These Ham and Cheese Sliders are a family staple. They are super easy to make, budget-friendly, great for a group of people, and even freezer friendly. I’ve been making these for YEARS and constantly have people ask for the recipe.
Ham and cheese sandwiches make for a quick and tasty meal that both kids and adults love. It’s hard to go wrong with the classic combo of salty ham and melty cheese nestled between slices of bread. While fresh is best, sometimes life gets busy, and being able to stash some frozen ham and cheese sandwiches can be a lifesaver. But how well do they hold up?
The good news is that properly frozen ham and cheese sandwiches can be just about as delicious as fresh. With a few tips and tricks to freeze them correctly, you can enjoy convenient sandwich meals for weeks.
Should You Freeze Ham and Cheese Sandwiches?
Freezing ham and cheese sandwiches comes with several benefits:
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Saves time – Make a big batch and have sandwiches ready to thaw and eat for quick meals or lunches on the go. No assembly required.
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Avoid waste – If you have leftovers or ingredients about to expire, freezing ensures they get used up.
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Buy in bulk – Stock up on sale priced ingredients and freeze sandwiches in advance.
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Meal prep – Get your lunches or dinners prepped for the week in one cooking session,
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Convenience – Frozen sandwiches are handy to pull out when you forget to thaw meat or are missing ingredients for a meal
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Customization – Prepare sandwiches with each family member’s preferred fillings and condiments so everyone has their perfect sandwich waiting.
How to Freeze Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
Follow these steps for properly freezing ham and cheese sandwiches:
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Cool first – Let freshly made sandwiches cool completely before freezing to prevent excess moisture from freezing condensation.
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Wrap tightly – Wrap each sandwich well in plastic wrap, wax paper, or foil. This prevents freezer burn.
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Portion – Wrap individual sandwich servings to grab just what you need from the freezer easily.
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Exclude mayo – Mayo doesn’t freeze well. Add it when ready to eat the thawed sandwich.
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Utilize bread – Choose freeze-friendly breads like whole wheat, sourdough, or hearty artisan breads over delicate white bread.
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Freeze flat – Place wrapped sandwiches flat in a single layer in a freezer bag or container. This prevents squishing.
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Label – Note the date and contents on your frozen sandwich stash.
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Freeze fast – Get sandwiches into the freezer within 2 hours of making for safety. Freeze at 0°F or below.
How Long Do Ham and Cheese Sandwiches Last in the Freezer?
Properly frozen, ham and cheese sandwiches can last 2-3 months in the freezer before quality declines. Double wrap sandwiches and minimize air exposure to prevent freezer burn for max freshness.
The ingredient with the shortest freezer life will determine how long the sandwiches keep. Cured meats like ham last 1-2 months while cheeses keep 2-3 months. Check bread for staleness after freezing.
For best results, plan to eat frozen ham and cheese sandwiches within 1 month. Sandwiches with lots of veggies or sauces don’t freeze as long.
What’s the Best Cheese for Freezing?
When picking cheese for ham sandwiches you plan to freeze, opt for cheeses that freeze well. Good options include:
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Cheddar – Harder cheddar freezes better than soft slices. Shred or dice it before freezing.
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Swiss – Sturdy texture makes it perfect for freezing.
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Provolone – Holds up well to freezing.
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Mozzarella – Low moisture content helps it freeze nicely.
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American – Processed American cheese is optimized for melting and freezing.
Avoid soft, crumbly cheeses like feta, bleu, and fresh mozzarella that don’t freeze well. Their texture suffers when frozen.
What’s the Best Bread for Freezing Sandwiches?
Choosing the right bread makes a big difference in how your frozen ham and cheese sandwiches hold up. Look for bread with:
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Hearty texture – Breads like whole wheat, sourdough, and artisan styles get soggy less easily.
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Tight crumb – Breads with smaller, closer air pockets retain moisture better.
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Slack dough – Undermixed, wetter doughs prevent freezer burn better than stiff doughs.
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Whole grains – Whole grains help maintain texture better than delicate white bread.
Good options: Whole wheat, sourdough, rye, ciabatta, baguettes, rolls.
Avoid: Storebought white bread, croissants, brioche.
How to Thaw Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
Thaw frozen sandwiches slowly and gently to retain quality. Quick thawing leads to soggy bread.
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Refrigerator – Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, allowing 8-12 hours. Keep sandwiches wrapped while thawing.
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Countertop – For quicker thawing, leave sandwiches wrapped at room temperature for 1-2 hours.
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Lunchbox – Pack frozen sandwiches in a lunchbox. They’ll thaw by lunchtime 4-6 hours later.
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Oven – Heat frozen sandwiches wrapped in foil at 300°F for 10-15 minutes until warm.
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Toaster oven – Place thawed sandwiches in a toaster oven at 325°F for 3-5 minutes to crisp and warm.
Tips for Delicious Frozen Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
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Mix mayonnaise with a bit of Greek yogurt or sour cream before freezing for a creamy texture after thawing.
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Add sliced tomatoes, pickles, lettuce, and other toppings once thawed and ready to eat.
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Use ham deli cuts rather than fold whole slices to make sandwiches stack and freeze better.
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Brush the insides of bread with olive oil or butter before assembling to keep the interior soft.
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Customize each family member’s sandwiches with their favorite cheese, condiments, and toppings before freezing.
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Place wax paper between frozen sandwiches before stacking to make separating them easier.
Easy Ways to Use Frozen Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
Keep frozen ham and cheese sandwiches on hand for quick meals:
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Pack as an on-the-go breakfast sandwich.
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Toss in lunches to grab and go.
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Serve with soup or salad for dinner.
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Bake as melty ham and cheese paninis.
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Dice and add to omelets or breakfast tacos.
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Heat and serve open-faced as ham, cheese, and tomato bruschetta.
Convenient Make-Ahead Meals
Freezing ham and cheese sandwiches allows you to stock your freezer with grab-and-go meals and lunches. Just be sure to wrap them well, use freezer-friendly ingredients, and thaw gently. With a stash of frozen sandwiches ready for heating, you’ll sail through busy weeks with one less thing to prepare.
Reasons We Love This Recipe
- It’s simple, and this recipe is great for people who are fresh to cooking. To make it, just put the ingredients in layers and drizzle a sauce over top.
- It’s freezer-friendly. Simply assemble, freeze, thaw, then bake. I’ve prepped this recipe for the freezer SO many times. It works! .
- It’s a kid-friendly meal. Kids and adults both love Ham and Cheese sliders.
- This recipe is great for potlucks or feeding a lot of people at once.
- You can make it in advance. Just put the sliders together right up until you bake them and store them in the fridge. This makes it perfect for a birthday dinner or holiday meal.
- Rolls – You can use wheat or white. I like brioche rolls!.
- Deli ham—You can also use ham that you have left over from making our Crockpot Spiral Ham.
- Slices of Swiss cheese; I also like provolone and mozzarella a lot.
- Butter
- Dijon mustard
- Worcestershire
- Poppy seeds – I often make it without these. The recipe works just fine.
- Brown sugar
Since I make these so often, I have a few tricks to make them even tastier!
- I prefer to use an unsweetened ham from the deli. There’s no need for the honey ham because the glaze is already sweet.
- I don’t need to add the poppy seeds because they still taste great.
- Also, if I’m making these for kids, I sometimes leave out the mustard. This dish tastes better with mustard, but you can leave it out if you want to.
Can I Freeze Ham & Cheese Sliders?
YES! Like many of our freezer meals, Ham & Cheese Sliders work wonderfully to prep ahead and freeze.
To Freeze:
After assembling the sandwiches and covering them in the glaze, do not bake. Before freezing, cover the casserole dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil or put it in a container that won’t let air in. (Here are a few freezer dishes we use and recommend. ).
You can freeze these sandwiches for 3-6 months (or longer if you properly package them for freezing!)
To Prepare:
After being frozen, let them thaw in the fridge overnight. The next day, they’re ready to eat.
You use any down-the-pipe dinner roll that you find at the store. Hawaii Rolls, Brioche Buns, and Wheat Rolls are all popular choices. It saves time if they are already sliced.
Butter Dijon mustard Worcestershire Poppyseeds Brown sugar
Yes! This is one of the many reasons I love this recipe. I get the sliders ready all the way up until baking if I have a lot of people over or just want to make dinner ahead of time. You can put them in the fridge for up to two days. When you’re ready to bake them, just take them out!
While the buns do soak up the sauce a bit, I wouldn’t describe them as soggy. The sliders sit in the sauce but don’t soak up too much of it.
Totally. I have done this quite a bit actually and it doesn’t change the flavor.
Here are some recipes that would be tasty to serve with Ham & Cheese Sliders:
We love sliders because they are great for families (since kids can eat less) and help you save a lot of money on food.
Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!
How To Freeze Ham & Cheese Sandwich. Prep Freeze Food
FAQ
Can a ham and cheese sandwich be frozen?
How to defrost a ham and cheese sandwich?
What kind of sandwich freezes well?
Why can’t you freeze sandwiches with mayonnaise?
Can you freeze a ham sandwich?
If you like to enjoy your sandwiches filled with tomatoes, lettuce, and cucumber, for instance, they will almost certainly cause the bread to go soggy in the freezer. If you’re planning to freeze sandwiches, you should keep the fillings nice and simple (think ham and cheese) and be prepared to toast or grill them when you’ve defrosted them.
How long can ham be without refrigeration and still be safe?
Most food experts recommend that ham, should not be left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. After that time, you should discard it.
Can you freeze deli meat & cheese sandwiches?
If you plan to GRILL your deli meat and cheese freezer sandwiches before storing, you can spread your condiments directly onto the bread. Since they’ll be cooked and cooled before freezing, you don’t have to worry about the moisture soaking into the bread.
Can you freeze a sandwich?
Freezer. For long-term storage, freezing your sandwiches is a good option. Frozen sandwiches can last up to six months. Like sandwiches stored in the refrigerator, it’s not a good idea to freeze fresh vegetables on your sandwich. But you can add sauce and condiments to your frozen sliders, if you want.