These Italian Meatball Sliders are the ultimate party food. Packed with flavor and easy to assemble, they’re sure to be a crowd-pleaser at your next gathering. Juicy meatballs simmered in a rich marinara sauce, topped with melted mozzarella cheese – need I say more?
If you need more great slider recipes for your next party? Try my cuban sliders recipe and hawaiian roll pulled pork sliders.
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Why this Italian Meatball Sliders Recipe is a Keeper
These Italian Meatball Sliders are sure to be a hit at your next party. So gather your friends and family, and get ready to enjoy some delicious and easy-to-make bites!
- Easy Ingredients: It uses common ingredients you often have on hand.
- Adaptable Sliders: With a few simple swaps, you can make this low-carb, meat free, dairy free, making then the perfect easy appetizer.
- Great for Leftover Meals: The leftovers taste just as good, if not better, they are easy and delicious. Store sliders in an airtight container.
- Comforting: It has a comforting, homey feel that makes you want to return to it.
- Crowd-Pleaser: These cheesy meatballs are a hit with guests, making it ideal for entertaining. You can even use frozen meatballs or full cooked meatballs.
- Low Maintenance: It doesn’t require constant attention while cooking. Make the bottom half of the meatball sandwiches on garlic bread if you like.
- Can Feed a Crowd: The meatball sliders can easily be scaled up to feed a large group, making it perfect for gatherings. Serve with extra parmesan cheese on the side of the meatball sliders.
How do I keep my easy meatball sliders from being soggy?
There are several ways to make the sliders less soggy. For Example:
- Place a layer of cheese on the bottom bun: This creates a barrier between the sauce and the bread.
- Use a smaller amount of sauce: Don’t drown the meatballs in sauce. When you make meatball sliders you can have extra sauce on the side.
- Toast the Buns: Lightly toasting the slider buns before assembly helps them absorb less moisture.
Ingredient Notes for Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders
The hawaiian roll italian sliders are perfect with lots of cheese.
- Hawaiian Sweet Rolls: Or try any other form of slider rolls or dinner rolls.
- Meatballs: The star of the show. A good quality beef meatball.
- Marinara Sauce: Your favorite store bought variety or make your Hearty Marinara Sauce Recipe.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Prep Meatball Sliders Ahead of Time
Meatball sliders with hawaiian rolls are the perfect game day appetizer.
- You can cook meatballs and sauce in advance. Store in an airtight container. You can even freeze for later.
Pro Tip for Meatball Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
Size Matters: Make your meatballs slightly smaller than the size of the roll holes. This ensures they fit snugly and cook evenly.Use a small ice cream scoop or melon baller to carefully remove the center of each roll.
How to Make Cheesy, Delicious Meatball Sliders
You can make this easy recipe with homemade meatballs or use frozen meatballs. You can cook your own sauce or use your favorite store bought variety. That is what makes this recipe so easy.
1. Prepare the Baking Sheet and Preheat Oven
Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees f and prepare you baking sheet but lining it with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
2. Toast the Rolls
Next, using your finger make a to create a hole big enough for the meatball and brush over the melted butter garlic mixture on top of the rolls, a tablespoon of sauce, and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning or oregano. Bake the rolls for 6-8 minutes.
3. Add the Meatballs and Top with Mozzarella Cheese
Remove the rolls from the oven and add a meatball to each roll, add a spoonful of sauce on each one and top with the mozzarella cheese. Bake for 10-15 minutes until cheese is melted. Finally, garnish with fresh parsley and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftovers of this Easy Appetizer
- Storing: Store the Italian style meatball sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator,
- Reheating: You can wrap in foil and bake the sliders in the oven or air fryer. Top with more parmesan cheese.
- Leftover Sliders: Use the leftover meatballs and sauce for spaghetti or for a traditional meatball sub. You will love how easy this is.
Variations and Substitutions for Pull-Apart Meatball Sliders
You can use your favorite seasonings such as garlic powder or other seasonings.
- Dipping Sauce: Serve with extra marinara sauce or garlic butter on the side as a dipping sauce for this appetizer recipe.
- Pesto: Use pesto in place of the tomato sauce for pesto meatball sliders.
- Fresh Mozzarella: You can also use slices of fresh mozzarella in place of the shredded cheese.
- Meatballs: You chicken, pork or a mix of meat to make your meatballs. Make homemade meatballs or frozen meatballs.
Parmesan Meatball Recipe FAQs
Try my Sloppy Joe Sliders, Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders, Ham and Cheese Sliders or my Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders. They are all great for your game day celebrations.
Of course, you can get really inventive. Try Alfredo sauce, Fra Diablo sauce or a delicious meat sauce.
You can use your favorite cheese. Try provolone, asiago or a nice Italian blend cheese. You can even use a dairy free cheese on top of the sliders.
Expert Tips to Make Meatball Sliders
These king’s hawaiian roll sliders are always a hit. It’s an easy appetizer that are always a hit.
- Toasting: Lightly toast the rolls before you place a meatball to prevent them from getting soggy.
- Sauce Ratio: Don’t drown the meatballs in sauce. A generous drizzle is all you need for these cheesy meatball sliders.
- Broil for Browning: For extra crispiness, broil the sliders for a few minutes at the end to melt the cheese and lightly brown the tops.
- Assemble Sliders Just Before Serving: Avoid assembling the sliders too far in advance. The longer they sit, the more likely they are to get soggy.
Italian Meatball Sliders
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Ingredients
- 10 ounces Hawaiian rolls, 1 package
- ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Marinara sauce
- 12 Meatballs, frozen or homemade
- 4 tablespoons Butter, melted
- Parmesan cheese , garnish
- Fresh Parsley , garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- Use your fingers to make a small hole in the center of each roll.
- In a small bowl mix the garlic powder with the melted butter until well combined.
- Brush the garlic butter inside the hole and all over the outside of the rolls.
- Add about a tablespoon of sauce into each roll then bake for 6-8 minutes.
- Place a meatball in hole of each roll.
- Spoon more sauce over the top of the meatball.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the rolls and return to the oven for 10-15 minutes until the meatballs are hot and the cheese is melted.
- Garnish with parmesan cheese and parsley then serve immediately and enjoy!
Christina’s Notes
- This Recipe Can be Doubled: This is a great recipe to make for super bowl party. Increase the ingredients proportionately and split it into two baking sheets before baking.
- Dipping Sauce: Serve with extra marinara sauce on the side as a dipping sauce.
- Pesto: Use pesto in place of the tomato sauce for pesto meatball sliders.
- Fresh Mozzarella: You can also use slices of fresh mozzarella in place of the shredded cheese.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.