Grilled Cheese Becomes The Perfect Bite-Sized Appetizer With One Bread Swap

There's something about King's Hawaiian rolls that make you wish you could use them in every meal. If you haven't yet tried using the fluffy bread clouds for a grilled cheese, you're missing out on something special. The sweetness from the rolls adds a new dimension to an American staple that's usually thought of as rich, buttery, crispy, and sharp depending on what cheese you use. Then there's the "fun size" aspect of these grilled cheese sliders or mini grilled cheese bites that make them excellent for family lunches, kids on school break, or even game day appetizers. With a pack of 12 rolls, you'll be baking a total of 18 mini sandwiches, as each roll gets cut vertically into thirds for efficiency and quick baking thanks to using thinner slices. 

Grilled cheese sandwiches use butter to get that golden outside and these are no different. But instead of using butter alone, mix it with a little garlic powder, oregano, and parsley for an Italian garlic bread aroma and look. You can also add chives, and if these are for a game day party (or your kids like things spicy), you can even use chili flakes. Because you're baking these bite-sized cheese bombs, there's no guesswork or careful watching for burnt bread. All you have to do is lay down the bottoms of each sandwich with the coated side down on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add cheese and bread tops (this time with coated side up), and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Slide the oven rack out, flip your sliders, and pop them back in for another 10. 

You can make mini grilled cheese sandwiches without Hawaiian rolls but the sugary buns give the dish contrast. Take full advantage of that sweet and salty juxtaposition and have some fun, starting with the cheese. Sure, you can go with traditional American cheese squares that you either cut or fold to size for maximum cheesiness. But you can also swap out the squares with sharp cheddar, Gruyère, or a mixture of both for a more savory appetizer that will give you sweet, salty, and even nutty notes in every bite. Adding protein like bacon will add crunch and flavor from fat while prosciutto will add a salty element to go with the sugary rolls, and you can take the Hawaiian inspiration further with slices of Spam as well. 

Before buttering the surfaces of the rolls, you can also add a thin layer of mayo for some zest plus extra crispiness to the outside of the bread. The final touch to any grilled cheese sandwich is a side for dipping. The classic tomato soup is always welcome, or you can duplicate what the Serendipity 3 restaurant does with the most expensive sandwich in the world and serve it with your own version of a lobster bisque. Kids will probably just skip the soup, and if the sliders are for a Sunday football party, then a nice tangy hot sauce like Tapatio is probably the better option. Regardless of your choice of side, using King's Hawaiian rolls for these cheesy sliders will bring smiles to the faces of kids and grownups alike.