Funeral Sandwiches Recipe (Ham and Swiss Sliders)

These Ham and Swiss Sliders, made with soft Hawaiian rolls, gooey cheese, and a buttery Dijon sauce, are a crowd favorite! Perfect for parties or quick dinners, they’ve been saved over 21,000 times. With simple ingredients and big flavor, prepped in less 15 minutes. Plus, get my make-ahead tips to make hosting even easier. Give them a try, and you’ll see why everyone loves them!

A reader, Rachel said: “This recipe is amazing, I have been making these for team dinners and church potlucks for over a year. Every single time I make these people ask for the recipe and I send them here! They are great with turkey and cheddar as well. Thank you!”

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, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!

I first tasted these ham and cheese sliders—“hammy sammies” as we like to call them—over 20 years ago when a friend brought them after I had one of my boys. Since then, I’ve made them hundreds of times, and every time, people ask for the recipe—they are that good!
Why the big deal about ham sandwiches, you ask? Well, these aren’t your typical ham sandwiches! There’s something magical about how the sweet Hawaiian rolls soak up the tangy butter sauce, creating a perfect crust that pairs beautifully with the salty ham and gooey Swiss cheese.

Are you drooling yet? You should be! Trust me, these will become your go-to for a party, game day appetizer, or a quick family dinner!
These sliders have become such a hit, I have all sorts of versions on my sight. Like these Turkey and Cheese Sliders and these Philly Cheesesteak Sliders.

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

Tracy

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

Debra

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!

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

How to Make Ham and Cheese Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls

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 best of the best — truly, just ask, anybody! .

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 10-12 minutes, then uncover them and bake an additional 10-12 minutes. 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!

Ham and Cheese Sliders Recipe Variations & 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. 

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! Or sprinkle on some Everything but the Bagel Seasoning!

How to Store Funeral Sandwiches

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 2-3 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.

Can you freeze ham and cheese sliders?

Absolutely! You can prep your ham and cheese sliders right up to the baking stage. Once they’re cool, ensure they’re properly covered with plastic wrap and then wrapped securely with aluminum foil. Don’t forget to label the foil with ‘Ham and Cheese Sliders,’ along with a note to remove the plastic wrap and instructions for heating. These sliders can be frozen for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to bake, simply thaw the sandwiches in the refrigerator overnight. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C), remove the plastic wrap, and recover them with foil. Bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes until they’re nicely browned on top and the cheese is melted to perfection! Ta-da!! A huge freezer friendly meal!

FAQs

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

What to Serve with Ham and Cheese Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls

Besides serving with some hot and crispy steak fries or potato chips, you should check out this post on what to serve with ham and cheese sliders, more than 37 delicious recipes that include salads, pasta salads, vegetables, potatoes and so much more!

More Great Slider Recipes

• Meatball Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
• Hawaiian roll sliders burger (cheeseburger sliders!)
• Breakfast Sandwich Recipes (Breakfast Sliders)
• Roast Beef Sliders
• Turkey and Cheese Sliders
• Philly Cheesesteak Sliders
• Reuben Sliders

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!