Pesto Ham & Cheese Sliders
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An easy way to serve up all the flavors of a toasted ham and cheese panini in a large sandwich casserole that can feed a crowd, today’s Pesto Ham and Cheese Sliders are a must-make for your next family movie night or get-together with friends.
Pesto Ham and Cheese Sandwich Casserole Recipe
Sandwich casseroles are one of my go-to options for entertaining.
Whether a casual games night with friends, or my daughter’s fancy Hollywood-themed graduation party, sandwich casseroles (or slider sandwiches) are always a hit.
Today’s pesto ham and cheese sliders was just a quick dinner that I threw together when I realized that a few of my book club friends were going to bring their kids along to hang out with mine. The kids liked the sandwiches so much, they devoured a whole tray to themselves and left none for us grown-ups!
And who could blame them? The buttery rolls were lavishly coated with pesto-infused butter, crisping ever so slightly at the edges while remaining tender and buttery at the core. The herbaceous and nutty basil pesto, combined with the savoury ham, juicy, acidic tomatoes and creamy mozzarella cheese has all of the makings of a gourmet sandwich.
It really is like serving up mini paninis in a convenient party-ready casserole; it’s equal parts decadent and approachable.
Can these sliders be made ahead of time? Yes, you can assemble the sandwiches the night before you plan to bake them. You can even bake and refrigerate and just reheat or serve cold up to three days after baking.
Can these sliders be frozen? I have had readers say that they have had good success with freezing sliders. Wrap and then store in a freezer bag or airtight freezer containers for up to two months. Allow to thaw fully before reheating. (This set of freezer containers is a crazy bargain.)
Ingredients for Panini Sliders
- Slider Buns (butter or potato style) <– grab our recipe for homemade Hawaiian rolls here
- Ham Slices
- Shredded Mozzarella
- Diced Tomatoes, optional
- Pesto Sauce
- Butter
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Tip: swap out the ham and mozzarella for your personal favorite panini toppings.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- 9″ x 13″ Casserole Dish <– I love these Pyrex dishes with fitted lids for easy transportation to parties or leftover storage
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Saucepan
- Whisk
- Serrated kitchen knife
- Aluminum foil
- Pastry brush <– I like these because they are one solid piece and don’t have removable heads for bacteria to get trapped underneath. Plus they are heat-resistant and have a lifetime warranty.
How to Make Panini Sandwich Sliders
Preheat oven to 350F
Cut the sandwich sheet in half through the middle to create two “slices” of sandwich sheet.
Place the bottom half of the sandwich sheet in the casserole dish.
Spread the pesto sauce over the bread layer, saving 1 Tablespoon for later. Add tomatoes, if using.
Make an even layer of the ham all over the sauce layer.
Top with the shredded mozzarella and then place the top half of the sandwich “sheet” on top.
Place the butter in a saucepan over medium heat and melt, approximately 2 minutes. Stir in about a tablespoon of pesto until fully incorporated.
Pour the butter mixture evenly over the sandwiches and cover the casserole dish with tinfoil.
Bake for 20-30 minutes until the butter has completely absorbed into the rolls.
Cut and serve.
Pin this Easy Sandwich Casserole for the next time you’re craving a gourmet panini or entertaining a crowd on a budget:
Grab your free printable recipe card for our pesto ham and cheese slider sandwiches recipe:
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Pesto Ham & Cheese Sliders
Ingredients
- 1 sheet slider buns (butter or potato style)
- 12 slices ham
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1-6oz jar pesto sauce
- 1 cup butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F
- Cut the sandwich sheet in half through the middle to create two "slices" of sandwich sheet.
- Place the bottom half of the sandwich sheet in the casserole dish.
- Spread the pesto sauce over the bread layer, saving 1 Tablespoon for later.
- Make an even layer of the ham all over the sauce layer.
- Top with the shredded mozzarella and then place the top half of the sandwich "sheet" on top.
- Place the butter in a saucepan over medium heat and melt, approximately 2 minutes. Stir in about a tablespoon of pesto until fully incorporated.
- Pour the butter mixture evenly over the sandwiches and cover the casserole dish with tinfoil.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes until the butter has completely absorbed into the rolls.
- Cut and serve.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 321Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 89mgSodium: 952mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 19g
Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.
I hope your family loves this easy pesto, ham and cheese sandwich casserole as much as mine did!
For more scrumptious sandwiches, check out our full sandwich recipe collection here:
For more amazing appetizers, check out our full appetizer recipe collection here:
Or for more ways to enjoy pork, check out our full pork recipe collection here:
