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cuban sliders on a blue plate in front of a stack of plates and a set of salt and pepper shakers

Cuban Sliders


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 5 reviews

  • Author: Glenda Embree
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 9 sliders 1x

Description

Cuban sliders are scrumptious mini Cuban sandwiches. They hit every salty, sweet, savory and sour flavor note with superb perfection! And, they’re easy to make. 

Think thin slices of spicy, citrus and cinnamon spiked pork roast, stacked with ham, Swiss cheese, mustard and dill pickle on a sweet Hawaiian roll. Homemade herb and garlic butter adds another layer of savory flavors. Your taste buds will be firing on all cylinders when you taste these delectable mini Cuban sandwiches.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound Leftover Pork Carnitas Roast (or other pork roast)
  • 1/4 pound Thinly Sliced Ham
  • 7 slices Baby Swiss Cheese
  • 9 Sweet Hawaiian Rolls I used Sweet Hawaiian Slider Buns.
  • 9 Dill Pickle Chips
  • 3 Tablespoons Garlic Butter
  • 2 Tablespoons Yellow or Dijon Mustard

Instructions

  1. Place the dill pickle chips on a paper towel to drain.  Blot them with another paper towel to remove any excess moisture.
  2. Make garlic herb butter.  (recipe in notes)
  3. Cut the cheese slices into quarters.
  4. Cut the ham into roughly 2 1/2″ squares.  (Use about 1/2 ounce per slider)
  5. Cut the pork roast into roughly 2 1/2 squares.  (Use a little less than 2 ounces per slider.)
  6. Use the garlic butter to butter the top and bottom bun for each slider.
  7. Spread 1/4 teaspoon of mustard on the top and bottom bun of each slider
  8. Arrange the bottom buns in a 9×9 pan. (3 rows of 3)
  9. Place one 1/4 Swiss cheese slice on each of the bottom buns.
  10. After cheese, pickles are next.  One chip per slider.
  11. Add one ham slice on each slider.  (The pork roast is the star in this sandwich.  Don’t overdo the ham.)
  12. After ham, Swiss cheese slice again.
  13. Now arrange just under 2 ounces of the pork roast slices you prepared, onto each slider.
  14. Top the pork roast with the final 1/4 Swiss cheese slice.
  15. Place the buttered top buns with mustard onto each slider.
  16. Serve the Cuban sliders hot or cold.
  17. To heat the sliders, cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes, until the cheese is melted.

Notes

Garlic Herb Butter Recipe

Mix all ingredients until fully incorporated.  Use for garlic rolls, sliders, sandwiches or any place garlic butter is called for in a recipe.

NOTE 1:  If you don’t use the Carnitas Pork Roast recommended in the recipe, be sure to choose one with bold flavor.  Maple Mustard Pork Loin is another good option, but I would add at least 1/2 teaspoon of Southwestern Seasoning to the garlic butter if you make Cuban Sandwiches with it.

NOTE 2:  If you don’t have ham on hand when you have pork roast, you can easily leave it off the sliders without dramatically impacting the taste.  Traditional Cuban sandwiches include it, but we often use just the pork roast.

Note 3: Blotting the pickles is important if you’re serving the sliders hot.  It will keep the sliders from becoming soggy on the bottom.  Both the top and the bottom of the sliders should crisp up, slightly, while baking.

Note 4:  Try some variations if you are out of an ingredient or don’t really care for it.  If the ham, Swiss cheese combo doesn’t work for you, I hear they use salami, instead, in some parts of South Florida.  You could also try subbing in Provolone or Gouda.  Just remember that the pork roast is the star, so additional ingredients shouldn’t cover the fantastic flavor.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish, Appetizer, Pork, Sandwiches
  • Method: Cold or Baked
  • Cuisine: Cuban American