Meatball Sliders

For those that enjoy a great meatball sub, then you are going to love these Meatball Sliders. This meatball recipe is such an easy one to make, this slider recipe only needs a handful of simple ingredients and makes a tasty easy dinner recipe or a fun appetizer to share on the next game day. 

When you use the juicy meatballs in the center of the rolls you almost get a bite-sized meatball sub (okay maybe 4 bites), made in a fun new way. These are a great way to provide your guests a protein-filled recipe even when watching the big game.

With these pull apart meatball sliders you are able to keep dinner fun for the whole family by turning them into a complete meal with your favorite sides, and it is one of the best easy recipes you can count on everyone to love. 

Ingredients for Meatball Sliders

• Rolls: I like use the Kings Hawaiian sweet rolls
• Butter: use unsalted butter that is melted
• Seasonings: you will need minced garlic, Italian seasoning, onion powder
• Cheese: using shredded mozzarella cheese is perfect for these easy meatball sliders, and then Parmesan cheese for the topping
• Meat: grab your favorite precooked frozen classic meatballs, and make sure they are thawed
• Sauce: I just use a jar of pasta sauce

How to make Meatball Sliders

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray (or line it with parchment paper) 

Place the bottoms of the rolls onto the baking dish. Cut a hole on the tops of each roll removing about 1 tbsp of the center of the roll. (Enough to fit a meatball in the center with it sticking out a little)

Garlic butter: Whisk together the melted butter, garlic, Italian seasoning, and onion powder. Generously brush this mixture all of the tops and inside of rolls

Sprinkle half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese in all of the rolls.

To a large bowl add the meatballs and pasta sauce stir to coat the meatballs in the sauce.

Place each meatball into the rolls. Brush the remaining pasta sauce in the bowl over the tops of the meatballs. 

Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on the top. 

Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

How to store leftover meatball Parmesan sliders:

Fridge: Wrap the leftover meatball sliders in aluminum foil, and then depending on how many you have left, place them either in an airtight container or a large ziplock bag and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Tips and tricks for making the best meatball siders recipe: 

Can I use homemade meatballs?

If you have a favorite homemade meatball recipe you like to make, then go for it and make up your meatball mixture! I like the use the frozen either classic meatballs or Italian meatballs just to keep things simple at dinnertime.

Fresh or frozen meatballs? 

When you are making this meatball sliders recipe you can frozen meatballs when you are going to make the sliders, however, you will need to make sure they have at least been thawed or you can cook them quickly in the air fryer. But, if you put the meatballs frozen in the sweet Hawaiian rolls they will not cook all the way through. 

Sauce to use for meatball sliders: 

Obviously, using homemade marinara sauce will taste amazing, but I will grab a jar of our favorite sauce and use it for this recipe. However, I would steer away from the chunkier sauce since there won’t be much room left in the Hawaiian roll for the chunks of tomato and other ingredients.

Even more beef recipes to make:

Steak fajita quesadilla recipe

Hamburger taco

Italian ground beef and vegetable skillet

Sheet pan burgers with onions and potatoes 

If you give these recipes a try, make sure to tag us on Instagram @julia.pacheco.cooking and let us know how much you liked the recipes!