Homemade Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets Recipe – Better Than Store-Bought

Homemade Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets are so much better than anything you can buy at the store. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create the best ham and cheddar hot pockets baked fresh in your own oven. No preservatives, no mystery ingredients, just pure comfort food that’s perfect for lunch, dinner, or anytime you need a satisfying meal on the go.

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What Makes Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets the Perfect Snack 

Eating on the go is part of the American way of life. Whether rushing to work or trying to get your kids fed on the way to their next activity, having a great, homemade meal you can bring with you is a must.

Most of us grew up eating Hot Pockets. Back then, they were cheap, and we weren’t so concerned about nutrition. Today Hot Pockets are pricey, and everyone wants to avoid preservatives and other additives.

Why This Is the Recipe You Must Try for Homemade Hot Pockets 

The pizza dough in this recipe is the way to go, as it yields a substantial yet delicious crust that can contain the ingredients without leaking. Other pocket sandwich recipes use puffed pastry or even suggest pressing two slices of white bread together.

Puffed pastry crusts are scrumptious, but they have a high calorie count. And using bread slices is just a sealed sandwich! This recipe gives you the authentic Hot Pocket crust you expect.

Ham and Cheese Hot Pocket Ingredients

For the Pocket Structure:

• Pizza dough – Creates the perfect substantial crust that holds fillings without breaking and provides authentic texture
• Egg – Essential for creating the golden egg wash that gives Hot Pockets their signature appearance
• Water – Combines with egg to create the perfect wash for browning and sealing

For the Classic Filling:

• Sliced deli ham – Choose honey, Virginia, or hickory varieties for the best flavor and authentic deli taste
• Cheddar cheese – Use sharp cheddar for a stronger flavor, or mild for a family-friendly appeal

Ingredient Notes

You can make your pizza dough if you want, but pre-made refrigerated dough will save you a lot of time. 

Feel free to substitute a different type of cheese if you prefer something other than cheddar.

Ask the butcher to cut the ham into quarter-inch-thick slices to make dicing the ham into perfect quarter-inch cubes straightforward.

How to Make Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets

To prepare homemade Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets:

1. Remove the dough from the fridge and let it come to room temperature. Remember to cover the dough to prevent it from drying out.
2. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
3. Cut the ham into quarter-inch dice. 

4. Make an egg wash by whisking the egg and water in a bowl.
5. Lightly flour the work surface.
6. Roll the room temperature dough into a snake about a foot long. Use a bench scraper or knife to divide the dough in half. Then divide each half into quarters and each quarter in half again. You will end up with eight pieces of equal size. 

7. Place one piece of dough on the floured work surface and cover the extra dough to prevent it from drying. 

8. Flour a rolling pin and roll the dough piece into a rectangle about 5 inches from side to side and 6 inches from top to bottom.
9. Fold the slice of cheese in half and place it in the center of the top half of the dough rectangle.
10. Sprinkle an eighth of the cubed ham on top of the cheese.

11. Brush the edges of the dough with egg wash and bring the bottom half of the dough up and over the filling. Seal the Hot Pocket by pressing the edges together.
12. Repeat this process with the remaining dough.
13. Grease a baking sheet and place the homemade ham and cheese pockets on top.
14. Brush the egg wash onto the Hot Pockets and cut two short diagonal slits in the middle of each to allow the steam to escape.

15. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until nicely browned.
16. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes and serve. 

Possible Recipe Variations

You can put almost anything in these homemade Hot Pockets, but there are two essential points to remember: 

• Resist the urge to overfill. Ensure there is at least a quarter-inch border of dough around the filling to prevent the Hot Pockets from coming apart in the oven. 
• Avoid using too many wet ingredients. If you want to use vegetables, pre-cook and drain them thoroughly. Limit the quantity of sauce you use.
• Use reduced-fat cheddar cheese. This will reduce the amount of fat and keep the hot pockets from being too greasy.

What To Serve With Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets 

Choose a side that you would eat with a ham and cheese sandwich. Potato chips, potato salad, a simple green salad, or coleslaw are all ideal. Serve with a large glass of sweet iced tea to complete the meal. 

How To Make Homemade Hot Pockets Ahead of Time 

For the best results, you need to freeze the Hot Pockets quickly after baking them:

1. Place a baking tray in the freezer overnight. 
2. Follow the instructions as written. After baking, cool them on a wire rack for about 15 minutes.
3. Spray the chilled baking tray with cooking spray and transfer the Hot Pockets onto it.  
4. Place the tray in the freezer until the Hot Pockets are frozen, about 4 hours.
5. Wrap the Hot Pockets with wax paper and store them in a freezer bag for up to two months. 

Storage & Reheating Instructions

• Refrigerator Storage – Store leftover hot pockets in a sealed bag in the refrigerator for up to 2 days for best quality and food safety.
• Freezer Storage – Wrap room temperature hot pockets individually in wax paper and freeze flat. Transfer to freezer bags and store for up to 2 months.
• Reheating Method – For convenience, reheat in the microwave: wrap in paper towel and heat frozen hot pockets for 90 seconds, thawed hot pockets for 45 seconds. For crispier results, reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes.

Hot Pocket Frequently Asked Questions

Popular Recipes with Ham

• Glazed Honey Baked Ham
• Old-Fashioned Ham Salad Recipe
• Scalloped Potatoes with Ham and Cheese

Favorite Sandwich Recipes

• Air Fryer Grilled Ham and Cheese
• Arby’s Roast Beef Sandwich
• Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Recipe
• Country Fried Steak Sandwich
• Loose Meat Sandwiches
• Moons Over My Hammy
• Patty Melt Sandwich
• Pepperoni Hot Pockets
• Taco Bell Sandwich
• Tuna Sub

Check out more of my easy sandwich recipes and the best DIY recipes here on CopyKat!