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.
Preheat the oven to 350℉. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper and set aside.
Make the Meatballs
Add the ground beef to a large bowl, breaking up the beef into small pieces.
Add the salt, pepper, onion powder, minced garlic, dried parsley, egg, Parmesan and breadcrumbs.
Lightly mix until fully incorporated.
Shape into 12 meatballs about the size of a golf ball. Place on the prepared baking sheet about an inch apart. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
Make the Sauce
Place the olive oil and pepperoni in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook for about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
Add tomatoes, basil, salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese. Simmer for about 10 minutes to blend flavors. Set aside.
Remove the slider 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 9x13 inch pan.
Layer 6 slices of mozzarella cheese on the bottom half of the bread.
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 on top, dividing evenly over the meatballs. Reserve the remaining sauce for dipping.
Place the remaining 6 slices of cheese over the meatballs. Top with the remaining half of buns.
Brush the buns with melted butter, and sprinkle them with grated Parmesan cheese and parsley or chives.
Bake for about 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the buns are golden brown.