Ham and Cheese Waffle Sandwiches

Upgrade your lunch with these ham and cheese waffle sandwiches featuring fluffy homemade waffles with perfectly crisp edges.

Had enough of the same-old, same-old when it comes to your lunch break?

Spice things up with these Ham & Cheese Waffle Sandwiches! These sandwiches are made with crisp, fluffy homemade waffles and all your favourite fillings.

Waffles are a fantastic food all on their own, but they can also be the foundation for some pretty delicious sandwiches!

I mean, there’s seriously nothing better than a crispy, fluffy homemade waffle. And when they’re combined with salty ham and cheese? Well, that’s just pure magic. It may sound like a strange combination, but trust me – it’s surprisingly tasty!

That’s why I’m excited to share this Ham & Cheese Waffle Sandwich recipe with you today. If you’re looking for a new and tasty way to enjoy your waffles, be sure to try this recipe!

Why You Will LOVE Waffle Sandwiches

• Homemade waffles with crisp edges and fluffy insides.
• The subtle sweetness of the waffles are amazing with almost any filling!
• Breathes new life into the old ham sandwich.
• Great for serving a crowd.
• The waffles freeze really well. Make them ahead for waffle sandwiches anytime you like!

Is Pancake Batter the Same as Waffle Batter?

Pancake batter and waffle batter are similar, but not the same.

Waffle batter has more eggs and fat than pancake batter. This results in a crispier, less dense waffle.

While you can put pancake batter in a waffle maker, it will not produce the same results as waffle batter. The texture and taste will be different, so it is best to stick to waffle batter for the perfect waffles!

Tips for Making the BEST Fluffy Waffles

• Always spoon and level your flour to make sure you don’t end up with dense waffles.
• Use room temperature ingredients so that the batter combines well.
• Whip your egg whites for the fluffiest pancakes! (Read section below.)
• Do not over-mix the batter, it should be a little bit lumpy.
• Make sure you have a good waffle maker that gets good and hot.
• Different waffle makers may take more or less time to cook. If you’re new to waffle making, or using a new waffle maker, it may take some trial and error to get the timing just right!
• Make sure your waffle iron is hot enough before adding the batter. An iron that’s too cool will cause your waffle to stick to the pan.

How to Get Super Light and Fluffy Waffles

The key to incredibly fluffy waffles is to separate the egg whites from the yolks, and then whip the egg whites until they hold a peak.

Once your egg whites hold a stiff peak you will want fold them into the batter (as the last ingredient added.) This step really only takes a few minutes but it makes a world of difference.

I left this step out of the recipe as written as it does change the texture, and some may prefer the slightly more dense but still fluffy results from just mixing the eggs straight into the batter.

How to Keep Waffles Warm

If you want to keep the waffles warm for your sandwiches instead of serving it room temperature then you can keep the waffles warm in the oven.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit and place a baking sheet in the oven. As the waffles are finished cooking, place them on the baking sheet to stay warm while you make the remaining waffles.

Do not stack or overlap the waffles in the oven. Placing them on top of each other will create steam and they will lose their crispiness.

Ham and Cheese Waffle Sandwich Variations

• Switch up the deli meat to your favourite choice. Black forest ham, Capicola and honey ham are some of my favourite deli hams, but you could also use pastrami or any other sliced or shaved deli meat.
• Change the cheese. We used American cheese (we call it processed cheese slices up here,) but swap in real cheese if you prefer. A good Cheddar, Provolone, Swiss, Havarti or Monterrey Jack are all delicious on ham sandwiches.
• Add slices of fresh avocado or use avocado “mayo” in place of the mayonnaise.
• Pickled hot pepper rings are amazing if you like a kick of spice.
• Bacon makes everything better, and that applies here too!

More Waffle Sandwich Filling Ideas

Using waffles as bread opens up a world of possibilities. Try these fillings too!

• Lemon ricotta with fresh fruit compote is an obvious breakfast filling that never gets old.
• Make a Waffle Rueben by spreading on thousand island dressing then piling on corned beef, swiss cheese, and sauerkraut.
• Enjoy a Waffle Monte Cristo with ham and swiss with a dusting of powdered sugar on top.
• Chicken and waffles are meant to be, fried chicken with a drizzle of maple syrup is a must try.
• Apple and cheese waffle sandwiches are incredible too. Choose your favourite cheese and your favourite apples. Pair with a little Dijon mustard and some sliced turkey and you are good to go!
• Peanut butter and jam is also incredibly good between two waffles. Especially when the peanut butter melts into the squares. Yum!

How to Store Leftover Homemade Waffles

If you have leftover waffles, there are a few different ways that you can store them. One option is to place them in an airtight bag or container and store them in the fridge for up to four days.

You can also freeze waffles by flash freezing them in a single layer on a baking sheet then placing them in a freezer-safe bag or container and storing them for up to three months.

Leftover assembled waffle sandwiches should be stored in the fridge, covered or in an airtight container, and eaten within two days.

How to Reheat Homemade Waffles

To keep your waffles nice and crispy, you will want to reheat them in the oven instead of the microwave. Place them on a parchment lined baking sheet at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for about ten minutes or until warmed through and slightly crisp.

If you have an airfryer, pop them in for 30 seconds to 1 minute for perfect crispy edges. Another option that I love for waffles is a simple toaster, but this will do the job only for whole waffles!

Equipment Needed for Homemade Waffles

When making homemade waffles you will need a waffle maker. If you do not have one and don’t want to make that purchase you can use toasted frozen waffles, but it just won’t be as good as homemade.

If you are looking for a waffle maker then I would recommend the Hamilton Beach Belgian style flip waffle maker. It makes the best crispy edges and fluffy insides.

Your waffle maker really does make a difference, so if you are consistently disappointed with your waffles it is likely time to get a different waffle maker. If your waffle maker doesn’t get hot enough, you will never got fluffy pancakes with crisp edges.

If you don’t love your waffle maker, a new one really could make all the difference.

About the Ingredients for Savoury Waffles

Flour – Make sure you spoon and level your flour. If you measure incorrectly you may end up with dense waffles.

Sugar – Just a touch of sugar to balance out the flavour of the batter.

Baking Powder – To leaven your waffles, make sure it is fresh, or no older than 6 months so it can do it’s best work.

Salt – If you use salted butter then reduce to about 1/4 teaspoon of additional salt.

Milk – Whole milk will give you the best flavour, but any milk fat percentage will do. Use room temperature milk for best results. You can also use unsweetened non-dairy milks or buttermilk as substitutes.

Half and half – If you don’t have any on hand, ⅔ of a cup whole milk and a tablespoon of heavy cream can be used instead. (Increase the amount of cream for lower fat milk. The cream should also be room temperature.

Butter – Unsalted butter is best, but if all you have on hand is salted, then simply adjust the additional salt. You can also substitute with a neutral flavoured oil if you like.

Eggs – Use room temperature eggs for the best results.

Vanilla – Pure vanilla extract will give you the best results but you can use artificial instead if you like.

Looking for More Tasty Sandwich Recipes?

Check out more delicious sandwich ideas for lunch!

These Quick and Easy Baked Buffalo Chicken Sliders are an easy weeekday meal recipe that easily transitions to party appetizer!

Pepperoni Pizza Sliders are simple to make for a tasty lunch for the whole family!

This California Rotisserie Chicken Club Sandwich makes use of leftover chicken paired with applewood smoked bacon, avocado, caramelised onions and more!

How to Make Ham and Cheese Waffle Sandwiches

Yields: 12 Servings | Prep time: 30 minutes | Cook time: 3-4 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ Cups all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ Tablespoons granulated sugar
• 4 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ Cups milk
• ⅔ Cup half and half cream
• ⅓ cup butter, melted
• 2 Large eggs + 1 yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Filling:

• 12 slices ham
• 12 slices cheese
• 12 slices beefsteak tomatoes
• 12 lettuce pieces
• Mayonnaise
• Mustard

Directions:

Preheat your waffle iron.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

Add the remaining waffle ingredients and mix until combined.

Once the waffle iron is hot, pour about 1 cup waffle batter into the centre of the iron. Close the waffle iron and let the waffle cook for 3-4 minutes or until cooked and golden brown.

Carefully remove the cooked waffle from the iron and place onto a plate to cool. Cook the remaining waffles.

To make the sandwiches, carefully separate each waffle into 4 triangles.

Spread the condiment of your choice, such as mayo and mustard, onto one side of two waffle pieces.

Stack ham, cheese, tomato and lettuce onto one waffle piece then top with the other waffle triangle so that the triangles are lined up.

Repeat until 12 sandwiches have been made.