What goes with Ham and Cheese Sliders? I am sharing what to serve with ham and cheese sliders, more than 37 of the best sides! Plus answering the question, can you freeze ham and cheese sliders?
There is nothing much better than ham and cheese sliders aka Funeral Sandwiches, salty ham paired with Swiss cheese and topped with a buttery savory sauce and sometimes topped with poppy seeds!
This popular recipe can be a complete meal with delicious side dishes, from creamy macaroni salad to crisp and refreshing apple coleslaw to cheesy potatoes to homemade potato chips! No matter your preference, diet, or occasion, this list has a side dish for you!
Oh and if you are searching for more ways to use leftover honey baked ham, you have to check out this post!
Delicious and Easy Ham and Cheese Sliders
You may know them as Ham and Cheese Sliders or Funeral Sandwiches, but my family knows them best as Hammy Sammies! This easy recipe takes only 30 minutes and uses simple ingredients, including soft and sweet King’s Hawaiian Rolls.
Simple Ingredients for Ham Sliders
- Hawaiian Sweet Rolls are the typical basis for ham and cheese sliders, but get creative and use pretzel sliders, brioche slider buns, or, if you can find them, keto or gluten-free slider buns.
- Ham – You need ham, use holiday leftover ham, honey baked ham, black forest ham, Hawaiian ham — you get the idea! Use your favorite!
- Cheese – The classic is ham and Swiss cheese, which is my personal favorite, but you can also use your favorite cheese! Try sharp cheddar, Havarti, Provolone cheese or your favorite melting cheese, Gruyere or Emmenthaler would also be amazing!
- Butter Sauce—The warm, buttery, savory sauce poured on top of Hawaiian roll sliders is what sets them apart! My recipe has butter, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard. Some recipes also have poppy seeds.
How to Make The Best Ham and Cheese Sliders
Start by preheating the oven to 350° F (175° C) and prepping a pan. Slice the Hawaiian Sweet Rolls in half and layer the deli ham slices on top, followed by the cheese, and replace the top half of the rolls.
Make the buttery sauce by whisking the melted butter and other ingredients together in a saucepan or small bowl. Then, pour the butter mixture on top of the rolls, brushing to coat all sides.
Cover with aluminum foil, and bake in the preheated oven, removing the foil after 20 minutes and baking an additional 10 minutes Once the cheese is melted and the rolls are golden brown, serve the ham sliders fresh and hot, or let them cool to room temperature.
Check out my easy recipe for the full instructions and more!
Make Ahead Ham and Cheese Sliders
The original recipe I have from over 22 years ago was to make these sliders, add the sauce, cover them with plastic wrap, and allow them to “marinate” for four hours or at least overnight in the fridge before baking. So if you want to make them ahead of time, assemble them, sauce and all and refrigerate until ready to bake.
Can You Freeze Ham and Cheese Sliders?
Yes! You can prepare the sliders up until the point of baking. Make sure the dish is completely cooled. Then cover well with plastic wrap and wrap again with aluminum foil. Write Ham and Cheese Sliders on the foil, a reminder to remove the plastic wrap and heating instructions – freeze up to 3 months.
To bake, thaw the sandwiches overnight in the fridge. Preheat the oven to 350° F (175° C) and remove the plastic wrap, recover with foil. Bake 20 minutes, remove foil and finish up 5-10 minutes until browned on top and melted!
Fresh Tips
- I’ve made a ton of sliders over the years, and these are my top tips when making this crowd-pleaser!
- Use a serrated knife to slice the buns in half horizontally and slice the bottom half of the rolls slightly thicker than the top buns to prevent fogginess.
- Brush that savory butter mixture all over the rolls, not just on the tops. Get the sides, edges, and more!
What to Serve with Ham and Cheese Sliders?
I’ve got so many great recipe ideas for you, I’m breaking them down into salads, potatoes and other side dishes to serve with Ham and Cheese Sliders!
10 Best Salads for Ham Sliders
A side salad is the perfect accompaniment for these cheesy sliders to keep the meal light and refreshing. These tasty salad recipes also work as one of multiple sides when serving a crowd or making the menu for a family holiday feast or game day!
#1 | Romaine Wedge Salad
This fresh salad pile, adorned with creamy dressing, melds diverse textures and flavors. With crisp romaine, succulent cherry tomatoes, zesty red onion, candied pecans, salty bacon bits, and tangy blue cheese crumbles, it’s anything but bland. Finished with a creamy blue cheese dressing, it’s a homemade rendition of a steakhouse-quality salad.
#2 | Apple Coleslaw
With a few simple, fresh ingredients and just 10 minutes, you can make this easy apple coleslaw recipe, perfect for BBQs, weeknight dinners, serving a crowd, and a delicious side for this cheese sliders recipe!
# 3 | Carrot Raisin Salad
Each bite is bursting with flavor! From sweet pineapples, carrots, and raisins to a creamy and tangy mayo-vinegar dressing, it’s the perfect no-cook veggie side dish in under 10 minutes.
#4 | Avocado Corn Salad
Enjoy summer in a bowl! This avocado corn salad is packed with fresh ingredients and tossed in a bright, tangy, homemade lime dressing. It’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan, making it the perfect side dish to bring to your next family event or holiday dinner!
#5 | Columbia Restaurant’s 1905 Salad
Finding a salad recipe that everyone will love can be challenging, but this crisp iceberg lettuce salad tossed with juicy tomatoes, olives, baked ham, Swiss cheese, and Romano cheese is the best crowd-pleasing salad out there! It’s inspired by the massive family-style salad from the Columbia restaurant, which beats the boring salad stereotype.
#6 | Broccoli Salad
Looking for a healthier side to pair with these cheesy ham sliders? This broccoli salad brings all the flavor with fewer calories. The cranberries add a touch of sweetness to cut the bitterness of the fresh broccoli, and the sunflower seeds have a satisfying crunchy texture.
#7 | Marinated Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion Salad
Marinated in vinegar, seasonings, sugar, and quality olive oil, the cucumber, tangy red onion, juicy tomatoes, and fresh herbs burst with flavor in every little bite! It’s even better when chilled overnight, making it an excellent and easy make-ahead dish for an upcoming event, like an Easter lunch or a summer BBQ.
#8 | Caesar Salad
A classic Caesar salad is the way to go if you’re looking for something simple that everyone will love. This easy recipe makes the Caesar dressing and crunchy croutons from scratch, giving it an extra homemade touch and fresh flavor.
#9 | Simple Spinach Salad
Ham and cheese sliders aren’t necessarily considered ‘nutritious.’ So this easy spinach, red onion, and crouton salad is a great way to round out the meal and keep lunch light.
#10 | Italian Chopped Salad
Enjoy this delicious Italian chopped salad with your next slider meal, it’s a hearty and delicious salad with an amazing Zesty Italian Dressing.
8 Potato Salads and Pasta Salads to Serve with Hawaiian Roll Sliders
Pasta and potato salads are always a hit at holidays, backyard cookouts, potlucks, and other occasions! They are easy to make and full of flavor, making them an excellent choice for serving with cheesy sliders.
#1 | Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
A quick, easy, and vibrant Ranch Pasta salad filled with chicken and bacon for a kick of protein. This pasta salad is always a winner with sliders!
#2 | Bacon Macaroni Salad
Bacon fanatics will swoon over this bacon macaroni salad tossed with creamy and tangy balsamic ranch dressing! This lighter and fresher macaroni salad recipe is a delicious break from standard mayo-based recipes.
#3 | Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Macaroni salad is always a crowd-pleaser, and this easy recipe is no exception! This traditional tropical Hawaiian macaroni salad is dressed in a mayonnaise-based dressing with tangy apple cider vinegar and brown sugar for sweetness. The combination of shredded carrots, green onions, celery, and other fresh ingredients makes it irresistible!
#4 | Herbed Summer Corn Pasta Salad
Fresh herbs, sweet sauteed corn kernels, and flavorful feta cheese combine to form a scrumptious pasta salad perfect for summer. It takes less than 30 minutes to make and is always a hit!
#5 | Herbed Potato Salad
Herbed potato salad gets its fresh flavor from the vinaigrette dressing– No eggs and no mayonnaise! Just chop the fresh herbs, combine the dressing ingredients, boil the potatoes, and toss it all together.
#6 | Easy Potato Salad
If you’re looking for a classic potato salad recipe, this one is for you! You can’t go wrong with a pot of boiled eggs, tender gold potatoes, creamy mayonnaise, chives, and mustard. Plus, this potato salad recipe includes diced dill pickles for extra flavor!
#7 | Ramen Noodle Salad
With three packets of budget-friendly ramen noodles and a list of more fresh and delicious ingredients, including mandarin oranges, almonds, and bell peppers, you can make a unique and irresistible pasta salad easier than ever before!
#8 | Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
Tender sweet potatoes sprinkled with bacon? Yes, please! Toss the roasted potatoes in a tangy maple syrup-based dressing with a hint of heat from diced jalapenos for a delicious, spicy, sweet balance.
9 Delicious Potato Side Recipes for Cheesy Ham Sliders
For a heartier meal, potatoes are perfect! Serve any of the following potato recipes with my ham and cheese sliders, and you’re sure to please your dinner guests.
#1 | Steak Fries
Skip the soggy, freezer-burnt oven fries and make these easy steak fries in the Air Fryer. Crispy on the outside and tender inside, these fries are tossed with cheesy garlic parmesan and parsley flakes and take less than 30 minutes to make!
#2 | Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes
Perhaps the only better side dish than a loaded baked potato with crispy skin and a tender inside is a hassle-back potato with slices to hold all the delicious flavor! Cooking these potatoes in the Air Fryer gives you a perfectly golden and crisp outside with a fluffy potato inside.
#3 | Loaded Tater Tots
Around here, they’re known as tachos! This is a tasty side dish or appetizer loaded with all your favorite nacho toppings piled on top of crispy tater tots. They’re great for date night or an easy weeknight dinner.
#4 Garlic Butter Hasselback Potatoes Air Fryer
Made in the air fryer, these crispy hasselback garlic butter potatoes are a great and inspiring side dish!
#5 | Louisiana Voodoo Fries
Who else is a fan of Wingstop Voodoo Fries? I certainly am, and this recipe allows me to enjoy making these irresistible cheesy Cajun french fries in just 30 minutes in my very own kitchen. It’s impossible not to sneak a couple before finalizing and serving the dish!
#6 | Sweet Potatoes and Broccoli
Go healthier with your sliders with this 30 minute Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Broccoli!! It’s so delish!
#7 | Poutine Home Fries
Wow your dinner or lunch guests with this unique, Canadian dish that takes typical home fries to the next level with a rich poutine gravy and delicious cheese curds.
#8 | Air Fryer Parmesan Truffle Fries
The blend of nutty parmesan cheese and rich truffle oil is just plain addictive! Dress up your plain homemade french fries with this iconic topping, and there’s no going back!
#9 | Air Fryer Potato Chips
Potato chips are a classic side dish for ham and cheese sliders. But sometimes, grabbing a bag of potato chips from the store just won’t cut it. Instead, make these easy and delicious potato chips in the Air Fryer. It produces the crispiest and most flavorful potato chips you’ll ever try!
4 Corn Side Dishes to Serve with Easy Ham Sliders
Nothing complements the natural sweetness of ham and sweet Hawaiian rolls more than sugary-sweet corn. Corn side dishes are excellent options to serve with ham and cheese sliders. Below are some of my favorite corn recipes, from sweet and savory to a kick of heat!
#1 | Corn Chowder
Bring Panera to your kitchen with this copycat Summer Corn Chowder recipe. It’s easy to make, gluten-free, nutritious, and, of course, absolutely delicious!
#2 | Jalapeno Corn Casserole
Creamy Jalapeno Corn Casserole has the perfect balance of spicy and sweet. It’s easy to make with only 10 minutes of prep and doubles as a dip!
Cheddar Jalapeno Corn Casserole + Dip Recipe
#3 | Corn Casserole
This corn casserole is made in a jiffy without the Jiffy Cornbread mix! Skip the added preservatives and make creamy and sweet corn pudding entirely from scratch– No sour cream, no corn muffin mix, and no creamed corn. Try this crockpot corn casserole version too!
#4 | Three-Cheese Hot Mexican Corn Dip
Looking for the perfect combination of cheesy, spicy, and sweet flavors? This Mexican corn dip is for you! The complex flavor uses simple ingredients and only takes a little over 30 minutes to assemble.
6 Other Tasty Side Dishes for Hot Ham and Cheese Sliders
#1 | Smoked Mac and Cheese
The only way homemade mac and cheese could get any better is when it’s smoked! And you don’t even need a smoker to get delicious smokey flavor. It’s easy to make ahead and freezer-friendly for convenience!
#2 | Charcuterie Cups to Go
To-go charcuterie cups? It just makes sense! Serve these individual, portable appetizers and skip the boards and cheese knives. It’s an easy recipe to customize and make your own, but I love the combination of fresh and juicy green grapes, crunchy nuts, crisp crackers, salty olives, various cheeses, cured meats, and a few veggies sprinkled in.
#3 | Crudite dip and veggies
If you’ve been searching for the ultimate crudite dip to serve at your next gathering or holiday feast, look no further! This dip has a creamy base of yogurt with a variety of herbs and tangy red wine vinegar– Yum!
If you’re more of a fruit-lover, try my easy three-ingredient Cream Cheese Fruit Dip!
#4 | Easy Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
If you were thinking of serving classic french fries with the mini ham and cheese sandwiches, try these instead! In under 30 minutes, make these garlic and parmesan guilt-free fries coated in crunchy seasoned bread crumbs.
#5 | Crispy Fried Pickles
This recipe from Noshing with the Nolands makes the best fried pickles I’ve ever had! All you need are four simple ingredients and less than 20 minutes to make these crispy, crunchy, golden-brown fried pickles.
#6 | Pineapple Casserole
Have you ever tried a pineapple casserole? It’s a classic southern dish that you will love beyond your wildest dreams!
How to store leftover ham and cheese sliders
Cool completely, then place leftover ham sliders in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-5 days. These ham and swiss sliders are delicious hot or cold, but we prefer these mini sandwiches hot.
You might be wondering if you can freeze ham and cheese sliders? And the answer is a resounding yes! Sliders freeze wonderfully! Check out how to freeze them here.
How to rewarm sliders
My favorite way to reheat sliders is to return them to the oven, the microwave tends to make the soft Hawaiian rolls tough, so if possible avoid the microwave. Preheat the oven to 350° F and spray a baking dish with a little spray oil, place leftover sliders inside and cover with foil. Bake for about 15-20 minutes until warm and cheese has gotten gooey!
More Easy Slider Recipes
If you love these crowd-pleasing sliders, try more like them! I have several similar slider recipes made easily with Hawaiian rolls and simple ingredients:
- BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders
- BBQ Pulled Chicken Sliders
- Baked Reuben Sliders Sandwich Recipe
- Easy Roast Beef Sliders
- Philly Cheesesteak Sliders
- Quick and Easy Pizza Sliders
- Baked Meatball Sliders
- Cheeseburger Sliders
I hope you loved discovering what goes with ham and cheese sliders — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest? Be sure to comment below!
Paula
Sooo many delicious options! I’m excited to try the onion cucumber salad!
Doesn’t that one look amazing!
Lisa
Great roundup…lots of fantastic ideas for sides! Thank you!
Thanks so much!
Ned
These sides are perfection! Thank you for collecting them in the same place for me!
Thanks so much!!
Sheila
So many delicious side ideas for a tasty slider meal all collected in one place — thank you!
Thank you so much Sheila!!