Okay, so ham and cheese sticks might sound like the most boring snack ever, but hear me out. These things are ADDICTIVE. Like, I made a batch last Saturday for my daughter’s soccer team snack rotation and had to make another batch that same night because my family devoured half of them before we even left the house.
I think I first saw this ham and cheese sticks recipe on Pinterest… or maybe Instagram? Honestly can’t remember. But I’ve tweaked it like five times now and finally got it where I want it.
The magic is that they’re basically the easiest homemade ham and cheese sticks you’ll ever make, but everyone thinks you spent hours in the kitchen doing fancy appetizer things. Nope. Just wrapping stuff and throwing it in the oven.
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Why These Easy Ham and Cheese Sticks Work So Well
Look, I’m gonna be honest with you. The first time I attempted these, I used regular sliced bread and they turned out… soggy. Disaster. Complete disaster. My husband took one bite and said “it’s… interesting” which is code for “this is terrible but I love you.”
But then I figured out the secret—you need a wrapper that gets CRISPY. Eggroll wrappers work amazing. So do crescent roll dough sheets. Both turn golden and crunchy while keeping all that melty cheese locked inside.
These ham cheese stick appetizer bites are perfect for:
- After school snacks (my 9-year-old eats like four of them)
- Party food (made them for New Year’s and they disappeared in 10 minutes)
- Lunch boxes (if you have a thermos situation going on)
- Late night snacking when you’re too lazy to actually cook
And they’re way better than those frozen mozzarella sticks from the store. Just saying.
Ingredients for Ham and Cheese Sticks
Here’s what you need for these quick ham and cheese sticks:
Main Version (Using Eggroll Wrappers):
- 12 eggroll wrappers
- 12 slices deli ham (I use honey ham but any kind works)
- 12 mozzarella string cheese sticks
- Olive oil for brushing
- Garlic salt to taste
- Optional: marinara sauce for dipping
You can find eggroll wrappers in the produce section near the tofu and weird vegetables nobody ever buys. Good luck if your store is out though—mine is ALWAYS out and I end up going to three different grocery stores like a maniac.
Crescent Roll Version (Kid-Favorite):
- 2 tubes crescent dough sheets
- 1 lb deli sliced ham
- 8 cheddar cheese sticks (not mozzarella this time)
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ tablespoon dried minced onion or onion powder
- ½ tablespoon poppy seeds
Don’t buy pre-shredded cheese thinking you can substitute. Just don’t. Get the actual cheese sticks. Trust me on this one.
How to Make Ham and Cheese Sticks
Method 1: Baked Ham and Cheese Sticks (Eggroll Wrapper Version)
Step 1: Get Everything Ready
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper because if you skip this step, you’ll be scraping melted cheese off your pan for approximately 47 years.
Step 2: Assemble the Sticks
Lay out one eggroll wrapper in a diamond shape on your counter. Place a slice of ham in the center, then put a mozzarella stick right in the middle of the ham.
Now here’s where it gets slightly tricky—fold in the sides of the wrapper over the cheese, then roll the whole thing up tight like you’re making a burrito. It’ll look weird at first, kinda like you’re doing origami wrong, but that’s normal.
Place it seam-side down on your baking sheet. The key is—oh wait, I forgot to mention—make sure it’s rolled TIGHT. If it’s loose, the cheese will escape during baking and you’ll have a cheese puddle situation. Been there.
Repeat with all the remaining wrappers. Set a timer so you don’t lose track. Or don’t, and forget like I always do.
Step 3: Season and Bake
Brush each stick lightly with olive oil. I just use a pastry brush, but honestly sometimes I just drizzle it and spread it with my fingers because who has time for extra dishes?
Sprinkle garlic salt on top. Be generous. Garlic salt is life.
Bake for 12-15 minutes until they’re golden brown. Then—and this is important—take them out, flip them over, and bake for another 4-5 minutes on the other side. This makes them crispy all around instead of soggy on the bottom.
Watch them carefully during the last few minutes. If you see cheese starting to ooze out the ends, yank them out immediately. Don’t be a hero.
Method 2: Crescent Roll Ham and Cheese Sticks
This is the ham and cheese stick recipe easy version my kids prefer because it tastes buttery and amazing.
Step 1: Prep
Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll out your crescent dough sheets and cut each one into 4 pieces so you have 8 pieces total.
Step 2: Fill and Roll
Divide your ham evenly between the 8 pieces of dough. Place a cheddar cheese stick on top of the ham on each piece.
Fold in the ends of the dough, then roll to seal. Place them seam-side down on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet.
Step 3: Make the Magic Butter Glaze
In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, minced onion, and poppy seeds. This glaze is what makes these taste INCREDIBLE. My neighbor Sarah tried making them without the glaze and was like “they’re fine I guess” but WITH the glaze she was texting me asking for the recipe at 11 PM.
Brush this mixture generously over each stick.
Step 4: Bake
Bake at 350°F for 12-15 minutes until golden brown. They should be puffy and beautiful and smell amazing.
Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Sticks
Want to make air fryer ham and cheese sticks? Same assembly process as the eggroll wrapper version, but cook them at 380-400°F in your air fryer for about 8-12 minutes.
Turn them halfway through. Watch them like a hawk because air fryers are unpredictable little monsters and what takes 10 minutes in mine might take 7 in yours.
The air fryer makes them EXTRA crispy which is amazing. But you can only fit like 4-6 at a time depending on your air fryer size, so it takes longer if you’re making a big batch.
Tips for the Best Ham and Cheese Sticks
Use good quality deli ham. The cheap thin stuff that’s basically see-through doesn’t taste as good. Get the thicker sliced honey ham or black forest ham from the deli counter.
Freeze the cheese sticks first if you’re worried. Some people freeze their mozzarella sticks for an hour before wrapping them. This supposedly helps prevent cheese explosions. I’ve never bothered and mine turn out fine, but do whatever makes you feel safe.
Don’t overfill. I know it’s tempting to use two slices of ham or add extra cheese, but trust me, more is not better here. It just makes them impossible to roll and seal properly.
Serve them immediately. These ham and cheese sticks for kids are best when they’re hot and the cheese is melty. If they sit too long, they’re still good but not AS good. Reheat them in the oven or air fryer, not the microwave (learned that the hard way—microwave makes them soggy).
Experiment with dipping sauces. Marinara is classic. Ranch is always a hit with kids. Honey mustard is my personal favorite. Sometimes I mix equal parts mayo and Dijon mustard and call it fancy aioli.
What Makes These Party Food Ham and Cheese Sticks So Great
These are naturally ham and cheese sticks gluten free if you use gluten-free wrappers (they make them now!). And they’re actually pretty high protein which makes me feel slightly less guilty about feeding them to my kids for the third time this week.
They’re also ham and cheese sticks no bake in the sense that you can make them, freeze them unbaked, and then bake them whenever you want. I do this all the time. Make a double batch, freeze half, and pull them out when I need a quick snack or appetizer.
The crescent roll version with the butter glaze tastes almost like those ham and cheese sliders everyone makes for parties, but in stick form so they’re easier to eat while standing around talking.
Variations to Try
Ham and Swiss Cheese Sticks: Use Swiss instead of mozzarella or cheddar. Add a thin smear of Dijon mustard inside before rolling.
Ham and Cheddar Cheese Sticks: Already covered this in the crescent roll version but it’s SO good.
Ham Wrapped Cheese Sticks: Skip the dough entirely and just wrap ham around string cheese. Secure with a toothpick. These are basically ham wrapped cheese sticks and they’re zero carb if you’re into that keto life.
Pizza Style: Add a tablespoon of pizza sauce and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning to each one before rolling.
Breakfast Version: Use ham, add scrambled egg (cooled), and use cheddar. Game changer for breakfast meal prep.
Last Tuesday I tried adding a thin slice of pickle inside (I know, weird) but it was actually really good in a Cuban sandwich sort of way. My kids thought I was insane though.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover homemade ham and cheese sticks in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, use the oven at 350°F for about 5-7 minutes, or the air fryer for 3-4 minutes. This keeps them crispy instead of soggy.
You can freeze unbaked ones for up to 2 months. Just assemble them, place on a baking sheet to freeze individually, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
Final Thoughts
These best ham and cheese sticks recipe bites have saved me more times than I can count. Soccer game snacks? Check. Last-minute party appetizer? Check. “Mom I’m starving” at 4 PM? Check.
Are they gourmet? Nope. Will they win any culinary awards? Definitely not. But will your kids eat them without complaining and maybe even ask you to make them again? Absolutely.
And honestly, that’s all that matters in my house.
Let me know how yours turn out! Drop a comment if you try any of the variations or if you have other filling ideas. I’m always looking for new ways to use up random deli meat in my fridge. 😊
