Simple and fast to put together, these Ham, Cheese, and Monte Cristo Cream Sliders make a great snack, finger food, or heavy appetizer when you want to give your guests something tasty but are running short on time. Just be sure to provide plenty of napkins because these mini sandwiches will likely have your company licking their fingers.
Before we started a keto / low-carb life, if I was having company for lunch on a weekend, I loved using Hawaiian rolls to make some quick sliders. I either put them together the night prior, if I was feeling ambitious, or shortly before my company was expected. No getting out of bed super early was required. For a long time, the simplicity of this snack / lunch / appetizer was lost to me. If I wanted to make them, I first had to make my own keto rolls from scratch. I can do that, but that kind of defeats the idea of this being quick and easy. Fortunately, commercial food science has started to catch up with the times; and I can now just buy rolls or buns that are low-carb. Yay, quick and easy once again!
The Monte Cristo part of these Ham and Cheese Sliders was derived from my Monte Cristo Pull-aparts. Originally, I think I was planning to spread cream cheese on the wrap and then a layer of jelly. However, I was short on time and of course had forgotten to soften my cream cheese. (I’d decided to make roll-ups for a Women’s Group lunch at work and was doing this between the hours of 4:00 am and 5:00 am. Yeah . . . I’ve had brighter ideas.) My innate impatience led to the brainstorm of just combining the cream cheese and jelly in the microwave and “softening” them that way. It worked and my Monte Cristo sauce was a hit. I considered it a prime candidate for additional applications, such as these sliders.
Making Ham, Cheese, and Monte Cristo Cream Sliders
As with many of my dinner party recipes, especially appetizers, these Ham, Cheese, and Monte Cristo Cream Sliders give you some flexibility on prep work. You can easily throw together at the last minute or make them in advance and store them in the fridge.
Making the Monte Cristo Cream Sauce
First, go ahead and make the Monte Cristo Cream Sauce. In a medium, microwave-safe bowl combine 1 (8-ounce) package of cream cheese with 6.5 ounces of Sugar Free Blackberry Preserves. This is roughly half of a 12.75-ounce jar. You can swap the Blackberry Preserves out for any flavor you like.
Microwave the combination on the defrost setting for 45 seconds. Stir. Then repeat, using 10 second intervals until the cream cheese and jam are soft. Stir until they are completely combined. The Monte Cristo Cream Sauce should have the consistency of easily spreadable icing.
Assembling the Ham, Cheese, and Monte Cristo Cream Sliders
You have two options for how you want to serve these sliders–hot or cold. If you want to serve the cold, skip the steps of spraying the dish with cooking spray and drizzling them with melted salted butter.
To get started with the assembly, spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish or pan with cooking spray. If you are working with keto hot dog buns, separate the tops and bottoms of the buns. If, instead you’re using keto dinner rolls, cut them in half. Spread an even layer of the Monte Cristo Cream Sauce on the bottoms of the buns and then line them in the dish / pan.
Next, layer the ham and cheese before spreading on half of the Dijon mustard, followed by another layer of the Monte Cristo Cream Sauce. After that, add one more layer of ham and cheese. Again, follow up with the remaining half of the Dijon mustard and another layer of the Monte Cristo Cream Sauce.
Set the tops of the buns or rolls on top. If you are preparing this in advance, pause here, cover the dish and place it in the refrigerator.
Baking the Sliders
When you are ready to heat them, melt 1.5 tablespoons of salted butter and brush it over the tops of the rolls / buns.
Bake at 350° F for 30 minutes. The ham should be heated through, the cheese should be melted, and the tops should be toasty but not burnt. I suggest checking them after 20 minutes and then putting them back in the oven for up to 10 more minutes as needed.
Cut the sliders before serving to make them more easily grabbable. In the event you are using keto hot dog buns, cut them into thirds, which will yield 30 sliders.
Serve warm. However, these also make great leftovers, either hot or cold.
Related Recipes
In case you’re looking for some ideas of what to serve along side these sliders, check out my Belated Holiday, Slumber, Brunch Party for some menu ideas.
If you just happen to be looking for something similar, check out my Chicken, Cheddar, and Ranch Sliders.
Ham, Cheese, and Monte Cristo Cream Sliders
Ingredients
- 30 Low carb / Keto Dinner Rolls OR 10 Hot Dog Buns Sliced open the whole way through
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese 1 8 ounce package. Softened.
- 6.5 ounces Sugar Free Blackberry Preserves 1/2 of a 12.75 ounce jar (Seedless. Feel free to swap out another berry flavor if you prefer or blackberry isn’t available.)
- 24 slices Thick Sliced Ham Approximately 24 slices OR enough to cover the full size of the pan twice
- 24 slices Provolone Cheese Approximately 24 slices OR enough to cover the full size of the pan twice
- ½ cup Dijon Mustard
- 1.5 tablespoons Salted Butter Melted
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray and preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- To a microwavable mixing bowl, add the block of cream cheese and the ½ jar of sugar free jam. Microwave on the defrost setting for 45 seconds. Stir. Then repeat, using 10 second intervals until the cream cheese and jam are soft. Stir to completely combine. It should have the consistency of easily spreadable icing.8 ounces Cream Cheese 1, 6.5 ounces Sugar Free Blackberry Preserves
- Break or cut the 30 Low carb / Keto Dinner Rolls or keto hot dog buns in half and spread the cream cheese and jam mixture on both the tops and bottoms.30 Low carb / Keto Dinner Rolls
- Line the bottom of the baking pan with the bottoms of the rolls.30 Low carb / Keto Dinner Rolls
- Layer slices of ham and then cheese on top of the rolls.24 slices Thick Sliced Ham, 24 slices Provolone Cheese
- Spread half of the Dijon mustard over the cheese.½ cup Dijon Mustard
- Repeat with a second layer of ham, cheese, and mustard.24 slices Thick Sliced Ham, 24 slices Provolone Cheese, ½ cup Dijon Mustard
- Top with the remaining halves of the rolls.30 Low carb / Keto Dinner Rolls
- Melt your salted butter. Using a basting brush, lightly brush the tops of the rolls with the melted butter.1.5 tablespoons Salted Butter
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted, ham is heated through, and tops are lightly browned but not burnt. Check after 20 minutes and put in for up to another 10 minutes as needed.
- Pre-cut the sliders before serving. If using hot dog buns, cut each bun into thirds, which should yield 30 sliders.
- Serve from the baking dish with a cut-and-server turner or remove to a serving dish and pre-cut the rolls apart for ease of grabbing by your guests.
Equipment
- Spoons
- Butter Knives
- Chef's Knife for pre-cutting the sliders
- Medium Bowl for mixing the Monte Cristo Cream Sauce
- Cooking Spray
