Cuban Sliders

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5 from 6 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 30 minutes

These Cuban Sliders layer ham, pulled pork, Swiss cheese, and dill pickles between Hawaiian rolls, all baked under a buttery, seasoned topping. Nine ingredients and 30 minutes are all you need for a sandwich that feeds a crowd. This is the party food I make when I need something everyone will grab seconds of.

Some other great party sliders that I’ve tried include Crockpot Italian Beef Sliders or Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders.

Two Cuban sliders piled high with tender pulled pork, melted cheese, and tangy pickle slices on a white plate, served alongside a small glass bowl of sliced pickles.

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Why this Recipe is a Keeper

These Cuban sliders are a go-to for game day and picnics.

  • 30 Minute Meal: These sliders come together easily in 30 minutes.
  • Easy Ingredients: Individual sliders only need a few ingredients from the deli.
  • Family Friendly: Everyone loves these loaded with ham and melted cheese.
  • Great Leftovers: Leftover ham makes a great cold snack with cheese slices.

Why Do They Call This Sandwich a Cuban?

Three Cuban sliders with pulled pork, melted cheese, and pickles on a white plate, topped with a savory seasoning blend.

Cuban sandwiches are called Cubans because they originated in Cuba before becoming popular in Florida. Traditional versions layer roast pork and ham with Swiss cheese and pickles.

This slider version keeps that same combination in a smaller, party friendly size. The mustard and buttery topping round out the classic flavor.

Pro Tip

Warm the pulled pork and ham slightly before assembling for even heat distribution once baked.

Ingredient Notes

A couple of ingredients make these sliders taste authentic.

This is an overview of key ingredients. Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.

Ingredients for Cuban Sliders are arranged on a counter: slider buns, pulled pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, melted butter, and seasonings in small bowls.
  • Pulled Pork: Use prepared pulled pork without barbecue sauce so the Cuban flavors come through.
  • Slider Rolls: Hawaiian rolls work great, though potato rolls or poppy seed buns also work.

Variations and Substitutions

These sliders are easy to make your own.

➡️ Add Dijon Sauce: Swap in a Dijon mustard sauce for extra tang.
➡️ Switch the Cheese: Try gruyere, pepper jack, or provolone instead of Swiss.
➡️ Use Different Meat: Salami or another deli meat works well in place of ham.

Special Equipment Needed To Make It Easier

A few basic tools make these sliders easy to assemble.

  • 9×13 Baking Dish: Bake the sliders together in one dish for easy serving.
  • Measuring Spoons: Measure out the mustard and butter topping precisely.
  • Chef’s Knife: Use a sharp knife to slice through the rolls in one motion.

How to Make the Recipe

These Cuban sliders come together in three stages.

These are just highlights. Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.

Four-panel image showing the steps of assembling Cuban Sliders: plain bread, bread with crumbs, bread topped with slices of ham, and bread topped with shredded meat.
  • Layer the Sliders. Spread mustard on the rolls, then layer ham, pulled pork, pickles, and cheese.
  • Add the Topping. Spoon the buttery seasoned topping evenly over the assembled sliders.
  • Bake. Bake covered, then uncovered, until golden and the cheese is melted.
Four-step collage showing assembly of Cuban Sliders with pulled pork and cheese, layered with pickles on square buns and topped with seasoning before baking.

Prep Ahead and Short Cut Tips

These sliders are great for making ahead of a party.

➡️ Assemble the Night Before: Assemble the sliders in the baking dish, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
➡️ Bake When Ready: Bake straight from the fridge, adding a few extra minutes if needed.

Can I Make These Cuban Sliders Ahead of Time?

Yes, assemble the sandwiches in the baking dish and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight and bake the next day.

I don’t recommend freezing leftovers, as these sliders are best enjoyed fresh. The bread can turn soggy after freezing and thawing.

A Cuban Slider-inspired pulled pork slider with melted cheese and pickles on a seeded bun sits on a white plate, with more sliders and a small bowl of pickles in the background.

How to Store, Reheat, and Use Leftovers

  • Storing: Store leftover sliders in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of days.
  • Reheating: Reheat in a 350 degree F oven until warmed through and the cheese is melty again.
  • Using Leftovers: Serve leftover sliders alongside my Amish Broccoli Salad, or pair them with my Fruit Salsa for a full spread.

Expert Tips for Making This Recipe

➡️ Double the Recipe: Split the ingredients into two baking dishes for a bigger crowd.
➡️ Try a Panini Press: Toast the outside of the sliders before baking for extra crunch.
➡️ Don’t Overfill: Overfilled rolls turn soggy and fall apart, so keep fillings modest.
➡️ Swap the Meat: Salami or another deli meat works if you want to switch things up.

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Two Cuban sliders piled high with tender pulled pork, melted cheese, and tangy pickle slices on a white plate, served alongside a small glass bowl of sliced pickles.

Easy Baked Cuban Sliders

5 from 6 votes
These Cuban Sliders layer ham, pulled pork, Swiss cheese, and pickles between Hawaiian rolls under a buttery, seasoned topping. They bake up golden in about 25 minutes.
Prep Time : 5 minutes
Cook Time : 25 minutes
Total Time : 30 minutes
Servings: 12 sliders
Course: Main Dish

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Ingredients
  

SLIDERS

  • 12 Hawaiian dinner rolls
  • 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • ¾ pound Sliced deli ham
  • 1 pound Prepared pulled pork, without BBQ sauce
  • 12 slices Swiss cheese
  • 24 Dill pickle chips

BUTTER TOPPING

  • 4 tablespoons Butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons Everything bagel seasoning

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350℉.
  • Keeping the slider rolls attached to each other, place them in a 9×13 baking dish.
  • Use a serrated knife to slice through the center of the rolls, creating a top layer and a bottom layer, and set the top layer aside.
  • Spread the mustard evenly over the bottom half of the rolls.
  • Top with the deli ham, pulled pork, pickles, and Swiss cheese.
  • Place the top layer of rolls back on top of the sandwiches.
  • Combine the butter topping ingredients in a small bowl.
  • Spoon the butter mixture evenly over the rolls, making sure each slider is coated.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
  • Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes, until golden brown and the cheese is melted.

Christina’s Notes

  • Keep Rolls Attached: Slicing the whole sheet at once keeps assembly quick and even.
  • Coat Every Slider: Spread the butter topping to the edges so no roll is left dry.
  • Watch the Bake Time: Uncover only for the last 5 minutes so the tops don’t over-brown.
  • Store Properly: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for a couple of days.
Helpful Tips for All RecipesThese quick tips will help you get perfect results every time.

  • Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
  • Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
  • Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
  • Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
  • Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.

For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.

Nutrition

Calories: 248kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 21gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 424mgPotassium: 298mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 135IUVitamin C: 6.1mgCalcium: 147mgIron: 1.5mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. It is recommended that you verify this information with your own trusted resource.
Did You Make This Recipe?Leave a review & star rating to let everyone know what you thought.
We love honest feedback, but to keep reviews helpful for everyone, we reserve the right to remove star ratings if it is clear the recipe has not been made, if the comment does not provide meaningful input, or if significant substitutions or alterations were made. Please note that ratings should reflect the original recipe as written to avoid confusing other readers.

This recipe is my personal adaption of an ethnic-inspired recipe. It is not intended to be an authentic recipe.  I’ve recreated this recipe because I enjoy the flavors and I want to encourage my readers to expand their tastes and try new flavor combinations. The recipe, ingredients, and processes may have been adapted to make the recipe accessible to the average American. I have provided links to authentic versions of the recipe in the post above. I encourage you to visit these pages and learn more about the traditional version(s) of this recipe.

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6 thoughts on “Cuban Sliders”

  1. 5 stars
    Rats I can’t believe I missed the giveaway! Hmph! Summer is so busy! But I love this yummy recipe! Can’t wait to try it! 🙂

    Reply
  2. This is definitely one I need to make. They look so good and it’s perfect for busy days with (home)school starting back up.

    Reply
5 from 6 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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