Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
on May 01, 2023, Updated Feb 18, 2025
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As a kid, I would eat these crispy Bulgarian Ham and Cheese Sandwiches every single day. There was nothing more satisfying than biting into that delicious sandwich paired with a fresh, juicy tomato 🍅 straight from our garden. Even today, it’s still one of my all-time favorite foods to eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Simple recipes like this one always transport me back to my childhood and there’s no better feeling than that!
Why You’ll Love Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
Just imagine, warm melted cheese, and salty ham on top of crispy bread🥖, enjoyed on a breezy summer day with a juicy and ripe tomato on the side. If this isn’t heaven, I don’t know what is. These sandwiches make a fantastic breakfast, lunch, or dinner option and are great for feeding a crowd, an after school snack or simply making them for a cozy night in.
How to Prepare Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
🔥 Preheat the oven to 425F (225C) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
🥖 Cut baguette or sliced bread in half lengthwise and place it on the baking sheet.
🧈 Spread some butter on each bread half.
🐖 Layer folded ham slices on top of the bread, followed by a few cheese slices.
🧀 Bake in the oven until the cheese melts completely (approximately 10 to 15 minutes), or you can broil the sandwiches until the cheese is bubbly.
🍞 Once the cheese is melted and the bread is crispy, remove the Bulgarian Ham and Cheese from the oven and enjoy!
Nonna’s Tip
Feel free to use any bread you like or have on hand. I alternate between baguettes and sliced bread.
Variations and Substitutions for Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
By swapping ingredients and experimenting with flavors, you can make these sandwiches to suit any taste or dietary preference.
- Experiment with different types of 🧀 cheese such as cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, or provolone. You can also mix different cheeses if you’d like.
- Instead of ham, you can use other deli meats such as turkey, roast beef, or even salami.
- Add dried 🌿 herbs like basil, oregano, or thyme for extra flavor. You can also sprinkle some crushed red pepper flakes or black pepper on your Bulgarian Ham and Cheese for a spicy kick.
- Instead of butter, you could use a thin layer of mustard, pesto, or mayonnaise on the bread before adding the cheese and ham.
- Instead of a baguette, you can use another type of 🍞 bread such as ciabatta, sourdough, or whole wheat bread for your Bulgarian Ham and Cheese.
- For a vegetarian version, skip the meat and use sliced vegetables such as 🍅 tomatoes, bell peppers, or grilled mushrooms.
- For a vegan sandwich, use vegan ingredients, such as plant-based cheese, butter, and meat.
Similar Sandwich Recipes
Best Served With
- Ripe, sweet tomato 🍅 slices on top
- A fresh green salad like my Green Goddess Salad
- Freshly made potato chips and your favorite pickles
Common Questions
To store, let them cool, then wrap them individually in plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
You can use any cheese that melts well, such as cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, or provolone. You can also mix different cheeses for a unique flavor profile!
Feel free to use any bread of choice. I alternate between baguettes and sliced bread.
These sandwiches are wonderful served with ripe, sweet tomato slices on top.
You can bake these on the middle rack of the oven on 425F (220C) or BROIL them, which is the top element of the oven only. Keep a very close eye on them as they can burn fast on broil.
Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 1 6-inch baguette, cut in half
- 4 slices butter, I used grass-fed, salted butter
- 4 slices ham, I used black forest
- 2 slices cheese, I use Kashkaval but you can use any
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425F (220C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- I like to use two 6-inch baguettes and cut them in half, but you can use any baguette or sliced bread that you like.
- Cut the baguettes in half lengthwise, and place them onto the prepared baking sheet. Add a few slices of butter onto each bread half.
- Fold the ham in half and layer 2 to 3 slices on top followed by a few thin slices of cheese.
- Bake until the cheese has fully melted. My oven takes 10 to 15 minutes but cook time will depend on the oven.
- A lot of times my parents/grandparents would only use the top element (broil) and just broil the sandwiches until the cheese was bubbly and melted so you can use this method too as opposed to baking at 425F.
- Once the cheese is melted and the bread has crisped up, remove from the oven and enjoy!
My Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love a simple tasty recipe! I used sardelki thick sausages and added half a tsp of deli mustard to each slice of bread (didn’t have baguette) made the flavours pop!
Thank you!
Yum, sounds delicious Elizabeth!
Dear,
I am from Serbia, many recipes are similar or same in our country, but I love the way you make them with some twist, so far, you are my favorite and my new “Jamie O.”
Love and hugs from Belgrade,
Mina.
Hi Mina,
Thank you so much for sending me such a beautiful message! We are neighbours after all 🙂
My parents come from Croatia and when we were visiting from Germany my grandmother would do this sooo often. I love how a lot of your recipies bring happy memories back from my childhood. Thank you so much for that!
Hi Viktoria, I am so happy to have brought such nostalgic memories for you. It’s amazing how connected we are.