Best Cuban Appetizer Party Recipe (Mini Cubano)
Traditional Cuban sandwiches get a party makeover as bite-size Cuban appetizers. These crostini-style snacks are easy to make, and can be prepped ahead to heat up when you’re ready. Serve them warm or at room temperature for a Havana Nights theme party, or any casual get-together.
These delicious party appetizers are truly addictive! They’re like a traditional Cubano sandwich that’s made with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard, but I’ve turned them into finger food for snacking, instead.
These make great tapas for parties as they’re like little open-faced sandwiches or crostini, and I guarantee they’ll be a hit with guests!
Make Ahead
While these aren’t a cold appetizer per se, they can be served at room temperature.
Prep them all the way up until they’re ready to cook, put them on the baking sheet, cover and refrigerate. When you’re ready to bake, just transfer the baking sheet to the oven and cook.
- Add these to your appetizers and sangria happy hour gathering along with other easy hors d’oeuvres.
- They’re a bit rustic and make excellent game day snacks or Super Bowl party food.
- Serve them up at a Tropical theme party, in addition to fruity salsas and jerk seasoned chicken skewers.
Ingredient Notes
- Bread. Use a French baguette. They’re long but small in diameter, so when you slice it you get the ideal size for finger food or canapes. Cut slices between 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch thick, and cut on a diagonal angle to make the surface slightly larger.
- Butter. Use unsalted butter and make sure it’s softened so you can spread it easily onto the bread.
- Swiss cheese. Shred your own for best results in melting. You could also substitute with white cheddar or Asiago.
- Boiled ham. Those deli packs of rectangle sliced boiled ham really do work best for this recipe. It’s easy to dice evenly and the flavor works well with the other ingredients.
- Yellow mustard. This is standard on a Cubano but if you want to get creative you can try Dijon mustard or brown mustard.
- Dill pickles. Use sliced dill pickle chips to make preparation simple. That way you don’t have to slice whole pickles.
Quick Tip
You can easily double or triple the recipe for a larger party.
More Easy Appetizers
Serve these with other popular Cuban appetizers like sausage empanadas, fruit salsa, chips, and banana chips or fried plantains. Round out a party menu with black bean & chorizo flatbread and chicken tostadas with creamy poblano sauce.
For more crostini options, incorporate cheddar and bacon crostini or ham and Swiss crostini.
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Best Cuban Appetizer Mini Canapes recipe
Mini Cuban appetizer sandwiches get a party makeover as bite-size finger food. These open-face canapes are easy to make ahead and serve warm or at room temperature
Ingredients
- 1 stick of French bread, cut into 15 slices 1/4-inch thick
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, soft at room temperature
- 1/2 cup diced boiled deli ham
- 1 cup shredded swiss cheese
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 30 crisp dill pickle chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Spread softened butter onto each slice of bread and bake for 5-7 minutes until golden. Remove and let sit until cool enough to handle.
- In a small bowl combine ham, cheese, mayonnaise, spices, and mustard until well integrated.
- Place 2 pickles on each slice of bread; then spread 1 1/2 tablespoons of ham mixture on top.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until bubbly and golden.
- Cool a few minutes before serving. Can be served at room temperature.
Thank you so much for providing this amazing recipe.