Baked Ham and Cheese Sliders

Baked Ham and Cheese Sliders, also known as Ham Goo Sandwiches, make an out-of-this-world party appetizer, lunch or even dinner. These bite-sized sandwiches feature slices of ham, cheese and a decadent onion-poppyseed dressing. Make a batch for any occasion!

2025 Update: This recipe was originally shared in April 2015. The recipe and post include new photos, as well as more A LOT more tips and tricks… and a new name.

Once upon a time, I scribbled this recipe down for my little sister before she moved across the country because I wanted her to have some good dishes to make in her new town. My handwriting isn’t that great, though I have been told it’s rather stylish, and because of this, she got confused when reading the recipe.

I received a call from her a few months later, and the first thing out of her mouth was, “What the heck is Ham God?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“The recipe card you wrote out says Ham God, and I cannot figure out what this is.”

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It took a second, then it hit me.

She read Ham Goo, which is what we call these sandwiches in our household, as Ham God.

Years later, we still call them that.

Why I love this recipe:

Aside from getting a laugh every time I discuss, think about or make this recipe, these are delicious and EASY ham and cheese sliders.

They are wonderfully meaty and savory. The cheese helps everything come together, as does the onion sauce.

Another thing to love about this recipe is that it is incredibly simple to pull together, making it a lovely lunch or dinner for a (small) crowd or a great appetizer, assuming you don’t mind getting your hands dirty.

You can also make the sauce OR the sliders in advance, too, if you prefer!

I’ll share how we make these beauties in our household and how you can riff on the original recipe, too.

More easy appetizer recipes to try: Beer Cheese Dip for Pretzels | Hamburger Sliders with Bacon Cherry Compote | Buffalo Chicken Dip | Bruschetta Puff Pastry Pinwheels

What you need to make this recipe:

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• Rimmed sheet pan or a baking dish
• Serrated knife
• Small saucepan
• Stainless steel spatula

Here’s what you need to grab from the grocery store:

• Sliced ham — you can use leftover ham from a holiday OR you can purchase sliced ham from the deli. I personally like it when the ham is sliced a little thicker, but it all works. (This recipe is lovely with Honey Ham, as well as Baked Ham with Bourbon Orange Glaze leftovers.)
• Swiss cheese — thinly sliced is where it’s at. You could swap this with provolone or cheddar cheese slices, if you prefer those. Pepper jack would also be a spicy addition to this sandwich.
• Fat — I like to use a combination of extra virgin olive oil and unsalted butter to make the sauce, which is poured directly onto these sliders. Don’t skimp on this or you won’t have enough to go around!
• Yellow or white onion — you just need a small one, and it needs to be chopped. If you don’t love onion, I recommend chopping it very finely so that it can melt into the melted butter and oil mixture.
• Poppyseeds — these add nice texture to the tops of the rolls as they bake.
• Worcestershire sauce — this adds umami to the sauce. There is no replacement.
• Grainy mustard — I love the texture and flavor this brings to the sauce. Plain dijon mustard also works, in a pinch.
• Hawaiian sweet rolls — you can use regular or even whole wheat Hawaiian buns. I love that the sweetness of these rolls balances our the savoriness of the sandwiches. You could also use slider buns if you can’t find Hawaiian rolls.

How to make Poppy Seed Ham and Cheese Sliders

Preheat the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.

Make the sauce. Measure the olive oil and butter into a saucepan. Warm over medium heat.

Once the butter has melted, add the chopped onion, and cook until softened.

Once the onion is softened, add the poppyseeds, Worcestershire and mustard, and stir to combine.

Remove the butter mixture from the heat, and let cool slightly.

Prepare the sandwiches. Cut the sheet of Hawaiian rolls in half using a serrated knife. Place the bottom half of the rolls on the prepared baking sheet.

Layer the ham slices on top of the rolls, then top with the Swiss cheese.

Make sure that everything is evenly layered so that you get a bit of everything in every bite.

Pour half of the onion sauce directly on top of the cheese.

Place the top half of the rolls directly on top of the sandwiches, then pour the remaining sauce on top of the rolls.

Cover with foil, and bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven.

Remove the foil, and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until the tops are slightly brown and the cheese is melted.

Enjoy warm!

How to store:

Store cooled leftovers in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat in the microwave or toaster oven until warmed through.

Quick tips and tricks for the best baked ham and cheese sliders:

• Use deli ham… or leftover holiday ham. I really like to get spiral ham sliced, but if you’ve got another kind of favorite ham, have at it!
• Make this ham and cheese slider recipe extra decadent. Swap out the olive oil for the same amount of butter.
• Make it in advance. Make the buttery onion sauce early, and store in the refrigerator until time to assemble the sandwiches.

Curious about making this on your own?

Here’s how you do it: