This Pineapple Glazed Ham and Cheese Hawaiian Roll Sliders Recipe is sweet, salty, buttery and ridiculously cheesy. Black Forest ham and sharp white cheddar are tucked inside soft Hawaiian sweet rolls, then drenched in a sticky pineapple brown sugar butter glaze and baked until golden brown.
Why You'll Love It
If you know me, you know ham and cheese is basically one of my love languages. Between my Funeral Sandwiches and my Ham and Cheese Crescent Rolls, I've made approximately one million variations of this combo over the years.
But these pineapple glazed ham and cheese sliders are their own delicious little thing that ya'll are going to love! Instead of the traditional buttery glaze made with Dijon, Worcestershire and poppy seeds, we're going back to the hawaiian roll roots with this tropical-ish spin. Salted butter gets simmered with pineapple juice, brown sugar and hot honey mustard until it becomes sweet, tangy and slightly sticky.
Then the whole thing gets poured over soft KING'S HAWAIIAN Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls stuffed with Black Forest ham and sharp white cheddar. But y'all, the pineapple is really what makes these so good. Its sweetness plays perfectly with salty ham and sharp cheddar without making the sliders taste overly sweet.
They're perfect for game day, holiday parties, potlucks or an easy dinner when you want something everyone will actually eat. And if you've got leftover holiday ham hanging around? Even better. This recipe is an incredibly easy way to turn leftover ham into something that doesn't feel like leftovers.
Plus, there's no need to cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Baking them uncovered lets that buttery pineapple glaze caramelize around the edges of the Hawaiian sweet rolls. Basically, they're the best thing to happen to ham and cheese sliders in a very long time!!
Ingredients & Substitutions
You only need a handful of ingredients to make these Hawaiian roll ham and cheese sliders. Here's what I use and what you can substitute.
- Salted Butter: This creates the rich base for our pineapple glaze. Unsalted butter works too; just add a tiny pinch of salt. There's also no need to soften it to room temperature since we're melting it in a saucepan.
- Pineapple Juice: Pineapple juice adds sweetness and acidity while giving these sliders their signature flavor. I love how it pairs with salty ham and sharp cheese.
- Brown Sugar: Brown sugar melts into the butter and pineapple juice to create that sticky, caramelized glaze. Light or dark brown sugar will both work.
- Hot Honey Mustard: This balances all that buttery sweetness with tang and a little heat. Regular honey mustard works if you don't want the spice. You could also use Dijon with a little hot honey.
- KING'S HAWAIIAN Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls: These soft, slightly sweet rolls are perfect for ham and cheese sliders because you can slice the entire package horizontally while keeping everything connected.
- Black Forest Ham: I love the smoky, salty flavor of Black Forest ham against the pineapple glaze. Deli ham works perfectly, but this is also an amazing way to use leftover ham. If you've got leftover holiday ham, just slice it thinly before layering.
- Sharp White Cheddar: Sharp white cheddar brings enough bite to balance the sweet glaze. Swiss cheese is another classic choice and will give these more of a traditional ham and cheese slider flavor. Gruyère, Havarti or regular sharp cheddar would also be delicious.
How to Make It
- PREHEAT THE OVEN: Preheat your oven to 325°F.
- MAKE THE PINEAPPLE BUTTER GLAZE: Add the salted butter, pineapple juice, brown sugar and hot honey mustard to a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 3-5 minutes. Stir until the melted butter mixture is smooth and slightly thickened.
- PREP THE BAKING DISH: Pour about 3 tablespoons of the pineapple butter mixture into the bottom of a baking dish. Spread it around so the Hawaiian sweet rolls get that buttery goodness underneath, too.
- SLICE THE ROLLS: Using a serrated knife, slice the entire package of rolls in half horizontally. Keep the individual rolls connected so you have one large top and bottom slab.
- BUILD THE SLIDERS: Place the bottom half of the rolls into the prepared baking dish. Layer the Black Forest ham evenly over the rolls, followed by the sharp white cheddar.
- ADD THE TOPS: Place the top half of the rolls over the cheese.
- GLAZE: Pour the remaining pineapple butter glaze all over the sliders. Use a pastry brush to spread it around, making sure it gets into every little nook and cranny.
- BAKE: Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted, the sliders are hot and gooey, and the tops and edges are golden brown. If your oven runs hot and the tops begin browning too quickly, you can loosely tent them with aluminum foil for the final few minutes.
- SERVE: Let the ham and cheese sliders rest for a few minutes, then cut or pull them apart. Serve warm while the cheese is still ridiculously melty.
- SAVE: Let leftover sliders cool to room temperature before transferring them to an airtight container. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat them in the oven or air fryer to bring back those crispy, buttery edges.
What to Pair It With
These ham and cheese sliders can absolutely hold their own as a game day appetizer, but they're also perfect for turning into a whole meal. Since they're rich, sweet and cheesy, I like pairing them with something fresh, savory or cozy to balance everything out.
For an easy lunch or dinner, serve these ham and cheese sliders with my Shortcut 1905 Salad. The crisp lettuce, tomatoes, olives and tangy dressing help cut through all that buttery cheese goodness.
During soup season, add a bowl of my Roasted Creamy Tomato Soup or my current favorite soup ---. It's basically the grown-up version of tomato soup and grilled cheese, except now your grilled cheese has ham and pineapple involved.
For a fall or holiday spread, my Oven-Roasted Rosemary Sweet Potatoes make an easy savory side that won't compete with the pineapple glaze.
And if you're specifically trying to use up leftover holiday ham, save the bone and make my Southern Crockpot Soup Beans with Ham the next day. One ham, two completely different meals. You know we love efficiency around here!
And if you'd like more similar recipes, try these out:
- The KimCheeze Kick - Cheddar, Cream Cheese, Kimchee, and Pineapple Grilled Cheese
- My Mom's Southern Pineapple Cheese Casserole Recipe
- Easy Chicken Sliders Recipe with Honey Mustard & Bacon
- Cheesy Bacon Breakfast Sliders Recipe on Hawaiian Rolls
- Hawaiian Roll Garlic Bread Recipe with Cheesy Dip
Recipe
Pineapple Glazed Ham and Cheese Hawaiian Roll Sliders
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 stick Salted butter
- ¼ cup Pineapple juice
- 2 tablespoons Brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Hot honey mustard
- 1 12 piece package KING'S HAWAIIAN Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
- ¾ pound Black Forest ham
- 7 ounces Sharp white cheddar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Add butter, pineapple juice, brown sugar and hot honey mustard to a saucepan.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 3-5 minutes until smooth and slightly thickened.
- Spread about 3 tablespoons of the pineapple butter mixture in the bottom of a baking dish.
- Slice the rolls in half horizontally while keeping them connected.
- Place the bottom half of the rolls in the baking dish and evenly layer with ham and sharp white cheddar.
- Add the top half of the rolls.
- Pour the remaining pineapple butter glaze over the sliders. Brush it around so the tops and edges are completely coated.
- Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese is melted, the sliders are hot and gooey, and the edges are golden brown.
- Let rest for a few minutes, then cut or pull apart and serve warm.
- Note: If the tops are getting too dark before the cheese is completely melted, loosely cover the baking dish with aluminum foil for the remaining cooking time.
Leave a Reply