These Meatball Sliders are the perfect snack to serve at your next party! However, why wait and have to share, when you can make them any day for a quick weeknight dinner for the whole family?
Fresh or frozen meatballs, some mozzarella, marinara sauce, some Hawaiian rolls, and a delicious garlic butter brushed on top.
Chicken Parm Sliders, Buffalo Chicken Sliders, and Ham and Cheese Sliders are another huge fave, or you could do breakfast sliders, too!
They’re essentially mini meatball subs, and are super customizable to your tastes. Make homemade meatballs, or buy them fresh or frozen. Use your favorite brand of marinara sauce or make it yourself. Use King’s Hawaiian rolls, slider buns, or plain dinner rolls!
I keep it super simple, and make them plain – but you could add sauteed onions or peppers to yours.
Love meatball recipes? Try these epic Meatball Bombs!
Step-by-step photos and instructions are below!
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Why you’ll love this recipe:
- Simple ingredients. Everything in this recipe can be found at home, or in your local grocery store.
- Easy to make, as well as make in bulk! Perfect for pulling out and baking when your crowd gets hungry!
- Love sliders? Try Big Mac Sliders too! When fast food sounds good but leaving the house doesn’t. You get that familiar Big Mac flavor baked in one pan with ingredients you already know, and dinner’s ready without a lot of effort.
What to serve with Meatball Sliders
Extra marinara sauce for dipping to start with. You could also make onion rings, French fries, Fried Cheese Curds, Coleslaw, Mac and Cheese, a Garden Salad, or a pasta salad all go great.
I have included step-by-step photos and instructions, as well as tips and tricks in the post. If you’d rather skip all that, scoot right on down to the full recipe card located at the bottom of the post.
Key Recipe Ingredients
Remember: this is just an overview and the why of the ingredients I choose here. The full list of ingredients and amounts is found in the printable recipe card below.
- Marinara sauce. For this, I use a jar of whatever pasta sauce I have in the pantry. You can make your own marinara sauce if you wish.
- Slider Buns. I use King’s Hawaiian sweet rolls or slider rolls. If they don’t come already sliced, use a good knife to cut the rolls in half horizontally. Get fancy and make your own Hawaiian Rolls!
- Mozzarella cheese. You’ll love this for that melty cheese pull. You can use provolone cheese slices instead if you prefer. Just cut them into quarters.
- Melted butter. I use salted butter. Unsalted butter can be used, just add a pinch of salt to it.
- Seasonings. Garlic powder and Italian seasoning are my go-to for this. You can use fresh minced garlic cloves if you wish.
- Meatballs. I use fresh store-bought meatballs for this recipe (Carando is my favorite brand of fresh meatballs, but any will work) and cook them before assembling the sliders. You want juicy meatballs so don’t overcook!
Frozen meatballs can be used if you prefer, but I find them too small for this purpose unless you use 2 or 3 per bun. You can also make your own meatballs with ground beef and bake them.
Recommended Equipment/Tools
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- If you use fresh meatballs, you will want to cook them on a baking sheet or in an air fryer. Line with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- You’ll need a 9×13 baking dish to bake the sliders in.
- Measuring cups and spoons, for the butter and seasonings.
- A pastry brush to get that buttery topping on the top of the buns.
How to make Meatball sliders
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This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. The full list of ingredients, quantities and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
STEP 1: Get prepped
Preheat oven to 350°F.
STEP 2: Cook or thaw the meatballs
If you’re using fresh meatballs (which I prefer), bake them first. Place them on a parchment or foil-lined sheet pan and bake at 400°F for 15 minutes. Gently turn them over and continue baking for another 13 to 17 minutes, until they’re fully cooked through – no longer pink in the center and reaching an internal temp of at least 165°F. You can also use a toaster oven or air fryer if that’s easier.
If you’re starting with fully cooked, frozen meatballs, make sure they’re fully thawed and heated through before assembling. Depending on their size, you might need to use more than one per slider.
Another easy option is to warm the meatballs directly in marinara sauce, then just scoop them (sauce and all) onto your sliders when you’re ready to assemble.
STEP 3: Make the butter mixture
Melt the butter in a small bowl, mix in the garlic powder and Italian seasoning.
STEP 4: Assemble the sliders
Grease a large baking pan (I use a 9×13 casserole dish) with a little bit of the buttery topping or cooking spray. Place the bottom half of the slider buns in the dish. Sprinkle half the cheese over the top of the rolls.
Place one meatball on each bun, and add sauce over each meatball. Add the remainder of the cheese, place the top of the buns, and brush the top of each roll with the garlic/Italian seasoning butter mixture.
If you have any extra topping, drizzle it over the top.
STEP 5: Bake and Serve
Bake for 10 minutes at 350°F until the cheese melts, and the tops are lightly golden brown. Remove the sliders from the oven and allow to cool a little.
Serve with extra sauce for dipping. You can garnish with a little fresh basil or parsley (chopped finely) over the top if you’re feeling fancy. Devour!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen meatballs?
You sure can. If you buy fully cooked, frozen meatballs, you’ll want to thaw and heat them through before using. The ones you can buy are typically pretty small though, so maybe consider using 2 or 3 meatballs per slider, depending on size.
Can sliders be made ahead of time?
Yes, you can prep the meatballs, sauce, and butter topping ahead. Just wait until right before baking to assemble.
How to keep the buns from being soggy?
I put a layer of cheese on first, then the meatball, sauce, and more cheese. The cheese does protect the bun from the sauce. However, you can toast your buns if you’re worried.
How many sliders should I make?
Plan on 2 or 3 sliders per person as a main dish if you are also serving sides. If you are serving other appetizers, 1-2 should be plenty.
Kylee’s Notes
What to do with leftovers
These are best eaten on the same day, as the marinara sauce will make them soggy. If you think you might have too many, don’t assemble them until you are ready to cook.
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and reheat in the oven.
Making ahead
You can make the melted garlic butter and meatballs ahead and assemble and bake before serving. Don’t assemble them ahead, they’ll be soggy!
Substitutions/Additions
Add a little onion powder to your topping for another dimension of flavor.
Adding finely shredded parmesan cheese over the top of the sliders is never a bad idea!
You can add garlic (fresh) to the butter if you wish!
More appetizer recipes to love
- Baked Coconut Shrimp. These easy baked coconut shrimp are the perfect appetizer or light dinner. Crispy, crunchy, and with a dipping sauce, this one is a winner!
- Buffalo Chicken Dip. Super easy to make, and always the first to be devoured, this Buffalo Chicken Dip is a great appetizer recipe for parties and gatherings!
- Sausage Stuffed Mini Peppers. These little beauties are the best appetizer in town! A yummy mix of spicy sausage, cream cheese, onion, and garlic means these disappear fast! Make a double batch for a crowd.
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Meatball Sliders
Ingredients
- 12 cooked meatballs (thawed if frozen (see notes))
- ½ cup butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 12 slider Buns
- 1 cup mozzarella (shredded)
- 8 ounces marinara sauce
Optional:
- extra marinara sauce for dipping
Directions
Get prepped
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Cook or thaw the meatballs
- If using fresh 12 cooked meatballs (my preference), cook them before using
- Place meatballs on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes; gently turn meatballs over and bake an additional 13 to 17 minutes until internal temperature reaches at least 165°F and no longer pink.
- If using fully cooked meatballs, ensure they are thawed and ready to go.
Make the butter mixture
- Melt the ½ cup butter and mix in the 1 teaspoon garlic powder and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning.
Assemble the sliders
- Grease a large baking dish with a little of the buttery topping.
- Place the bottoms of the 12 slider Buns in the dish.
- Sprinkle half the 1 cup mozzarella over the top of the buns.
- Add a meatball to each bun, and top with 8 ounces marinara sauce and the remainder of the 1 cup mozzarella.
- Top with the slider bun tops, and brush with the garlic/Italian seasoning butter mixture. If you have any extra topping, drizzle it over the top.
Bake
- Bake for 10 minutes at 350°F.
- Remove the sliders from the oven and allow to cool a little.
Serve
- Serve with extra marinara sauce for dipping.
- Devour!
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Notes
Nutrition Facts
Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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