We love those tasty Ham and Swiss Cheese Pockets in the freezer section at Costco, but a box of 8 can get a little expensive. The good news is, now you can make them at home with just a few simple ingredients. We may be a little biased, but we think they actually taste a little better (all thanks to that mustard sauce).
These work great as a quick dinner on a busy weeknight, to make ahead for lunch, or even to add to a brunch. They come together really quickly, and they make it look like you put in a lot more effort than you actually did.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Like a sister to our beloved quick and easy calzones, these ham and swiss cheese pastries are ready in just 30 minutes. Using a pre-made puff pastry crust is our favorite shortcut to keep it weeknight-friendly. The mustard sauce gives it a little extra tang, and the Parmesan topping adds a bakery-style quality. It’s the same flavors as your favorite Costco freezer food, just made fresh in your kitchen.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions:
- Puff pastry sheets. We used 1 (17.3 oz box), which had two sheets in it. We cut each thawed sheet into 4 squares, so this makes 8 pastries total.
- Dijon mustard and mayonnaise. These mix together for an added burst of flavor as a simple sauce. You can swap out the dijon for regular mustard or honey mustard. You can also leave the sauce off entirely.
- Swiss cheese. You only need 8 small slices. You can use baby swiss or regular. You can also swap out the cheese for another type. We like Havarti,Provolone, or even American.
- Deli ham. You only need a few slices, and any kind of ham will work. I generally end up using a few ounces (around 4 ounces) of thin-sliced deli ham. This is a great recipe for using up leftovers, too. Just make sure the ham is not too thick so the puff pastry can cook all the way through.
- Egg + water. Mix these together to make a simple egg wash. This helps the puff pastry turn that golden brown color you want, as well helps keep it together (kinda like a glue).
- Parmesan cheese. This is an optional topping, but we love sprinkling it on top and letting it brown up for extra flavor.
Equipment Needed
For this recipe, you only need a few simple kitchen tools. We recommend using the following equipment:
How to make these Ham and Swiss Pockets
- Prep the pastries. Unfold the puff pastry sheets, spread them out and cut each sheet into four squares
- Layer ingredients. Mix together mustard and mayonnaise and add it to the pastry squares. Top it with swiss cheese and ham.
- Make the pastries. Brush the edges with an egg wash, then fold them up and top them with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
- Bake. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet (you may need to cook them in two batches), and bake for 15-20 minutes at 400℉ until the pastry is golden and cooked through. Serve warm.
What to serve with Ham and Swiss Puff Pastries
For a summer vibe, we love to serve this a big, fresh salad like this layered cobb or a simple fruity salad like this 5-minute Strawberry Jello Salad. It also pairs really well with a pasta salad. Our Creamy Pasta Salad is a favorite because you can pack it full of veggies.
Storing, Freezing, and Reheating
Once the pastries have cooled, transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 3 days. You can also freeze them by transferring the pastries to a freezer safe container or gallon-size freezer bag. Store in the freezer for up to 30 days.
To reheat, warm them up in the oven or air fryer at 350℉ for a few minutes. You can also reheat them in the microwave, though the pastries may be a little soggy.. It will take about 1-2 minutes if thawed or 3-4 minutes if frozen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can definitely use phyllo dough in this recipe. However, the texture will be quite different, and you may need to adjust the cooking time. It’s much flakier and doesn’t puff up in the same way. The puff pastry is closer to the Costco original.
First, avoid going too thick on the ham and cheese, It can get overcrowded and may not cook all the way through. Second, cooking it on parchment paper can also result in a crispier bottom.
The Costco version is from the La Boulangerie brand, and calls them “Smoked Ham and Swiss Cheese Pockets”. The difference between our version and that version is the mustard sauce, and a slightly different flavor using simple deli counter ingredients.
Yes, you can assemble and refrigerate the unbaked pastries on a parchment lined baking sheet covered loosely. Let them sit on the counter while the oven preheats and then bake as directed. They may need an extra minute or two because they’re going in cold.
More Puff Pastry Recipes
Ham and Swiss Puff Pastries Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Puff pastry sheets, 1 17.3 oz box, thawed
- 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon mayonnaise
- 8 slices Swiss cheese
- 16 slices deli ham, thin-sliced, around 4 ounces
- 1 egg
- 1 Tablespoon water
- Parmesan cheese, optional for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Spread out both thawed pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. Using a pastry cutter (or a pizza cutter), cut each pastry sheet into 4 squares (8 total).
- In a small bowl, mix together mustard and mayonnaise. Spread a small amount of the mustard mixture into the center of each square.
- Layer a slice of swiss cheese and two slices of folded ham diagonally across each square.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together egg and water to make an egg wash. Brush the egg wash around on the edges of each puff pastry square.
- Taking opposite corners that don’t have the cheese and ham, fold one over the other, making a “pocket” with two open ends. Press the puff pastry together slightly to make sure it is secured.
- Brush the remaining egg wash on top of the puff pastries, then sprinkle with parmesan cheese (if desired).
- Place them on the lined baking sheet (you may need to cook them in two batches), and bake for 15-20 minutes until the pastry is golden and cooked through.
- Serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.
8 slices of ham: approximatelyhow many ounces & sliced how thin
I usually just use thin-sliced deli ham, just a few ounces! You could also use leftover ham slices if you’d like. The recipe is pretty adaptable/customizable depending on what you have on hand or prefer.
The list of ingredients shows provolone, but the instructions say Swiss! I am not a person who MUST follow a recipe exactly (and I’ll probably go with Swiss), but thought you might want to know and change the cheese in the ingredient list or in the directions. 🙂
Which cheese is best? Provolone or Swiss as both are mentioned here
Both would work equally well. It depends on your personal preference!
Hahaha oh my goodness you’re right! Great catch! The original (and the copycat of the Costco version) are made with Swiss cheese, but we’ve also made them with provolone, cheddar, American, and Havarti and they all taste delicious!