Homemade Ham & Cheese Hot Pockets made with frozen bread rolls are perfect for a quick lunch at home, on the go, or in a lunchbox! A great make ahead option that's an easy and delicious snack or meal the whole family will love.

hands pulling apart a ham and cheese hot pocket to reveal insides.

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🥪 Both kids and adults love these hand-held savory treats. They're perfect for school lunches, picnics, or quick dinners on busy weeknights when everyone is running in different directions.

Table of Contents

My 2 Best Tips For Making Homemade Ham & Cheese Hot Pockets

Egg Wash Secret: For the perfect golden brown finish, don't skip the egg wash. For extra flavor and visual appeal, consider sprinkling the tops with everything bagel seasoning, garlic powder, dried herbs, or a bit of grated parmesan before baking.
Perfect Dough: Let the thawed rolls come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before rolling. If the dough springs back too much when rolling, cover it with a clean kitchen towel and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before trying again. This relaxes the gluten and makes the dough more pliable.

melissa leaning over counter looking up from a cook book.

These ham and cheese pockets are perfect whether you’re sending your kids back to school, homeschooling, or doing a combination of each. You can even prep them ahead and stock your freezer so you have them on the go.

When I'm about ready to make a massive batch of these sandwiches, I'll make a few extra batches of bread dough when I'm baking. Bread dough keeps in the freezer, and it's ready to set out the morning I want to make the hot pockets!

🩷 Melissa

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Homemade Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets

Melissa Griffiths

Homemade Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets made with Rhodes Rolls are perfect for a quick lunch at home, on the go or for school! Easy and delicious, the whole family will love them.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Total Time 35

Servings

Calories 340 kcal

Equipment

Sheet Pans

Ingredients

24 frozen rolls (thawed)
1 ½ cups cheddar or colby jack cheese (shredded)
1 ½ cups ham (chopped)
1 egg
1 tablespoons water

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375ºF.
Gently roll out all of the rolls. Yeast doughs can resist rolling so just roll as much as you can, then let them rest for about 5 minutes and roll again. You want them to be about 4 inches in diameter.
Place 6 of the rolled out rolls on a sheet tray. Repeat with another sheet tray.
Evenly divide up the ham and cheese between the rolls on the sheet trays, leaving room around the edges.
Place the remaining rolled our rolls on top of the filled rolls. Crimp the edges with a fork.
Combine the egg and water, whisking well. Brush the tops of the ham and cheese pockets with the egg wash.
Using a fork, gently poke vent holes in the top of the ham and cheese pockets.
Bake for 15-18 minutes, until the tops and bottoms are golden brown, and the rolls are cooked through.
Let cool slightly before serving.

Notes

Thawing Frozen Rolls:

The night before I need them, I set them on a sheet tray lined with parchment, evenly spaced.
To avoid it being too cold to work with, remove them from the fridge about 30 minutes before you need them.

Freezing Ham & Cheese Hot Pockets:

Bake the ham and cheese pockets slightly shy of being done, about 13 minutes. Let cool.
Place the whole sheet tray in the freezer and freeze until solid, about 1 hour.
Remove the ham and cheese pockets from the freezer and place them in a freezer container or bag.
To reheat, thaw the ham and cheese pockets for about 1 hour.
Bake at 350ºF for about 10 minutes until warmed through.

Air Fryer Option: These homemade hot pockets work beautifully in an air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F and cook for about 8-10 minutes until golden brown. If cooking from frozen, add an additional 5-7 minutes to the cooking time. This method gives them an extra crispy exterior while keeping the inside gooey and delicious.

Other Fillings: While ham and cheese is a classic combination, you can experiment with other fillings like:

Pepperoni and mozzarella for a pizza pocket
Turkey and swiss with a touch of mustard
Buffalo chicken with blue cheese or ranch
Broccoli and cheddar for a vegetarian option

Nutrition

Calories: 340kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 15gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.002gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 756mgPotassium: 165mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 161IUCalcium: 255mgIron: 3mg

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Recipe FAQs

Can I use different fillings?

While ham and cheese is a classic combination, you can experiment with other fillings like: Pepperoni and mozzarella for a pizza pocket, turkey and swiss with a touch of mustard, buffalo chicken with blue cheese or ranch, or broccoli and cheddar for a vegetarian option. Just be sure not to overfill, as this can cause the pockets to burst during baking!

Why do my hot pockets leak during baking?

If your hot pockets are leaking during baking, you likely either overfilled them or didn't seal the edges properly. Make sure to leave at least a ½-inch border around the edges, use a fork to firmly crimp and seal the edges all the way around, and add the vent holes on top, which allow steam to escape.

Can I air fry these instead of baking them?

Yes! These homemade hot pockets work beautifully in an air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F and cook for about 8-10 minutes until golden brown. If cooking from frozen, add an additional 5-7 minutes to the cooking time. This method gives them an extra crispy exterior while keeping the inside gooey and delicious.