Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches are a favorite takeout dish that you can make at home! Toasted buns with butter are baked with layers of ham and gooey cheese for a fun and easy dinner during the week.
We don’t eat takeout too often around here because we love to cook so much. One of my favorite things to eat when we do is a hot ham and cheese sandwich! Any day of the week, I’d rather have that than a burger.
Why do I like making these sandwiches at home even more? Because I can pick the best ham, the cheese that everyone likes, toast the buns just right, and add a creamy dijon sauce!
A hot ham and cheese sandwich is a drippy, ooey-gooey comfort food classic. With just a few simple ingredients like sliced ham, cheese, and bread, you can make the ultimate hot sandwich at home. While the stovetop skillet method works, baking these sandwiches in the oven is even easier and creates melty hot ham and cheese perfection.
Read on to learn step-by-step how to bake and assemble incredible hot ham and cheese sandwiches. With a few tips and recipe customizations, you can recreate this diner favorite any night of the week.
Ingredients for Hot Ham and Cheese
A great hot ham and cheese starts with quality ingredients
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Bread – Artisan bread rolls, or baguettes work well to handle oven heat.
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Ham – Thin sliced deli ham offers the best flavor and texture.
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Cheese – Use melty cheese like cheddar, Swiss, provolone or mozzarella.
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Butter – Butter provides the best flavor as it melts into the hot bread.
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Condiments (optional) – Spicy mustard, mayo or a flavorful spread.
With just these basics, you can make incredible hot ham and cheese sandwiches.
Toasting the Bread
Toasted bread is key for the perfect oven-baked ham and cheese. Here’s how to toast:
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Slice your bread of choice. Spread one side lightly with butter.
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Place buttered side up on a baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 2-5 minutes until lightly toasted.
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Watch closely to avoid burning. Remove once you see some golden brown coloring.
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Set aside toasted bread and turn oven down to 375°F for sandwich assembly.
Assembling Hot Ham and Cheese
Once bread is toasted, it’s time to assemble your hot sandwiches:
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Layer sliced ham evenly over the untoasted side of one bread slice.
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Top ham with sliced cheese to cover.
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Add second slice of toasted bread, buttered side up.
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Brush the top lightly with more butter.
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Repeat assembly with remaining ingredients to create sandwiches.
Baking Hot Ham and Cheese Perfection
With the oven preheated to 375°F and sandwiches assembled, you’re ready to bake:
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Place sandwiches on a baking sheet and bake 8-10 minutes.
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Cheese should be melted and bread lightly toasted when finished.
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Allow to cool 1-2 minutes before biting so filling can firm up.
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Serve these hot sandwiches with mustard, mayo or your favorite spread.
The oven does the work, no need to hover over a skillet. Just bake and enjoy drippy, hot ham and cheese!
Customize Your Hot Ham and Cheese
Personalize your hot ham and cheese with fun additions:
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Add sliced tomatoes, pickles, sautéed onions or roasted red peppers.
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Use flavored butter on the bread like garlic herb or cinnamon honey.
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Mix mayo with pesto, salsa, horseradish or tapenade to spread inside.
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Try cheeses like provolone, havarti, pepper jack or brie.
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Swap out ham for roasted turkey, corned beef or salami.
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Make open-faced sandwiches for easy serving.
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Serve with a side of potato chips or creamy tomato soup.
Tips for Hot Ham and Cheese Success
Follow these tips for the best hot ham and cheese every time:
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Use bread that can handle oven heat without getting too crisp or drying out.
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Toast bread first before adding ham and cheese so the interior doesn’t overcook.
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Layer on plenty of sliced cheese so it melts into gooey goodness.
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Add moist toppings like tomato after baking so the bread doesn’t get soggy.
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Bake in a single layer on a baking sheet to allow air flow for even cooking.
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Let baked sandwiches rest 1-2 minutes before cutting so filling can set up.
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Don’t forget the butter on top for an evenly browned, crusty top.
Frequently Asked Hot Ham and Cheese Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about hot ham and cheese:
What is the best bread for hot ham and cheese?
Choose a hearty artisan bread or baguette that can stand up to the oven heat. Avoid flimsy white bread.
What cheese works best for hot ham and cheese?
Melty cheeses like cheddar, Swiss, provolone and mozzarella create the classic gooey texture when baked.
How can you prevent dry hot ham and cheese sandwiches?
Be sure to toast the bread first before adding cheese so the interior doesn’t overcook. Also, butter the bread and don’t overbake.
How do you make hot ham and cheese in the oven?
Assemble sandwiches, toast bread first, then bake at 375°F for 8-10 minutes until hot and melty.
What condiments taste good on hot ham and cheese?
Spicy mustard, mayo, pesto, salsa and tangy spreads like horseradish or tapenade add great flavor.
Enjoy Classic Drippy, Ooey Gooey Ham and Cheese
With its melty cheese and thinly sliced ham between crisp, buttery toasted bread, a hot ham and cheese sandwich can’t be beat for comfort food perfection. Using the oven makes preparation easy with delicious results. Feel free to customize with fun additions to make this nostalgic sandwich your own. Just be ready for rave reviews!
Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches:
It’s almost silly to call these sandwiches a “recipe” because they’re so easy to make. But I hope you all enjoy them as much as my family does, and I’ll tell you how we like to make them even better at home!
- You can use thick or thin ham, whichever you like. I always get the very thinly sliced ham from my deli. After the cheese, I put a few pieces of ham on top. I repeat the layers twice for a nice hearty sandwich.
- Toasting the buns is totally optional. Before putting the sandwiches together, I butter them and toast them under the broiler for about two minutes. If you like a softer bun, don’t toast them first.
- No matter what kind of cheese your family likes, you can use it! Our favorite is mozzarella, but Swiss, cheddar, or Monterey Jack are also great.
- The dijonnaise is also optional. It’s just mayonnaise mixed with spicy or Dijon mustard. It just makes things taste better, and we love it.
A quick note about cooking these sandwiches. I typically bake them at home for a super fast 10 minute dinner. However, you can absolutely grill these as well! There a great sandwich for camping. Put the sandwiches together, cover them with foil, and grill them for a few minutes until the cheese melts.
