Meatball Sliders

Take your party food game to the next level with these cheesy Meatball Sliders. These sliders are the best of both worlds – irresistibly cheesy with homemade meatballs and topped with a flavorful pepperoni Parmesan sauce, making them the perfect choice for a family dinner or a crowd-pleasing football appetizer.

If you are a meatball subs fan, you will love this recipe. An amazing combination of freshly made meatballs and delicious sauce, these meatball sliders are a game changer. While meatball subs generally use a marinara sauce, these sliders are sauced up with a yummy parmesan and pepperoni concoction, making them unique in appearance and flavor. 

The best part? These meatball sliders are easy to make. Serve them for an exciting family dinner any night of the week, or present them at your next gathering. They make great game day appetizers, a fantastic addition to a potluck, or even work well for a picnic. No matter when you serve this crowd-pleasing dish, they will disappear fast. 

Why You’ll Love Meatball Sliders

• Easy to Make: These delicious homemade meatball sliders are easy to make. You can enjoy these as a fun weeknight dinner using simple ingredients and not taking long to make, even on busy days. 
• Versatile: While these are the perfect game day snack, they are also great in almost every application. Everyone will be impressed if you enjoy them at your next party, potluck, picnic, or family dinner. 
• Customizable: There is always room for customization with this recipe. You can easily tweak the ingredients to suit your flavor preferences. You can choose different cheeses, adjust the spice level of the sauce, and more. 
• Crowd-Pleaser: These meatball sliders combine classic flavors that will always please a crowd. With melty cheese, juicy meatballs, and a fantastic sauce, people of all ages enjoy the comfort of this dish.

Ingredients 

The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

• Ground beef
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Onion powder
• Minced garlic 
• Dried parsley flakes
• Egg
• Breadcrumbs 
• Parmesan cheese
• Olive oil 
• Finely chopped pepperoni 
• Canned crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce
• Dried basil 
• Hawaiian rolls or slider buns 
• Mozzerella or Provolone cheese
• Chopped fresh parsley or chives

How to Make Meatball Sliders

• Step One: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper and set aside.
• Step Two: Make the meatballs. Place the ground beef in a large bowl, breaking up the meat into small pieces.
• Step Three: Add the salt, pepper, onion powder, minced garlic, parsley, egg, Parmesan cheese, and bread crumbs.
• Step Four: Lightly mix until fully incorporated.
• Step Five: Shape into 12 meatballs about the size of a golf ball. Place meatballs on the prepared baking sheet about an inch apart. Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes.

• Step Six: While the meatballs are baking, make the sauce: Place the olive oil and pepperoni in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook for about 3 minutes or so. Add garlic, and cook 1 minute more.
• Step Seven: Add tomatoes, basil, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese. Simmer for about 10 minutes to blend flavors. Set aside.

• Step Eight: Remove the buns from the package, and without separating them, use a long, serrated knife to cut the rolls in half horizontally. Place the bottom half of the rolls in a 9” x 13” pan.
• Step Nine: Layer 6 slices of mozzarella cheese on the bottom half of the bread.
• Step Ten: Spread about ½ cup of the sauce in an even layer over the cheese on the buns. Place one meatball on each bun. Spoon another ½ cup of sauce, dividing evenly over the meatballs. Reserve the remaining sauce for dipping.

• Step Eleven: Place the remaining six cheese slices over the meatballs. Top with the remaining half of buns.
• Step Twelve: Brush the buns with melted butter and sprinkle them with grated Parmesan cheese and parsley or chives.
• Step Thirteen: Bake for about 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the buns are golden brown.

Equipment Needed

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• Rimmed baking sheet
• Aluminum foil or parchment paper
• Large bowl
• Spatula
• Small saucepan
• Serrated knife

What to Serve with Meatball Sliders

This easy meatball sliders recipe perfectly pairs with your favorite appetizers for a get-together or your favorite sides for a complete meal. 

• Air Fryer Fried Pickles
• Cheeseburger Dip
• Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
• Wilted Spinach Salad
• Cucumber Salad

Variations and Substitutions 

• Cheese Variations: You can easily switch it up rather than using mozzarella or provolone cheese. Try cheddar, gouda, Swiss, or havarti. If you want extra flavor, add some smoked gouda or spicy pepper jack. 
• Bun Variations: You can use whatever small buns you choose. If you can’t find King’s Hawaiian Rolls, try using pretzel buns, dinner rolls, or mini ciabatta bread. You can also use pieces of garlic bread to create garlic bread meatball sliders.
• Meatball Variations: While these sliders come with their meatball recipe, you can easily use any type you like. Choose your favorite recipe for Italian meatballs, use ground turkey to make turkey meatballs, use premade meatballs, your own meatballs recipe, or even frozen meatballs. No matter what you choose, these sliders are delicious. 
• Sauce Variations: This recipe comes with its recipe for a pepperoni sauce; you can easily use your favorite sauce for the sliders. You can use pasta, marinara, or even your special recipe. 
• Spice Level: If you want a spicier sauce, add some red pepper flakes or hot sauce. This will add a delicious heat to the sauce. To dull down the spice a bit, omit the pepperoni. 

Storage Instructions

It is highly unlikely that you will have leftovers from this great meatball slider recipe. However, they can be stored if you find yourself with some. Cover your leftovers with foil or plastic wrap, or place them in an airtight container. You can consume them within 2-3 days for best results. 

Can I Freeze?

Yes. These meatball sliders can easily be made ahead and frozen. Allow your meatball sliders to cool completely, wrap them tightly in plastic or aluminum foil, or put them in an airtight container or ziptop bag. They can be frozen for up to three months. To reheat them, thaw your sliders in the fridge overnight or reheat from frozen. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and bake for 10-15 minutes. 

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Prepare Ahead: You can prepare the meatballs and sauce ahead of time and store them separately in the refrigerator. Assemble the sliders just before baking to keep the buns from becoming soggy. 
• Even Meatball Sizes: Use an ice cream scoop or your hands to portion the meat mixture for consistent-sized meatballs. This ensures they cook evenly and fit perfectly on the bun. 
• Use an Instant-Read Thermometer: To guarantee that the meatballs are cooked through, use an instant-read thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 160°F (71°C).
• Flavorful Sauce: For a richer sauce, you can sauté the pepperoni in the saucepan until it’s slightly crispy. This will release more flavor from the pepperoni and create more depth of flavor in the sauce.
• Toast the Buns: If you prefer slightly crisp buns, lightly toast them in the oven for a few minutes before assembling the sliders. This creates a nice textural experience. 
• Cheese Melting: If you want the cheese to melt perfectly, you can broil the sliders for the last minute of baking. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.
• Serve with Dipping Sauce: Apart from the reserved sauce, you can offer additional dipping options like marinara, ranch dressing, or garlic aioli for added variety. This creates a fun eating experience.

Can I Use Frozen Meatballs?

Yes. Using frozen meatballs can save you time and effort. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly. 

Can I Make Ahead?

Yes, this recipe can be made ahead and enjoyed later. It is best to store each ingredient separately to ensure the best results. Store your meatballs and sauce in separate airtight containers in the fridge or the freezer when ready to enjoy them. 

Why Does the Pepperoni Get Cooked?

The pepperoni gets cooked as part of the sauce to infuse extra flavor. Cooking the pepperoni will release flavors and oils into the sauce as it cooks, infusing a rich and slightly spicy flavor. 

Slider Recipes

• Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders
• Ham and Cheese Sliders
• Italian Sliders
• Breakfast Sliders
• Thanksgiving Sliders
• Cheeseburger Sliders

FAQ

Meatball Recipes

• Easy Cheesy Meatballs
• Chili Cranberry Fusion Meatballs
• Meatball Sub Casserole
• Waikiki Meatballs
• Grape Jelly Meatballs
• Meatball Stuffed Mushrooms
• Spaghetti and Meatball Sliders

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