Ham and Swiss Sliders

These scrumptious Ham and Swiss Sliders are so melty and gooey, yet easy to make for all your gatherings.

Ham and Swiss Sliders

It's the season of summer gatherings; graduation parties, baby showers, pool parties, picnics, game day, potlucks and BBQs.  Sliders are the perfect finger food that can be an appetizer, or the main meal, and work for any gathering.

Ham and swiss are iconic flavors and when you serve it hot and I'm in heaven with that melty cheese.  So these are right up my alley.  I've even made these for lunch on the weekend, (adjusting the quantity) just for me and my husband (pictures are from our weekend lunch).  You've gotta change up the plain old sandwich sometimes!

This one has a mix of spicy brown mustard and mayo to accompany the ham and cheese, and it's served on dinner rolls that are topped with a savory butter, garlic mixture.  The topping takes these slider over the top with flavor!  Easy to assemble and then pop them in the oven to melt the cheese and heat up that topping.  Yum!  I'm ready to make another batch just thinking about them.

Enjoy!

What Ingredients do I need?

• dinner rolls
• spicy brown mustard
• mayonnaise
• sliced deli ham
• sliced Swiss cheese
• butter
• poppy seeds
• garlic

Substitutions and Variations

• Use Hawaiian Sweet rolls

• Use any sandwich condiment you like, or try adding some horseradish to the mayo

• Switch up the cheese, try pepper jack, provolone, or Monterey Jack

• Change the meat to turkey or roast beef

• Use the topping for any slider, try Italian cold cuts with provolone etc.

Kitchen Tips and Notes

• Make sure to cut the rolls in half horizontally without separating the rolls.  It will make assembly so much easier.

• You will need aluminum foil to cover the sliders when baking.

• Taking the aluminum foil off for the last 5-10 minutes will help them get brown and a little crustier on the top.

• Make as many slider as your want to fit the situation or number of people you are serving.

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to emails at the top of this page and follow along on Facebook,  and Pinterest for all of the latest updates.

Ham and Swiss Sliders

makes 12 sliders

1 package of 12 dinner rolls

spicy brown mustard
mayonnaise

1 pound sliced deli ham
6 slices Swiss cheese, halved
4 Tablespoons butter, melted
2 teaspoons poppy seeds
2 cloves garlic, minced

Preheat your over to 350 degrees.

Without separating rolls, cut rolls in half horizontally and then place bottom halves of rolls in a baking pan. Spread bottom rolls with spicy brown mustard, and the tops with mayo.  Layer with ham and cheese, then place on the tops.  

In a small bowl add melted butter, poppy seeds, and minced garlic.  Stir to combine.  Brush the tops of the rolls with the butter mixture making sure to get the garlic and poppy seed that tend to go to the bottom of the mixture.  Cover with aluminum foil.

Bake, covered, 20 minutes. Uncover and bake another 5 minutes.  Serve hot.

Southwest Chicken Chili

Father's Day is tomorrow and it's time to celebrate all the Dads you know. 

My dad loved a good steak dinner, but today I've made another of his favorites...chili.  Dad loved a good bowl of chili topped with shredded cheddar cheese.  So hearty, comforting, and just plain good!  So let's make a down home, comfort food meal for Father's Day.

Today's chili is my quick and easy version, since it uses pantry items and/or leftovers such as pre-cooked chicken and canned ingredients.  It makes a ton of chili...enough to share with the entire family.  You can certainly halve the recipe to make less if you want.  

This isn't your standard beef chili though.  It is a delicious southwestern style chicken chili.  It's the bomb and I can hear my Dad saying "Baby, this is some damn good chili!"

This would also be the perfect game day meal.  Serve it with cornbread and you are all good to go.

Kitchen Tip:  This chili is quite hot.  You can adjust the spice to your liking by increasing or reducing the amount of chili flakes that you use.

Make a dish your dad will love and enjoy!  Happy Father's Day!!

Southwest Chicken Chili

serves 10

2 T canola oil
1 medium onion, small dice
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans (16 ounces each) black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans (15 ounces each) chili beans, drained
1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, with the juices
3 cups cooked chicken, cut in chunks
1 1/3 cups 2% milk
1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 T chicken stock concentrate
1 bay leaf
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp onion powder,
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
salt & pepper to taste
Optional Toppings:  shredded cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, diced red onion, avocado slices, jalapeno slices, sour cream

In a large pot, heat oil over a medium high heat. Add onion and cook about 7 minutes, until translucent and tender. Add garlic and stir cooking 1 minute.

Stir in remaining ingredients and bring it to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook uncovered about 15-20 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and serve.  Top with your favorite toppings.

Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Flatbread

I know it's tailgating season...

Sorry to say we don't really tailgate in Southern California.  Shhh! I know, crazy huh?  Not that we wouldn't like to mind you, but we don't even have a football team in LA.  Tailgating at a Laker game?  Not so much.  It's just not a thing that's done out here.  BUT...we still love the food!  

Tailgating food is it's own category now!  I mean, who wouldn't love something cooked outdoors, celebrating your favorite team?  All that finger food, yummy down home snacks and hearty dishes make you enjoy the game even more.

So we can tailgate (or pretend to) at home watching the game on TV!  Eating good food is a great reason to watch the game (in my book at least!).

So this recipe is just perfect for tailgating, or eating at home in front of the TV.  You can prepare it on a grill, or in the oven, works both ways.  It a perfect snack that you can cut up in appetizer portions.  Or make a double batch and just have this for a light dinner.  It's perfect, simple, and tastes great!

Who wouldn't want Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Flatbread to snack on?  I don't know any man that wouldn't!  The flatbread is light and crispy and the topping is full of flavor.  Even the hot little tomatoes burst in your mouth when you bite it.  Heaven!

The key for making this outdoors would be to make the dough ahead and prebake the flatbread.  Then just place on your toppings at your location and finish heating on the grill.  

(I just noticed that this one doesn't have any basil on it!  I left the basil off of one of the flatbread and put it on the other...my brilliant self took a pic of the wrong flatbread....oh well, you get the idea!)

Make sure to whip this up at your next tailgating session, at the stadium, or at home!  It is sure to make an impression.

Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Flatbread

makes 2 flatbreads (8 slices)

Flatbread dough:
1 to 1 1/2 c flour
1 tsp active dry yeast
1/4 t salt
1/2 c warm water
1 T olive oil

In a mixing bowl combine 1/2 c flour, the yeast, and salt.  Add the warm water and oil and beat with a hand mixer for about 3 minutes.  Using a sturdy wooden spoon stir in a much of the remaining flour as possible.

Put dough on a slightly floured surface.  Knead dough for about 6-8 minutes.  You are looking for a dough that is smooth and elastic, and slightly stiff.  Divide dough in half and allow to rest 10 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Prepare a baking sheet by brushing some olive oil on the sheets.  Roll each dough into a 9x6 rectangle.  Roll edges up slightly to form a ridge.  Transfer dough to the baking sheet.  Repeat process with remaining dough.  Prick dough with a fork to deter the dough from puffing.

Bake for 15-18 minutes or until dough is browned.  Remove from oven.

Topping for Flatbread
1/2 lb fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
1 1/2 c red and yellow cherry tomatoes, halved
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 fresh basil, roughly chopped
Coarse ground black pepper

To assemble and bake the flatbread:  Top each flatbread evenly with cheese, tomatoes, and garlic.  In a 400 degree oven. Bake for about 5 minutes until cheese is melted. (If using a grill, cook with the lid closed over medium-high heat for 5 min.)  Sprinkle with basil and black pepper.  Cut each flatbread into 4 slices and serve.