Can You Make Ham and Cheese Sliders the Night Before?

Ham and cheese sliders make for a quick and easy meal or snack that both kids and adults love. Their tiny size and melty cheese filling means they can disappear fast! Fortunately, you can prep ham and cheese sliders ahead of time and keep them refrigerated overnight so you can simply heat and eat when hunger strikes.

Why Make Them Ahead?

There are several benefits to preparing your ham and cheese sliders the night before serving

• Save time – By doing most of the assembly in advance, you greatly reduce last minute prep work. Just pop them in the oven before guests arrive or the kids get home from school.

• Make batch meals – Prepare a double batch and freeze one for later. Handy for quick lunches and on busy nights when you don’t want to cook.

• Plan your cooking – Get ingredients prepped when you have time so you’re not rushing around later trying to throw a meal together.

• Avoid soggy rolls – Letting the rolls soak up flavors overnight means you get the most flavor without ending up with mushy bread.

How to Store Them Overnight

To keep your ham and cheese sliders fresh, you’ll need to store them properly in the refrigerator. Here are some tips:

• Allow to cool – Before refrigerating, let the assembled sliders cool to room temperature. This prevents condensation from making the bread soggy.

• Use an airtight container – Place sliders in a sealed plastic container or zip top bag. This prevents them from drying out.

• Minimize air exposure – Pack sliders tightly so there is minimal air space around them. Air causes them to dry out.

• Place on a tray or plate – Putting sliders on a plate or tray catches any juices that may drip out so they don’t sit in liquid.

• Keep cold – Refrigerate overnight at 40°F or below. Don’t leave out more than 2 hours before chilling.

• Flip halfway – Flip sliders over halfway through chilling time so both sides stay evenly moist.

Tips for Making Ahead

Follow these tips when preparing your ham and cheese sliders in advance:

• Use sturdy rolls – Choose Hawaiian sweet rolls, potato rolls, or other soft rolls that hold their shape well. Avoid flimsy white bread.

• Layer on cheese – Put a slice of cheese on the top and bottom bun to act as a moisture barrier between the meat and bread.

• Spread condiments – Layer mustard, mayo, or other condiments on both halves of the rolls to add flavor and moisture.

• Portion meats – Use thinly sliced deli ham and portion it to fit each roll rather than folding whole slices. This allows better stacking.

• Butter or oil tops – Brush melted butter or olive oil over the tops of the assembled sliders before refrigerating. This keeps them from drying out.

• Avoid lettuce/tomatoes – Wet ingredients like lettuce and tomato will make buns soggy, so add those just before serving.

• Freeze a batch – Make a double recipe and freeze half for quick meals later. Thaw in fridge before heating.

How to Reheat Refrigerated Sliders

After refrigerating assembled sliders overnight, they just need a quick spin in the oven to heat.

• Preheat oven – Preheat your oven to 350°F. Use a lower temp to avoid burning.

• Prep pan – Place sliders on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.

• Cover lightly – Tent sliders loosely with foil to trap in steam and heat evenly.

• Bake 15-20 minutes – Bake just until heated through, about 15-20 minutes. Check often to avoid overbaking.

• Uncover at end – Remove foil for the last 2-3 minutes for crispy tops.

• Rest 2 minutes – Let sit 2 minutes before serving so filling can set up.

• Add cold toppings – Finish with any lettuce, tomato, pickles, etc. just before eating.

Recipes to Try

Here are some tasty ham and cheese slider recipes to make ahead:

Hawaiian Ham & Cheese Sliders

• Hawaiian sweet rolls
• Deli ham
• Swiss cheese
• Honey mustard dressing
• Melted butter with onion, mustard, and poppyseeds

Assemble rolls, ham, and cheese. Spread honey mustard dressing on tops and bottoms. Brush melted butter mixture over tops. Refrigerate overnight and bake 15 minutes at 375°F to reheat.

Easy Ham and Cheese Sliders

• Dinner rolls
• Deli ham
• Cheddar cheese slices
• Mayo and mustard spread
• Melted butter

Split rolls and layer ham, cheese, and spread on bottoms. Top with roll tops. Brush melted butter over tops. Chill overnight then bake 20 minutes at 350°F.

Ham and Cheese Slider Bake

• Hawaiian rolls
• Deli ham
• Swiss cheese slices
• Dijon mustard
• Parmesan cheese

Cut rolls in half. Place on sheet pan. Layer ham, cheese, and mustard. Sprinkle Parmesan on top. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Bake 20 minutes at 350°F.

BBQ Ham Sliders

• Potato slider rolls
• Deli ham
• Provolone cheese
• BBQ sauce
• Fried onion straws

Split and flatten rolls. Add ham, cheese, BBQ sauce, and onions. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate up to 2 days. Bake at 400°F for 10 minutes until cheese melts.

Make Weeknights Easier

Preparing ham and cheese sliders ahead of time lets you throw together a quick meal with minimal effort on busy nights. Keeping a batch in the freezer makes it even easier to feed your crew. Just remember to wrap them well, chill overnight, and reheat gently for warm, melty results. With this handy make-ahead trick, you can have sliders on the table in 20 minutes flat.