Monte Cristo Sliders
When you need something easy and ridiculously fast, it’s time for a batch of Monte Cristo Sliders from your freezer meal stash. These simple but delicious sandwiches are something your elementary or tween students can help you prepare, and they will love getting in the kitchen with you for basic recipes like this.
Sandwiches made from dinner rolls or Hawaiian rolls are a quick and easy meal you can pull together in minutes. They make a great option for the tweens or teens at home to throw in the oven when Mom and Dad are out on a date or running errands at meal time. Serve a variety of sandwiches made from the same basic recipe concept just by changing up key ingredients like cheese, meat, and toppings. Ham and cheese sliders, turkey sliders, or pizza sliders are just a few of the possible flavor combinations. Join the club for even more recipes.
What is a Monte Cristo Sandwich?
Technically, this sandwich of ham, turkey, and Swiss is one that has been battered or dipped in egg and fried, and is usually made from sweet bread such as brioche. We made a simpler, baked version. The buttery topping gives the effect of frying, and the Hawaiian rolls adds the sweetness.
Monte Cristo Sliders Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 connected dinner rolls or Hawaiian rolls
- 6 large slices cheddar cheese
- 12 slices roasted turkey deli meat
- 12 slices honey ham deli meat
- 6 large slices Swiss cheese
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
How to Make Monte Cristo Sliders
Assembly Instructions
- Place the buns on a flat surface and slice the buns all together.
- Put the bottom part of the buns in a 9×13 aluminum baking tray.
- Layer cheddar cheese, roasted turkey, honey ham, and then the Swiss cheese on top of the buns and then replace the top layer of the buns.
- Brush the melted butter over top of the buns.
- Cover the tray with a layer of plastic wrap and two layers of aluminum foil and store in the freezer until you’re ready to eat.
Cooking Instructions
- Thaw overnight in the fridge
- Remove the plastic wrap and replace the foil.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes until the buns are toasted and the cheese is melted.
- Slice the buns to cut the sliders.
- Pull the sandwiches apart out of the tray and serve.
How do I know when the sandwiches are done?
The trick is to pull them out as soon as the cheese is melty and before they have a chance to start burning. Keep an eye on them because all ovens vary. I find it easier to set a timer because these finish so fast, its easy to burn them. Always start checking them before the stated time on the recipe, especially the first few times you make the recipe.
Recipe Ideas for Monte Cristo Sliders
This freezer meal is one of the easiest to modify. Just change up the cheese or the meat for a completely different flavor. Add sauce such as BBQ, ranch, or pizza sauce for a new twist. Instead of plain butter, use butter with minced onion, garlic powder, and a dash of Worcestershire to brush on the tops of your sandwich. Add a sprinkling of sesame seeds before the sandwiches are baked.
I like to use disposable baking trays from the warehouse store for freezer meal cooking. They are perfect for freezing the food, and then they can be thrown away when you are done for easy cleanup.
I like to use a very large bread knife to slice the buns. I find that keeping the top layer of buns connected is the best approach, so I try to slice them as one big piece. It can be tricky to keep the knife level for a consistent thickness, so I try to anchor my hand to the kitchen counter as a guide as I cut.
You can use thinly sliced leftover ham and/or turkey from the holidays for your Monte Cristo Sliders.
Split the sandwiches into two sets of six for a little more flexibility in how many you serve. I often need exactly 1.5 recipes to feed my crew.
Other interesting sandwich ingredients can work here: sauteed mushrooms, peppers, and onions.
How do I store Monte Cristo Sliders
Leftovers can be kept in a large, resealable plastic bag and reheated for about ten to fifteen seconds in the microwave. Do not refreeze leftovers of this dish.
What to Serve with Monte Cristo Sliders
I like to keep it really simple and serve these with a bag of chips and some freshly washed grapes or strawberries. You can spend just a little more time and slice a watermelon and bake some tater tots or fries if you have double ovens.
Our other make ahead sliders:
- 12 dinner rolls or Hawaiian rolls
- 6 large slices cheddar cheese,
- 12 slices roasted turkey deli meat
- 12 slices honey ham deli meat
- 6 large slices Swiss cheese,
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
-
Place the buns on a flat surface and slice the buns all together.
-
Put the bottom part of the buns in a 9×13 aluminum baking tray.
-
Layer cheddar cheese, roasted turkey, honey ham, and then the Swiss cheese on top of the buns and then replace the top layer of the buns.
-
Brush the melted butter over top of the buns.
-
Cover the tray with a layer of plastic wrap and two layers of aluminum foil and store in the freezer until you’re ready to eat.
-
Thaw overnight in the fridge.
-
Remove the plastic wrap and replace the foil.
-
Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake for 20 minutes.
-
Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes until the buns are toasted and the cheese is melted.
-
Slice the buns to cut the sliders.
-
Pull the sandwiches apart out of the tray and serve.