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Baked Ham and Swiss Christmas Sandwiches

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Baked Ham and Swiss Christmas Sandwiches

We don’t have a tradition for breakfast on Christmas.  Some years we have a make ahead casserole, others we have some pastries and fruit, and last year I made biscuits and gravy.   While our breakfast always changes, our lunch does not.  As soon as we’re done opening presents, these baked ham and swiss sandwiches are getting assembled and put in the oven.

My mom has no clue where the recipe came from but she’s been eating these baked ham and swiss sandwiches for as long as she can remember.  A few months ago,  I came across similar recipes for ‘football’ or ‘tailgate’ sandwiches, consisting of a baked ham and swiss sandwich doused in a buttery poppyseed sauce.  After doing some reading, it seems the recipe  was passed down from Junior League Cookbooks and now there are variations being served at football games all over the south.

These sandwiches may surprise you. They don’t look like much and they aren’t pretty or fancy, but don’t underestimate how great they taste.  Only a few ingredients are needed and you can assemble them within 15 minutes. You even have the option of assembling and wrapping them the day before so they are ready to throw in the oven whenever you want them. Serve them whenever you want, but to me these will always be Christmas sandwiches.

Start by whisking together the ingredients for the sauce.

Baked Ham and Swiss Christmas Sandwiches

Brush the insides of each bun with a generous amount of the sauce.  If you don’t have a brush, just use the back of a spoon.

Baked Ham and Swiss Christmas Sandwiches

Divide the meat evenly among the buns and top each with a slice of swiss cheese.

Baked Ham and Swiss Christmas Sandwiches

Wrap each sandwich in tin foil.  I usually flip the sandwich upside down so the extra foil insulates the bottom of the sandwich and prevent it from scorching. In all fairness, my mom taught me this trick.
Baked Ham and Swiss Christmas Sandwiches

Place the sandwiches on a sheet tray and bake them for 15-20 minutes, or until the buns are toasty, the meat is hot, and the cheese is melted.

Baked Ham and Swiss Christmas Sandwiches

Unwrap your sandwiches and serve them with potato chips and french onion dip. They are best hot but are good at room temperature too.
Baked Ham and Swiss Christmas Sandwiches

Yields 8 Sandwiches

Baked Ham and Swiss Christmas Sandwiches
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Ingredients

Sauce:

8 Tablespoons (4 ounces or 1 Stick) Butter, melted

1 Teaspoon Poppy Seeds

4 Tablespoons Dried Onion, rehydrated (see note)

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce

1/4 Cup Dijon Mustard

1/4 Cup Brown Sugar

1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt

1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper

For Sandwiches:

8 Sandwich Buns

1# Shaved Deli Ham

8 Slices Swiss Cheese

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

To make the sauce: In small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, poppy seeds, dried onion, worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard, brown sugar, salt, and pepper.

To Assemble Sandwiches: Spread sauce onto inside of each sandwich bun. Evenly divide ham on each sandwich bun bottom and top with a slice of cheese and the bun lid.

Individually wrap each sandwich in tin foil and place on a sheet pan.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the bun is toasty, the ham is hot, and the cheese is melted.

Notes

Sandwiches may be frozen. Bake at 300 for 30 minutes.

To rehydrate dried onion, soak dried onion in a little bit of warm water until fully hydrated and then drain excess water. 1/4 cup of fresh minced yellow onion can be substituted.

I prefer to use King's Hawaiian Buns but any soft sandwich bun can be used.

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Filed Under: Dinner, Holiday, Meat, Recipes, Savory Tagged With: baked ham and swiss sandwiches, christmas, Food, football sandwiches, ham and swiss, Recipes, sandwiches, tailgate sandwiches

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Comments

  1. Catherine says

    January 7, 2015 at 9:13 pm

    These were wonderful! I used the fresh onion option.
    Reply
    • Jordan Hamons says

      January 7, 2015 at 9:26 pm

      Thank you! I am glad you liked them. That means a lot, especially coming from someone who does not like onion!
      Reply
  2. Michelle Emenecker says

    July 11, 2015 at 2:25 pm

    So yummy! Reminds me of when I was little & my Nana used to make hot ham & cheese sandwiches - but these are better with the mustard!
    Reply
    • Jordan Hamons says

      July 13, 2015 at 9:47 pm

      Hi Michelle - thanks for commenting! These are my favorite sandwiches. It seems almost everyone has a version from their family or from their childhood and I love hearing the different variations and stories behind them.
      Reply
  3. beth says

    July 9, 2018 at 3:17 pm

    have you ever baked these in a nesco roaster? Or stacked them in a roaster to keep them warm after?
    Reply

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The Hungry Traveler by Jordan Hamons is a culinary travel blog about globally inspired cooking and food-focused travel.
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