Barbecue Chipped Ham Sandwiches

If this were a perfect world, every day there’d be enough hours in the day to plan, prepare and serve a five course meal. I’d say seven-course meal, but that would just be ridiculous.

Being that this isn’t a perfect world, and unless I am gifted with a live-in chef that’s sole purpose in life is to assist me in the kitchen and convince everyone in our house that everything I serve is “company worthy,” I guess I’ll just have to settle for a few meals that are down and dirty, quick and easy. At the same time, however, they have to be more than serving a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (although if I was to use homemade peanut butter and freshly canned jam…but no!) and calling it dinner.

I have a few sandwiches in my cooking repertoire that for all intents and purposes can be called “a meal in themselves.” The barbecue chipped ham sandwiches I made for dinner tonight is definitely one of them. The list of ingredients are ones that would typically be on hand, other than possibly the ham which can be purchased at any deli counter any day of the week, and can be prepared from beginning to end in just about 30 minutes. That’s less time than driving around to pickup carry out and honestly far more healthy for you and much better tasting, which goes without saying, but I’m saying anyhow.

The first thing you need to do is combine the ingredients for the barbecue sauce. Now this is where you can cut the prep time down even more if you want. If you have a favorite barbecue sauce that you buy, it could easily be substituted here. Use between 1 1/2 cups to 1 3/4 cups of prepared barbecue sauce in place of the homemade one. Another option would be to use home canned or another recipe for barbecue sauce that you already have. I have a recipe for homemade barbecue sauce that you might want to check out: Sizzlin-Plum Barbecue Sauce at Simply Grateful Housewife.

To prepare the sauce: Combine 1/2 cup cider vinegar, 1 – 6 oz. can of tomato paste, 1/2 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup light brown sugar, 2 tbsp. yellow mustard, 1 tsp. onion powder, and 1/4 – 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper in a large fry pan or dutch oven.

Whisk mixture until smooth over medium heat until it simmers.

When the sauce comes to a simmer, add 2 pounds of shaved boiled deli ham and cook until heated through.

Be sure to stir well to coat all the meat with sauce.

Meanwhile, slice 6 – 8 kaiser rolls and place the bottoms on a parchment lined, rimmed baking sheet.

Once the ham is heated, divide it evenly among the roll bottoms,

top with a slice of American cheese and tent with foil.

Place baking sheet in preheated 375 oven for 5 minutes, until cheese has melted.

Remove from oven, place top on each sandwich and serve.

Cooks Note

I did not put the tops on the sandwiches when they were put in the oven so they would not get too crispy and brittle. Also, be sure to use a kaiser roll that is on the harder side. If you use a soft kaiser roll, the meat and sauce mixture will soak into the roll and make it soggy.

These sandwiches came together so fast it almost felt like I was cheating or something. This is the type of meal that’s great to serve with some homemade pickles or maybe some fries. Quick, easy and hearty — it don’t get much better than that, and for this I am — Simply Grateful.

• Servings: 6 - 8
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Ingredients

• 6 – 8 Hard Kaiser Rolls, split
• 2 Pounds Shaved Boiled Deli Ham
• 1/2 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 – 6 oz. Can Tomato Paste
• 1/2 Cup Ketchup
• 1/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar
• 2 Tbsp. Yellow Mustard
• 1 tsp. Onion Powder
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
• 6 – 8 Slices American Cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Prepare the sauce: Combine cider vinegar, tomato paste, ketchup, light brown sugar, yellow mustard, onion powder, and cayenne pepper in a large fry pan or dutch oven. Whisk mixture until smooth over medium heat until it simmers.
3. When the sauce comes to a simmer, add shaved boiled deli ham and cook until heated through. Be sure to stir well to coat all the meat with sauce.
4. Meanwhile, slice kaiser rolls and place the bottoms on baking sheet. Once the ham is heated, divide it evenly among the roll bottoms, top with a slice of American cheese and tent with foil.
5. Place baking sheet in preheated 375 oven for 5 minutes, until cheese has melted.
6. Remove from oven, place top on each sandwich and serve.

Cook’s Note

I did not put the tops on the sandwiches when they were put in the oven so they would not get too crispy and brittle. Also, be sure to use a kaiser roll that is on the harder side. If you use a soft kaiser roll, the meat and sauce mixture will soak into the roll and make it soggy.

If you have a favorite barbecue sauce that you buy, it could easily be substituted for the sauce in this recipe. Use between 1 1/2 cups to 1 3/4 cups of prepared barbecue sauce in place of the homemade one. This will cut down on the prep time. Another option would be to use home canned or another recipe for barbecue sauce that you already have.