These ham and cheese sliders are the perfect finger food for parties. They’re an instant crowd pleaser! These cheesy sliders can easily be prepared ahead of time.

Many of us have just rounded up a season of grad parties. Now we’re in the throes of summer gatherings. Soon enough, weekends will be filled with game days and tailgate parties.

As always, my favorite part about all the parties is The Food. I’m for sure not alone in this. Right?

I mean, I know most people don’t read about national food holidays for fun like I do, but at least tell me y’all relate with the party food thing. [If you do read about national food holidays for fun, we need to have coffee.]

My favorite party food recipes involve 3 things: they’ve got to be crowd-pleasing, preferably a finger food, and they must be make-ahead easy. Some of you know my obsession with prep-ahead recipes. I’m all about being part of the party; I’d rather not be on kitchen duty when I could be mingling and munching.

So. Say hi to these fabulous party ham and cheese sliders. This party food recipe has all the bases covered: it can be prepped ahead, it’s supremely flavorful, and no forks needed. Napkins optional, but somewhat recommended…

What Ingredients are needed for these party sliders?

• The quality of ham is key, as it provides much of the flavor in these sliders. I really like Bayonne ham, as it’s already sliced ultra-thin and has amazing flavor well beyond any typical ham. This European charcuterie ham is made with special rock salt and its high quality shines through with Every. Single. Bite.
• That said, feel free to use whatever ham you like; if you have leftover baked ham, definitely slice it up thin and use it here.
• Sharp white cheddar is usually my cheese of choice, as it melts really well and provides delicious flavor. Feel free to use your favorite cheese.
• We like the mild sweetness of Hawaiian style dinner rolls in this slider recipe. Feel free to use your favorite dinner rolls as well.
• The rolls are generously smeared with onion chive cream cheese, with a sprinkle of garlic powder. So so good. Regular cream cheese with a dash of onion powder can work in a pinch.
• The garlicky, butter sauce that’s brushed over these ham and cheese sliders makes them finger-licking great. In the sauce: onion, mustard, garlic, and real butter. A combo like that is guaranteed to taste irresistible.

Any tips for making the best baked sliders?

After some slider making practice, I have some helpful tips:

• Be sure your cream cheese is very soft. I microwave mine 20-30 seconds to be sure it’s extra spreadable.
• It’s easier to spread the cream cheese over the rolls while they’re still attached; then you can separate them for the filling layers.
• It’s definitely easier for guests to pick up their sandwiches if they’re separated prior to baking, or sliced after baking.
• An easy option for making a larger batch of ham and cheese sliders is to use a large sheet pan. You can make more in one shot, and it’s easier to serve that way.
• If you’re prepping the sandwiches ahead of time, do everything up until the the point of brushing sauce on top. Don’t brush any sauce on top until you’re ready to bake and serve. That helps to prevent the bottoms from getting too soggy.
• Ham and cheese sliders are best served soon after baking; they’ll be melty, hot, and delish! You may want to slice/separate sandwiches so they’re easy to grab.
• Leftover sliders can be reheated in a toaster oven or regular oven, but watch closely so they don’t burn on top.

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