Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders

Essential Ingredients for Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders

Please refer to the detailed recipe card below for precise quantities and step-by-step instructions.

Key Components You’ll Need:

• Sweet Dinner Rolls (Hawaiian Rolls): These are the quintessential base for these sliders, offering a delightful touch of sweetness and a soft, pillowy texture that perfectly complements the savory fillings. Their connected nature in the package makes them easy to slice and assemble.
• Ham: Thinly sliced deli ham is ideal. You can choose from various types like honey ham, black forest ham, or even smoked ham to subtly alter the flavor profile.
• Swiss Cheese: Its nutty and slightly sweet flavor, combined with its excellent melting properties, makes Swiss cheese a classic choice for ham sliders. However, many other cheeses work beautifully as well.
• Butter: Unsalted butter is preferred, as the ham and cheese already contribute saltiness. It forms the base of our incredible glaze.
• Dijon Mustard: This adds a tangy, slightly spicy kick that cuts through the richness of the ham and cheese, providing a sophisticated depth of flavor.
• Poppy Seeds: Not just for decoration, poppy seeds add a subtle crunch and a unique, earthy flavor to the buttery topping.
• Onion Powder: A hint of onion powder in the glaze provides an aromatic layer without the texture or strong flavor of fresh onions, ensuring a smooth finish.
• Worcestershire Sauce: This secret ingredient adds a complex umami depth and a slight tang, enhancing the savory notes of the sliders.

How to Make These Ham and Cheese Hawaiian Sliders in the Air Fryer

Making these hot ham and cheese sliders in your air fryer is incredibly straightforward. The key to success lies in understanding your air fryer and preparing your ingredients efficiently. Whether you have an oven-style air fryer with a tray or a basket-style model, these steps will guide you to perfect, golden-brown sliders.

1. Prepare Your Air Fryer: Begin by lining your air fryer tray or basket with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze. If parchment paper isn’t suitable for your air fryer model, you can lightly brush the tray with a small amount of oil instead. For basket-style air fryers, you might need to divide your pack of rolls into smaller blocks to cook in batches, ensuring even cooking. My oven-style air fryer, with its spacious tray, comfortably fits an entire pack of rolls at once.
2. Slice the Rolls: Take your entire pack of dinner rolls and, using a sharp serrated knife, carefully slice them horizontally through the middle. You want to create a top layer and a bottom layer, keeping all the individual rolls connected within each half. This makes assembly much simpler.

3. Assemble the Base: Carefully place the bottom half of the sliced rolls into your prepared air fryer tray or basket. Ensure it sits flat and forms a sturdy base for your fillings.

Crafting Your Layers for Flavor and Texture

4. First Cheese Layer: Now, arrange half of your Swiss cheese slices directly onto the bottom layer of rolls. Placing cheese next to the bread on both the bottom and top layers is a crucial step. This acts as a barrier, helping to prevent the bread from becoming soggy once the warm ham is added and the glaze is applied.
5. Ham and Second Cheese Layer: Next, distribute the sliced ham evenly over the first layer of cheese, ensuring good coverage. Follow this with the remaining half of your Swiss cheese slices, creating a second decadent cheese layer. This double layer ensures maximum melt and flavor in every bite.

6. Add the Top Layer: Gently place the top half of the rolls over the ham and cheese filling, completing your slider assembly. Ensure it aligns nicely with the bottom layer.
7. Prepare the Buttery Glaze: In a small, microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter until completely liquid. This usually takes about 30-45 seconds in a microwave. To the melted butter, add the Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, Worcestershire sauce, and onion powder. Whisk everything together thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined and the mixture is smooth.

Using a basting brush, generously apply this savory butter glaze all over the tops of the rolls. Don’t be shy – the glaze is what gives these sliders their signature golden crust and rich flavor! If you find you have extra glaze, a clever trick is to use a knife to lightly score in between the individual rolls. This creates small channels, allowing the delicious glaze to seep down into the sides and saturate more of the bread, enhancing every bite.

8. Air Fry to Perfection: Carefully place the tray (or basket) with the assembled sliders into your preheated air fryer. Air fry for 10 minutes at 325°F (160°C). After 10 minutes, check the sliders. The ham should be thoroughly warmed, the cheese melted and gooey, and the tops of the rolls beautifully golden brown and slightly crisp. If needed, you can cook for an additional minute or two, but always keep a close eye on them.
9. Monitor Cooking: It’s important to remember that cooking times can vary considerably based on your specific air fryer model and size. I’ve found that higher temperatures or prolonged cooking times can quickly lead to burnt tops on the rolls, so vigilance is key, especially towards the end of the cooking process. A perfect slider has a golden top, not a dark brown or charred one.

Substitutions and Variations for Your Sliders

One of the best aspects of these Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Sliders is their incredible adaptability. You can easily modify the ingredients to suit your mood, cater to different taste preferences, or accommodate dietary requirements. Here are a few creative ideas to get you started:

• Change the Meat: Instead of ham, consider using thinly sliced turkey, roast beef, or even pastrami for a completely different flavor profile. For a holiday twist, leftover shredded turkey or ham can also be fantastic.
• Experiment with Cheese: While Swiss cheese is classic, don’t hesitate to swap it for your favorite variety. Provolone, mozzarella, white cheddar, pepper jack for a spicy kick, or even a blend of cheeses can work wonderfully.
• Vegetarian Option: Easily make these sliders vegetarian by replacing the meat with hearty sliced vegetables. Layers of grilled portobello mushrooms, roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, or even a substantial plant-based deli slice can create a delicious meat-free alternative.
• Add Some Spice: For those who love a bit of heat, mix a dash of hot sauce, a pinch of red chili flakes, or a teaspoon of smoked paprika into the buttery glaze mixture.
• Customize the Glaze: If poppy seeds aren’t your preference, feel free to omit them. You can also experiment with different seasonings in the glaze, such as garlic powder, dried parsley, or a touch of brown sugar for extra sweetness. For a simpler version, you can even skip the butter mixture altogether and just toast the buns.
• Additional Fillings: Consider adding thin slices of dill pickles, caramelized onions, or a layer of thinly sliced tomatoes for extra flavor and texture within the slider layers.

Expert Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Sliders

Achieving perfectly gooey, golden ham and cheese sliders every time is simple with a few expert tricks. These tips will help you optimize your preparation and cooking process, ensuring delicious results whether you’re making them for a party or a quick weeknight meal.

• Make Ahead Magic: To save time, assemble your sliders up to the point of adding the butter glaze. Cover them tightly with plastic wrap and store them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to cook, simply brush on the glaze and air fry as directed. This makes entertaining or busy weeknights much easier.
• Achieve Ultimate Gooey Cheese: For an exceptionally gooey and melty cheese experience, opt for shredding your cheese directly from a block rather than using pre-sliced cheese. Freshly shredded cheese tends to melt more smoothly and uniformly.
• Roll Call: While Hawaiian sweet rolls are highly recommended for their unique flavor and texture, any soft dinner rolls or even brioche buns will work well in this recipe. Ensure they are sturdy enough to hold the generous fillings.
• Even Slicing: When slicing your rolls horizontally, aim for an even cut. This ensures that the top and bottom layers cook uniformly and that your fillings are distributed well. A long serrated knife is your best friend here.
• Prevent Over-Browning: If you notice the tops of your sliders are browning too quickly in the air fryer, you can loosely tent them with aluminum foil for the remaining cooking time. This protects the bread while allowing the cheese to continue melting and the ham to heat through.
• Don’t Overcrowd: Cook your sliders in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking and less crispiness. If necessary, cook in batches.

Serving Hawaiian Roll Ham and Cheese Sliders

Hot Ham and Cheese Sliders are incredibly versatile and perfect for virtually any occasion. They shine whether you’re hosting a lively party, contributing a delicious dish to a potluck, or simply enjoying a relaxed family meal. Their individual size makes them easy to grab and enjoy, minimizing fuss and maximizing deliciousness.

For a complete and balanced meal, I love to serve these sliders alongside a crisp, simple green salad with a light vinaigrette, or a creamy coleslaw. These fresh sides provide a lovely contrast to the richness of the sliders. If you’re looking to elevate the presentation for a fancier gathering, consider garnishing your platter of sliders with a sprinkle of fresh chopped chives or parsley, or even a few vibrant cherry tomato halves for a pop of color.

Should you happen to have any extra Hawaiian rolls after making these sliders, don’t let them go to waste! They make a delightful sweet treat when used to make lemon curd filled Hawaiian rolls.

Storing Hot Ham and Cheese Sliders

While these Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Sliders are undoubtedly best enjoyed fresh, straight from the air fryer when they are at their warmest and gooiness, you can certainly save any leftovers for later. Simply transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, you can use either the microwave for a quick warm-up or the air fryer for a crispier result. In the air fryer, a few minutes at 300°F (150°C) should do the trick.

Can I freeze these sliders?

Yes, you can freeze leftover ham and cheese sliders, though they are always best when fresh. To freeze, wrap the cooled sliders tightly in plastic wrap, then an additional layer of aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, thaw the sliders in the refrigerator overnight. Then, reheat them in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) until warmed through and the cheese is melted again, or use your air fryer for a quicker reheat.

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These delicious sliders are perfect for game day, a quick meal, or an appetizer that everyone will love. They are incredibly easy to make in the air fryer, delivering warm, gooey, and perfectly toasted results every time.

Ingredients

Instructions

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