Funeral Sandwiches Ham and Cheese Sliders {Video}

Also known as ham and cheese sliders, easy Funeral Sandwiches are a great way to use leftover ham or deli ham. They are simple to put together and taste amazing.

Funeral Sandwiches

I’m always searching for new ways to use leftover ham after the holidays. I make at least one Crockpot Ham for each holiday and love having leftovers that make future meals stress-free.

My husband loves these ham and Swiss sliders. You can easily make this with a different type of cheese. I stick with Swiss cheese since it is such a classic combination.

I have heard them called both ham and cheese sliders and funeral sandwiches.

I’ve heard that Funeral Sandwiches may be a regional name for this dish. Is this a term you have heard used for this dish?

These Funeral Sandwiches are an easy appetizer recipe or snack. These are mom and kid-approved!

Ingredients needed

Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients for making epic Funeral Sandwiches! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.

• Hawaiian Sweet Rolls/Dinner Rolls
• Ham
• Swiss Cheese Slices

Butter Sauce Ingredients

• Butter
• Brown Sugar
• Dijon Mustard
• Worcestershire Sauce

Optional: Onion Powder, Pickles

Cheese - If you are not a fan of swiss cheese these also taste amazing with cheddar cheese or provolone cheese.

Rolls - We use King's Hawaiian Rolls but these ham and cheese sliders can be made with any dinner rolls.

Equipment Needed

• Whisk
• Small Bowl
• Serrated Knife
• Non-Stick Cooking Spray
• 8x8 Baking Dish/Casserole Dish
• Plastic Wrap

Heat resistant potholders - A couple of years ago we had a fire scare when we didn't realize we had turned a burner on and a cloth potholder caught fire. Thankfully we walked by the kitchen and saw the smoke and were able to get it out ourselves. Since then we have only used these heat-resistant potholders.

The funeral sandwiches need to marinate for at least an hour and can go up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. You can easily make these up hours before you need to serve them!

How to Make Funeral Sandwiches

I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.

Brown Sugar Mustard Sauce

1. Whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire Sauce until combined.

Funeral Rolls

1. Spray the baking dish with non-stick spray, drizzle 3-4 tablespoons of mustard sauce in the baking dish, and move the pan around to coat the bottom.
2. Split the Hawaiian Rolls, place the bottom halves in the pan, and cover them with half the Swiss cheese.
3. Cover slice of cheese with a slice of ham and then top with remaining Swiss cheese.
4. Place the bun tops on the sandwiches, and cover with the remaining mustard brown sugar sauce.
5. If you are adding poppy seeds, sprinkle them over the top now.
6. Wrap the baking pan in plastic wrap tightly and refrigerate for 1 to 24 hours.
7. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees when ready to bake the Funeral Sandwiches.
8. Remove plastic wrap and bake in preheated oven. 

Preparation and Storage

Make Ahead + Storage: The funeral sandwiches must marinate for at least an hour and can remain for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. You can easily make these up hours before you need to serve them!

Freezing/How to Freeze: Ham and cheese sliders are safe to freeze for 3 to 6 months. Whether you freeze individual portions or a tray of leftovers, wrap the entire sandwich with plastic or aluminum foil to avoid freezer burn.

How to Reheat: Want to enjoy your frozen Funeral Sandwich sliders? Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator so they cook evenly, and bake them to golden, melty perfection the next day. We’ve seen guidance recommending baking at 350°F for about 20 minutes; we’ve yet to try it, but individual portions should also bake well in an air fryer oven.

Recipe Variations

Substitutions: If you are not a fan of Swiss cheese, these also taste amazing with cheddar or provolone cheese. We also use King's Hawaiian Rolls, but you can make these ham and cheese sliders with any dinner rolls.

Vegetarian + Vegan Options: Swap the ham with your favorite plant-based ham to make these sliders vegetarian-friendly. Vegans can replace butter and Swiss cheese with plant-based alternatives to make it vegan; be sure to replace the Hawaiian rolls, as they contain butter and eggs.

Gluten-Free: King’s Hawaiian Rolls are not gluten-free, so we recommend using a gluten-free substitute if this is a dietary concern. The web also has a ton of homemade gluten-free Hawaiian roll recipes for those who don’t mind rolling up their sleeves!

Smaller Serving Size: Use a smaller baking tray for fewer servings.

Make It Spicy: Turn up the heat on these potluck-friendly sliders with spicy Dijon mustard!

Larger Group/More Servings: Use a larger baking dish or add a second one for more servings to feed a larger group. Be sure to scale the recipe up accordingly to fill your casserole dishes.

Sugar-Free: This recipe contains 7 grams of sugar when prepared as written. However, the final sugar content depends on your ingredients, so check all the nutrition labels if sugar is a dietary concern.

 

Tips for the Best Funeral Sandwiches

• You will often see ham cheese sliders with poppyseed over them.  I skip the poppy seed since we have loved ones who cannot eat seeds. If you like poppyseed, add them over the top before baking.
• We also change the Dijon mustard for yellow mustard if we have relatives that can't have seeds to ensure they don't get any in the Dijon mustard.
• You can use leftover holiday ham or deli ham; it is up to you. We like it with thick leftover ham or with thinly sliced deli ham.
• You can use sliced or shredded Swiss cheese. I use whatever I have in the house.
• I like to break up the Hawaiian Rolls before baking so they are easy to serve. You can cut them in half and keep them connected so the bottoms are separate from the tops and bake them that way.
• This dish adapts easily to what you love! If you want a ton of cheese or deli ham versus leftover ham, go for it! I love that you can adapt it to your favorite flavors and what’s currently in your kitchen.
• If you have leftover turkey, check out these Cranberry Turkey Sliders!

 

What to Serve With Funeral Sandwiches

Sides: Easy and Delicious Broccoli Casserole, Easy Cheesy Green Beans, BLT Pasta Salad, Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon, Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish, Grape Salad, Pear Salad, Sauerkraut Salad, Sweet Potato Casserole with Canned Yams, Creamed Corn Casserole, Easy Watermelon Salad

Main Dishes: Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese, Easy Macaroni Salad, Wilted Spinach Bacon Pasta, Crockpot Cabbage Rolls, Crockpot Mushroom Pasta Casserole

Desserts: Easy 2 Ingredient Lemon Bars, Bisquick Blackberry Cobbler, Bisquick Peach Cobbler, Delicious Easy Fruit Salad, Marbled Cherry Pie Cake

Drinks: Crockpot McDonald’s Sweet Tea, CopyCat Sonic Ocean Water, Red Robin Freckled Lemonade, Coke Slushie, CopyCat Sonic Cherry Limeade

When to Serve

• Potlucks
• Picnics
• Memorial Day
• Fourth of July
• Labor Day
• Any large gathering needing an easy-to-prepare light bite!
• After Christmas or Easter for an easy meal.

Leftover Ham Recipes

• Ham and Bean Soup
• Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese with Ham
• Slow Cooker Ham and Cheese Grits
• Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
• Ham and Swiss Ciabatta Sandwich
• Slow Cooker Ham Casserole

Do you love recipes? Check out our copycat recipes, dessert recipes, and our CrockPot Recipes.

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