Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Sliders

If you want to make an appetizer for a party or a family gathering or game day, then these easy air fryer ham and cheese sliders will be a sure hit.

No matter the occasion, these ham and cheese sliders are foolproof, and the best part?

You can customize the fillings to make it a Thanksgiving slider or a breakfast slider, depending on the event.

I adore these sliders because they’re delicious, and it only takes less than 5 minutes to put them together and prep them for cooking in the air fryer.

The only issue is when you want to make these in large batches, as the air fryer is limited in cooking numerous sliders at once.

If that is the case, you can make these in the oven and cook them at 200°C for 10-12 minutes with the aluminum foil wrapped so you don’t burn the top.

Ingredients:

1. 4 Hawaiian rolls – You can use dinner rolls instead of Hawaiian rolls, but Hawaiian rolls have a nice sweet flavor that goes so well with the cheese’s saltiness and the ham’s savory flavor.

2. 6 slices of ham- You can use any ham you like; I have used chicken ham in this recipe because that is what I had on me while making this recipe. It turned out to be delicious, so choose a ham of your liking.

3. 3 slices of your favorite melting cheese (Swiss, cheddar, or provolone)- This is quite important. Cheese gives these ham and cheese sliders all the flavor and personality. You MUST use cheese slices that melt well to give it a nice melt-in-the-mouth feel, but apart from that.

4. 1/2 cup pizza sauce- Usually, ham and cheese sliders recipe have mayo and mustard in them; however, I liked using pizza sauce in this recipe to give it that moisture yet a nice tangy flavor. You can use marinara sauce instead, but cooked pasta sauce just takes these ham and cheese sliders to the next level.

5. 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted- This butter mix is made to brush on top of the sliders to give it the much-needed flavor and make it crispy as well. Usually, the butter mix also has poppy seeds, which gives these traditional sliders those black seeds on top. I haven’t used them in this recipe, but feel free to add them to give them a more earthy, nutty flavor.

6. One teaspoon of garlic, minced

7. 1/2 teaspoon salt

8. 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

9. 1/2 teaspoon fresh parsley, finely chopped

How to make Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Sliders

1. Toast Bottom Rolls: Cut the rolls in half, place the bottom halves of the Hawaiian rolls in the air fryer, and toast them at 200 degrees Celsius for 3-4 minutes or until golden and slightly crispy.

2. Layer with Cheese, Sauce, and Ham: Start Layering with cheese slices on each toasted bottom half of the rolls.

Now spread about a teaspoon of pizza sauce over the cheese. If you do not want to use pizza sauce, spread mayo and mustard on the bottom half of the Hawaiian rolls and skip the pizza sauce. 

Next, layer with slices of ham on the sauce, the number of ham slices you use will depend on your preference.

3. Assemble Sliders: Place the top halves of the Hawaiian rolls on top of the ham to create sandwiches.

4. Prepare Butter Mixture: In a bowl, mix melted butter with minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and chopped parsley. Mix well. Mix poppy seeds into this butter mixture if you have the classic ham and cheese sliders look.

5. Brush Butter Mixture: Generously brush the butter mixture over the tops of the sliders, ensuring an even coating.

6. Cook in Air Fryer: Place the assembled sliders back into the air fryer basket. Cook at 150 degrees Celsius (302 degrees Fahrenheit) for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the sliders are heated.

7. Serve: Carefully remove the sliders from the air fryer as they are extremely hot. Serve warm, and enjoy these delicious and flavorful ham and cheese sliders with a touch of pizza sauce!

How to store leftover Air fryer Ham and Cheese Sliders

Make sure all the sliders have cooled down completely and are at room temperature before you start storing the leftovers.

Now, wrap the sliders individually or store them in an airtight container. You can use a shallow container or a baking dish with a tight-fitting lid if you have a large batch.

If you plan on consuming it after 3-4 days, then you can transfer these individually wrapped sliders in a zip lock bag and freeze them.

Tip- It is important to wrap each slider individually in plastic wrap, ensuring a tight seal to prevent freezer burn.

If you’re storing the sliders for more than a day, consider labeling the container with the date of preparation. This helps you keep track of freshness.

How do you reheat Leftover Ham and Cheese Sandwiches?

This might be a little unconventional, but if you want to reheat air fryer ham and cheese sliders properly, place them for 30 seconds inside the microwave.

After this, place them in the air fryer and reheat them at 150°C for 4-5 minutes. This would cook the ham and cheese sliders from the inside out, giving you the perfect reheated sliders.

How to serve Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Sliders?

If you want to serve air fryer ham and cheese sliders, then these are some common side dishes with which you can serve your delicious ham and cheese sliders.

1. Coleslaw: The refreshing crunch of creamy or vinegar-based coleslaw complements the richness of ham and cheese sliders.

2. Chips or Fries: Serve your sliders with crispy potato chips or French fries on the side for a classic and satisfying combination.

3. Mixed Greens Salad: A light salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and a simple vinaigrette adds freshness to the meal.

4. Pickles: Pickles, whether dill or bread-and-butter, provide a nice tangy and crunchy texture that contrasts well with the savory sliders.

5. Roasted Vegetables: Roasted vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, or sweet potatoes, offer a flavorful and nutritious side.

6. Soup: Pairing ham and cheese sliders with a bowl of soup, such as tomato soup or broccoli cheddar soup, creates a comforting and satisfying meal.