, such as ranch or hummus, offers a healthy contrast to the sliders.
9. Macaroni and Cheese: A classic mac and cheese or a gourmet version can be a decadent side dish.
10. Baked Beans: A side of baked beans, whether homemade or canned, adds a hearty and flavorful component to your meal.
11. Deviled Eggs: Deviled eggs are a popular party dish and make for a delightful finger food alongside sliders.
12. Fries: Classic French fries or sweet potato fries are a favorite accompaniment to sliders.
13. Grilled Vegetables: Grilled zucchini, bell peppers, and asparagus make a tasty and healthy side dish.
14. Cheese Platter: Offer a selection of cheeses, crackers, and some fresh or dried fruits for a more upscale pairing with your sliders.
15. Dips: Various dips, such as spinach and artichoke dip, buffalo chicken dip, or guacamole with tortilla chips, can be a crowd-pleasing side option.

More Great Slider Recipes

• Easy Baked Meatball Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
• Easy Cheeseburger Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls (30 Minute Meal)
• Easy Breakfast Egg Sandwich Recipe (Breakfast Sliders)
• Roast Beef Sliders
• Easy Oven Baked Turkey and Cheese Sliders Recipe
• Philly Cheesesteak Sliders Recipe

I hope you loved this Funeral Sandwich recipe — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest? And be sure to comment below!

Hammie Sammies {Funeral Sandwiches}

Make ahead ham and Swiss sandwiches that never fail to please. Delicious! We call them Hammie Sammies or others call them Funeral Sandwiches

4.64 from 102 votes

Click stars to rate now!

Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Marinade: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 4 hours hours 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 sandwiches

Calories: 288kcal

Author: Kathleen Pope

Equipment

• ▢
  11-Inch Better Balloon Whisk
• ▢
  USA Pan Bakeware Rectangular Cake Pan, 9 x 13
• ▢
  Lodge Cast Iron Melting Pot

Ingredients

FOR THE SLIDERS

• ▢ 1 package Hawaiian Rolls 12 rolls, we like the King's sweet rolls for this, use your favorite.
• ▢ ½ lb deli ham sliced thin or use leftover ham
• ▢ ½ lb swiss cheese sliced thing (try different cheeses as well, Havarti, Cheddar, Provolone, Mozzarella)

SAUCE

• ▢ ½ cup butter melted
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon Dijon or use your favorite
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons brown sugar packed
• ▢ 1 tablespoons poppy seeds optional

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350° F (175° C) and spray 9×13" pan with non-stick spray.

  Using a serrated knife cut the rolls in half, keeping them in their "slab" form. Remove the "tops" of the rolls and set aside.
• Place the ham slices evenly over the bottom of the rolls, then repeat with the cheese. Replace the tops on the rolls, set aside to make the sauce.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan. Once melted, add Worcestershire sauce, mustard and brown sugar. Whisk well, bringing to a simmer for 30-60 seconds until thickens slightly and is bubbly. If adding, stir in poppy seeds or sprinkle on top of buttery buns.
• Pour sauce evenly over the rolls, using a pastry brush to brush the sides and cracks with the buttery sauce. Spray a piece of foil with non-stick spray and seal rolls tightly.
• Bake immediately or refrigerate for 4 – 24 hours.
• Bake with foil on for 6 minutes, then remove foil and bake for an additional 9-12 minutes until cheese is melted and rolls are slightly crusty on top. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Last step! Leave a RatingRate this recipe here. This helps other readers and helps support this website.

Video

Notes

Storage Tips

Store leftover funeral sandwiches in the fridge, covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container for up to three days. Freeze completely cooled funeral sliders by wrapping well in an airtight container freeze up to 3 months. 

Can I freeze Hammy Sammies? Yes, if already baked, allow to cool, then wrap tightly and freeze up to 3 months. Before baking, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then store in the freezer. When ready to enjoy, bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time or thaw in fridge overnight. You may add the sauce before freezing or when baking. 

Reheat Funeral Sandwiches  | To reheat leftover sliders, preheat the oven to 350° F (175° C) and place leftover sliders in a baking dish covered with foil and bake for 5-10 minutes until they are warmed through, removing the foil for the last 3-5 minutes. 

Keep Sliders warm in crockpot  |  Allow the sliders to cool for about 10 minutes, then wrap each slider individually in aluminum foil, place in a crockpot, lay some paper towels or a clean tea towel between the lid and the crock and place the lid on, turn the slow cooker on warm.  

Keto (Low-Carb) Ham and Cheese Sliders | I am told that Aldi’s carries great Keto slider buns; replace the Hawaiian Sweet rolls with those or your favorite brand. Load up the ham and cheese, melt butter for the sauce, and swap the brown sugar for a brown sugar replacement (I like this one). 

Gluten-Free Ham and Cheese Slider Recipe | Replace the sweet rolls with your favorite gluten-free slider bun, double-check your mustard and Worcestershire sauce to make sure they are gluten-free (Lee & Perrins is GF), and bake away. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1slider | Calories: 288kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 429mg | Potassium: 84mg | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 394IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 175mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Did you make my Hammie Sammies {Funeral Sandwiches}?Show it off! Share on Instagram, tag @thefreshcooky, and use the hashtag #thefreshcooky!

Tag on Insta Leave a Rating