Cuban Sliders

These Cuban Sliders are a twist on traditional Cuban sandwiches, layered with ham, cheese, pickles and lots of flavor. Mini Cuban sandwiches make a great appetizer or finger food for any occasion!

straight on shot of stack of three sliders on plate


 

What You’ll Need

You can find all of these cuban sliders ingredients at your local grocery store. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.

  • Ham – You want this to be thinly sliced. I like to grab mine from the deli, but this is also a great way to use up leftover ham from the holidays if you have it!
  • Hawaiian sweet roll sliders
  • Swiss cheese
  • Pickles
  • Mayonnaise
  • Unsalted butter
  • Dijon mustard
  • Garlic powder
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Fine sea salt
close up side shot of cuban sliders

5S Philosophy 👩🏻‍

  • Salt – Because ham itself is quite salty, I use unsalted butter to control the salt content. I also add a pinch of fine sea salt to the topping sauce to help bring out the other flavors.
  • Seasonings – To amp up the garlic flavor, try adding some freshly minced garlic instead of garlic powder.
  • Sauces – In addition to the mayonnaise, try adding some yellow mustard to take things up a notch.
  • Swaps – You can swap the sweet rolls for cuban bread instead. Instead of or in addition to the ham, try using salami or even pulled pork.
  • Senses – Warm and melty, Cuban sliders pack bold flavor in every bite—savory ham and tangy pickles layered with Swiss cheese and mustard on buttery, toasted rolls that crackle as you bite in.
side shot of cuban slider on spatula

Perfect Pairings

Mini Cuban sandwiches make a great party appetizer – easy to make, delicious, and usually popular with most guests. Hawaiian roll sliders in general always seem to be a hit at parties but Cuban sliders have become a favorite at my house lately.

I love making sliders instead of full-size sandwiches because you can eat one and still have room for all the other delicious party foods like Buffalo Chicken Meatballs, Cheesy Pigs in a Blanket or Easy Sausage Balls. You can even make them as a lunch or light dinner, served with chips or a side salad.

side view of cuban slider taken out of bunch
straight on shot of stack of three sliders on plate

Cuban Sliders

4.52 from 62 votes
Cuban Sliders are made with layers of ham, pickles, and cheese between delicious sweet Hawaiian rolls. An easy and yummy appetizer! 
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Place all 12 Hawaiian sweet roll sliders onto a surface suitable for cutting. Using a serrated knife, slice in half while keeping tops and bottoms intact. It should be like one large sandwich.
  • Place the bottom layer of the rolls in a 9×13 pan.
  • Slather the 2 tablespoons mayonnaise on the bottom slab of Hawaiian rolls.
  • Evenly layer the 1/2 pound Swiss cheese, 1/2 pound ham and 1/2 cup sliced pickles over Hawaiian roll bottoms. Place the top of the muffins back on.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the melted 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce and 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt.
  • Pour the butter mixture over the tops of the rolls, trying to get as much on top as you can.
  • Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
  • Remove aluminum foil and continue to bake until tops are slightly browned and cheese has melted.
  • Remove, cut into 12 individual sliders and serve hot.
  • If you've tried this recipe, make sure to come back and let us know how it went in the comments or star ratings.

Nutrition

Calories: 293 kcal, Carbohydrates: 16 g, Protein: 12 g, Fat: 19 g, Saturated Fat: 10 g, Cholesterol: 60 mg, Sodium: 480 mg, Potassium: 81 mg, Sugar: 4 g, Vitamin A: 405 IU, Calcium: 156 mg, Iron: 0.3 mg
Author: Chef Jessica Formicola
Calories: 293
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Cuban
Keyword: Cuban sandwich, cuban slider, slider sandwich
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!

Storage and Freezing

How to store?

Store leftovers in an airtight container or wrapped in aluminum foil in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Leftover cuban sliders can be reheated in the oven wrapped in aluminum foil at 300°F for about 10 minutes or in the microwave, although microwaving can make the bread rubbery so I strongly suggest using the oven.

Can I freeze cuban sliders?

I don’t recommend freezing these as a sandwich. They will most likely thaw being a soggy.

close up shot of cuban sldier

More Easy Party Appetizers

Cuban Sliders are quickly becoming one of my favorite party appetizers. Once you make them, you’ll understand!

collage of cuban sliders
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.52 from 62 votes (48 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    I made these for New Year’s Eve and my family LOVED them. I used leftover pork roast (that I made earlier in the week for the excuse of this recipe) in addition to store bought smoked ham. I also used creamy swiss cheese triangles instead of mayo on the bottom and it gave it an extra creamy texture in addition the meaty pork and crunchy pickles. When I placed it in the oven I placed foil on top of the sliders and then set a small sheet pan with a cast iron pan on top for the first 20 minutes and then brushed then with more butter topping and put them on low broil for 5 to toast the top. It gave them a real pressed sandwich taste with no effort. I truly loved the dijon butter topping. I owe you SO MUCH for this idea. I’m going to do the ham and cheese sliders the next time I have my (picky) nieces and nephews over!

  2. This recipe looks delicious. Can they be prepared ahead of time, like overnight, before baking?

    1. Sure! Just don’t do the butter topping until you are ready to heat. The bread will get mushy.

  3. 5 stars
    I have made sliders before using the same basic recipe.I made Rubens and baked them it was great.i got the idea from one other slider recipe on this site but it didn’t have the baking step.

  4. 5 stars
    We love these sliders and they are super easy. My husband requested them tonight for dinner and I was happy to make them. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

  5. 5 stars
    I love cuban sandwiches, and I really love the idea of them as sliders!! will be adding this to the menu!

  6. 5 stars
    These might be the best sliders I have ever seen, I am a big fan of Cuban sandwiches and adding sweet Hawaiian rolls makes them all the better.

  7. 5 stars
    Totally drooling over these cuban sliders! That mustard sauce on top is calling my name! And I am totally heading over for the honey habanero pickle recipe! 🙂