Weight Watchers

WW-Friendly Ritz Cracker Party Sandwiches

I went through a pretty serious “ham and cheese party slider” phase. You know those little baked sandwiches using Hawaiian rolls and melted butter poured over the top? Well, for a while, I couldn’t get enough of them and served them for every party. No one was complaining though, because they’re delicious and buttery and easy to love. But now it’s time to change things up a little. Here’s the same concept, but on crackers so they’re just as buttery, just as delicious, but a little more bite sized. I think I might be about to enter another serious party sandwich phase.

SMART SWAPS (same taste, fewer points)

Crackers

  • Ritz crackers → Ritz Reduced Fat crackers
    (points drop nicely)

Ham

  • Deli ham (regular) → thin-sliced lean ham
    (WW: 1–2 slices is typically 0 points)

Cheese options

Choose ONE depending on how low you want the points:

  1. Ultra-low-point option:
    • WW Lite Swiss Cheese Slices → 0–1 point per slice
      (cut small pieces)
  2. Regular reduced-fat Swiss
    • ~1 point per sandwich

Sauce

Original butter mixture is heavy — we lighten it:

  • 4 tbsp butter → 2 tbsp light butter
  • Dijon mustard → 100% zero points
  • Worcestershire → 0
  • Garlic powder → 0
  • Poppy seeds → small sprinkle (optional)
  • Dried onion → small pinch

The flavor stays strong even with half the butter.

WW-FRIENDLY INGREDIENT LIST

Makes 24 mini sandwiches

(serves 8–12 people)

  • 48 Reduced-Fat Ritz crackers
  • 8 slices lean thin deli ham
  • 8 slices WW Lite Swiss or reduced-fat Swiss
  • 2 tbsp light butter, melted
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp dried minced onion
  • ½ tsp poppy seeds (optional, small sprinkle)

 INSTRUCTIONS (WW Style)

1. Prep

  • Heat oven to 350°F.
  • Lay 24 crackers flat-side down in a 9×13 baking dish.

2. Build the minis

  • Tear ham into small folded pieces → place on each cracker.
  • Cut cheese slices into little 1-inch squares → place on top.
  • Cap each with another Ritz cracker.

3. Make the glaze

Whisk together:

  • 2 tbsp light butter (melted)
  • Dijon mustard
  • Worcestershire
  • Garlic powder
  • Pinch dried onion
  • Light sprinkle poppy seeds

Pour lightly over the top of the sandwiches.

4. Bake

  • 10–12 minutes until cheese melts and tops get toasty.

Serve warm — and try not to eat the entire pan alone. WW POINTS BREAKDOWN

Per sandwich (estimate based on 2024/2025 program):

IngredientPoints
Reduced-fat Ritz (2 crackers)1 point
Lean ham0
WW Lite Swiss (small square)0–1 point
Light butter glaze (⅛ tbsp per sandwich)0.25 → rounds to 0