Our Meatball Slider Recipe starts with tasty rolls piled high with savory meatballs, gooey cheeses, and Italian seasonings.
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I love lazy Sunday afternoons watching football and munching on classic game day food. It doesn't get much better - or easier - than this recipe. (Though my Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders come pretty close!)
For me, there's something about the combination of bread and cheese that makes me fall head of heels in love. Of course, the flavorful meatballs and sauce don't hurt either!
My husband often makes these meatballs for family events. His Italian relatives always eat them with pasta, but mine gravitate toward making them into little sandwiches.
I remember one gathering in particular where we had placed the meatballs in a slow cooker next to another slow cooker with baked ziti. I was chatting with a cousin and turned around to find my mom rummage through my deli drawer looking for the perfect cheese to top the little sandwich she was building with the garlic bread!
Kind of genius, right?
Do you thaw frozen meatballs before cooking?
Whether you're using your own homemade meatballs or store-bought ones, they should be thawed before assembly the sandwiches.
Depending on the size of your meatballs, I'd recommend cutting them in half and placing them in a small pot with the tomato sauce to warm through.
Ingredients
- Meatballs - I love using homemade Italian meatballs, but there's no shame in using frozen meatballs when you're short on time!
- Tomato Sauce - If you have homemade tomato sauce on hand, you can use that. However, your favorite store-bought sauce will work, too.
- Mozzarella and Provolone Cheeses - creamy mozzarella melts perfectly, and provolone cheese adds a mild smoky flavor.
- Soft Rolls - You can use whatever kind you like best for this easy recipe.
In addition, this recipe uses butter, grated Parmesan cheese, granulated garlic, dried parsley, and basil.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350-degrees F.
- Slice the rolls in half.
- Place the bottom half of the rolls into a cast-iron skillet or baking pan.
- Melt the butter in a small dish.
- Brush each bottom half with the melted butter.
- Sprinkle granulated garlic and mozzarella cheese over the bottom rolls. (This helps keep the rolls from getting too soggy.)
- Cut the meatballs in half then mix them with tomato sauce.
- Top the rolls with halved meatballs.
- Add provolone cheese to the top of the meatballs.
- Add the top half of the rolls on top.
- Brush each top with melted butter.
- Sprinkle the rolls with granulated garlic, grated Parmesan cheese, and the dried parsley and basil.
- Place the pan into the oven for 10 minutes until the cheeses are melted.
- Serve hot.
Equipment
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- cast iron skillet
- baking pan - see notes
- bread knife
- cutting board
- pastry brush
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Serving Suggestions
If you are serving these sliders as part of a meal, consider a garden salad or simple fruit salad. For a party, try one of these ideas:
- Jalapeno Popper Dip with Bacon is an amazing warm creamy dip with all your favorite jalapeno popper flavors
- Put together an awesome but easy Meat and Cheese Board with a variety of cheeses, crackers along with olives, dried fruit and more.
- If you have a few extra minutes, make our roasted garlic hummus and serve it with homemade pita chips.
😋 Similar Recipes
Take a look at our other tasty meatball recipes:
- Italian Chicken Meatballs - meatballs with less fat but loads of Italian flavor. They'd be perfect in this meatball slider recipe!
- Keto Chicken Meatballs - grab some keto-friendly buns for serving up these meaty, flavor-packed low carb meatballs.
- Cheesy Meatball Casserole - super delish as a low carb meal or potluck side dish!
Recipe Variations
While I make these most often with homemade pork and beef meatballs, you can also try making them with spicy chicken meatballs or Italian chicken meatballs. These sliders are also a great way to use up any leftover meatball casserole.
Meatball Slider Recipe
Tender meatballs and tangy tomato sauce on soft rolls with loads of melty cheese make for the tastiest little sliders ever!
If you love this recipe, please give it a 5-star rating!
Meatball Slider Recipe
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Equipment
- Baking Pan - see notes
- Bread Knife
Ingredients
- 7-8 Rolls (depending on the size of your pan)
- 14-20 Italian meatballs (depending on their size)
- 4 slices provolone cheese, cut in half
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup Tomato Sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder divided
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350-degrees F.
- Slice the rolls in half.7-8 Rolls (depending on the size of your pan)
- Place the bottom half of the rolls into a cast-iron skillet or baking pan.
- Melt the butter in a small dish.2 tablespoons butter, melted
- Brush each bottom half with the melted butter.
- Sprinkle garlic powder and mozzarella cheese over the bottom rolls.1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Cut the meatballs in half then mix them with tomato sauce.14-20 Italian meatballs, 1 cup Tomato Sauce
- Add halved meatballs onto the rolls.
- Add provolone cheese to the top of the meatballs.4 slices provolone cheese, cut in half
- Add the top half of the rolls on top.
- Brush each top with melted butter.2 tablespoons butter, melted
- Sprinkle the rolls with additional garlic powder, grated Parmesan cheese, and the dried parsley and basil.½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, ½ teaspoon dried basil, ½ teaspoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Place the pan into the oven for 10 minutes until the cheeses are melted.
- Serve hot.
Notes
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Ally says
Yummy! Those looks so delicious!
Tina says
yum