Car dinner
Warm, pull-apart sliders that fill up a whole back seat of hungry kids.
You pull the foil pack from the bag and pass warm sliders back, one per hand, on the way to the field.
They are soft, a little melty, and they hold their heat just long enough for a straight-shot drive.
Ingredients
Plan car dinner ham and cheese sliders around makes 12 sliders and about 30 minutes.
- 12 slider rolls, kept connected
- 12 oz sliced deli ham
- 8 slices Swiss or cheddar
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
How to Make It
Make car dinner ham and cheese sliders in a way that respects tired kids, short windows, and the need for a backup.
- Heat the oven to 350F. Slice the whole sheet of rolls in half horizontally and set the bottom in a baking dish.
- Layer on the ham and cheese, then set the top of the rolls back on.
- Stir the melted butter with the Dijon, poppy seeds, and garlic powder, then brush it over the tops.
- Cover with foil and bake 15 minutes, then uncover and bake 5 minutes more until the cheese melts and the tops turn golden.
- Cool slightly, cut into individual sliders, and wrap the foil pack for the car. These are good warm or at room temp.
Pack It Cold and Tidy
Ham and cheese sliders are good warm or at room temp, but if they sit longer than 2 hours they need the cooler.
- Eat them within 2 hours of baking, or pack them against two ice packs to hold longer
- Keep cold food at 40F or below if you are chilling them for later
- A foil pack keeps the warmth in for a short ride straight to the game
What Stays Crisp (and What Gets Soggy)
These travel as a foil pack, which keeps them soft and pull-apart, just how they should be.
- Keep them wrapped in their foil so they hold heat and stay together
- Pack any extra mustard on the side rather than adding more inside
- Cut them just before packing so they do not dry out at the edges
- Serve with: pickle spears, apple slices
Parent Tip
Slicing the whole sheet of rolls at once, then filling and cutting after baking, keeps assembly fast.
Make It Fit Tonight
Small Tweaks That Help This Dinner Land
Make them turkey and Swiss
An easy swap that is just as savory and pull-apart.
Add a layer of pesto
Brush a thin layer inside for a herby, grown-up flavor.
Go Hawaiian
Use sweet rolls and add pineapple for a sweet-savory slider.
Skip the poppy seeds
Leave them off for kids who do not like the little specks.
Add caramelized onions
A thin layer makes these taste like a deli special.
Plan The Next Step
Plan the carpool nights
Use the planner to mark the games where you are feeding a carful on the move.