These easy cheddar ham cups are dangerously snackable-flaky little biscuit nests stuffed with melty cheese, ham, and enough adorable to be the most popular plate at the potluck. Just try not to eat half the batch before guests show up.
Table of Contents
🗝 Here's why these cheddar ham cups keep disappearing
Move over, fruitcake-there's a new holiday obsession in town, and it's bite-sized, golden, and packed with enough cheesy goodness to make Aunt Myrtle's green Jell-O salad weep with envy.
- Flaky biscuit dough, melty cheddar, and smoky ham in every bite-like brunch decided to wear heels.
- Ready in about 30 minutes, so you can impress people without breaking a sweat.
- That pepper jelly on top? It's sweet, spicy, and completely unnecessary… which makes it perfect.
- Easy to make ahead, freeze like a dream, and disappear faster than your ex when the child support payment is due.
🧾 What you'll need for these ham and cheese appetizers
These Cheddar Ham Cups are the kind of snack that walks into the room and instantly becomes the favorite child. Crisp, buttery edges? Check. Melty cheese and smoky ham tucked into flaky biscuit dough? Check. A dollop of pepper jelly on top to make the whole thing sing with sweet-and-spicy sass? Double check.
- Refrigerated biscuits - Because homemade is great, but store-bought lets you keep your will to live.
- Ham - Leftover, deli-sliced, or stolen from the holiday platter-no judgment.
- Cheddar cheese - The sharper, the better. Like your comebacks.
- Mustard - A little zing to wake up your taste buds (and your soul).
- Mayo - Just enough to make it scandalously creamy.
- Green onions - For a pop of color and the illusion of vegetables.
- Bacon - Optional in theory, mandatory in real life.
- Pepper jelly - Sweet, spicy, and just dramatic enough to be the star.
Get extra tips, FAQs, storage information, and more in this free, printable pdf. Cheddar Ham Cups Kitchen Cheat Sheet.
📖 Recipe
Cheddar Ham Cups
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 6 ounces chopped deli ham, or leftover holiday ham
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup cooked bacon, crumbled
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 cans refrigerated flaky biscuits, 10.20 ounces each
- 1 tablespoon chopped green onions
- ¼ cup Red pepper jelly for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Grease a mini muffin tin or hit it with nonstick spray.
- In a mixing bowl, stir together cheese, ham, mayo, bacon, mustard, and green onions.
- Pop open the biscuits (brace yourself), then split each biscuit into three layers. Press each layer into the bottom and up the sides of the mini muffin cups.
- Fill each biscuit cup with about 1 tablespoon of the ham mixture.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the biscuits are golden and the filling is bubbly.
- Let cool for a couple of minutes, then top each one with a small dollop of red pepper jelly if using.
Notes
- Refrigerator: Pop the cooled cheddar ham cups in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to bring back the crispy edges-microwave only if you like sadness and soggy bottoms.
- Freezer: These freeze like a dream. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap or foil, toss in a freezer bag, and keep them cozy for up to 2 months.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
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🔪 How to make ham and cheese cups appetizers
These ham and cheese cup appetizers come together faster than your husband's college roommate shows up when there's free food involved. Just press, mix, fill, and bake-no drama, no weird ingredients, just pure cheesy magic.
- Split each biscut in 3 layers and press each layer into mini muffin cups.
- Stir together bacon, ham, cheese, mayo, mustard, and green onions.
- Fill with the ham mixture.
- Bake then top with pepper jelly before serving.
You can buy the pepper jelly but try this homemade pepper jelly from Bowl-Me-Over if you'd like to make your own!
🌾🚫 Can I make these gluten-free?
Yep! Use gluten-free biscuit dough or crescent dough, and check your condiments. It's still cheesy magic.
Marye's Tip
Use sharp cheddar - Mild cheddar is fine, but sharp cheddar brings the flavor punch you're really here for.
😏🍽 Snack goals: other recipes that understand you
These aren't just recipes-they're your snack soulmates. Sweet, savory, and just unhinged enough to make people ask for the recipe and your life story.
- Chicken and Waffle Skewers - Sweet, savory, and just chaotic enough to be fabulous on a stick.
- Hot Ham and Cheese Sliders - Gooey, melty, and wearing a buttery poppyseed glaze like it's red carpet couture.
- Cranberry Jalapeño Tortilla Rollups- Sweet, spicy, and spinning their way into everyone's holiday cravings.
Whether you're hosting brunch, feeding a hungry holiday crowd, or just want to feel like a kitchen rockstar without breaking a sweat, these cheddar ham cups are here for you. They're buttery, cheesy, and practically vanish the second they hit the table-which is the highest compliment any recipe can get.
Save the recipe, share it with your snack-loving crew, and don't forget to pin it so you can find it again when life gets chaotic and bacon is the only answer. 🧀💛
Elaine DiSanto says
Can't wait to try these, and add them to my rotation. They sound delicious!
My favorite appetizers are mini meatloaves (made in mini cupcake tins!) topped with your Onion Bacon Jam, that I bookmarked from your blog a couple of years ago, so I know this recipe won't disappoint. I also admit to eating that jam out of the jar with a spoon, lol, but I can't serve it that way (or can I?!?!)
Marye says
you can. LOL!!!
Scarlett says
I can hardly wait to make these! They sound delicious. I used to have a recipe for Angel Biscuit Sausage Balls. I lost my recipe but it's not the typical sausage balls. There's yeast in the biscuits. They would be fantastic with these Ham Cheese Cups. Bravo Mary. These look awesome!
Jean M. says
These look awesome. A little spicy jelly on top hmm delicious. I like to take barbee cups to a Christmas party. Biscuits with hamburger, onion, BBQ sauce and ketchup. Topped with cheese. Simple yet delicious. Merry Christmas in July!
Leslie says
This recipe looks very tasty. The pepper jelly adds a lot. I have been finding many uses for this versitile condiment. It is a delicious topping for many dips. I also spread it in my sausage rolls. I am planning on topping my next meatloaf with it. Maybe I will try it the next time we grill salmon.
Janice Orton says
These look so delicious and easy. I will defintely be making these and serving to my guests; they are sure to be a hit.